When you are looking at your organizational chart, job roles, and culture, what consistently demonstrated behaviors truly drive results?
Angela Duckworth has been studying the differences in achievement and she has boiled it down to a single major differentiating factor - GRIT. The discipline to stick with something until it is complete without losing motivation.
Her simple 10 question “Grit Scale” was a better predictor of which candidates would make it through West Point’s first phase of training than their complex “Whole Candidate Score” system.
Peak Learning has an “Adversity Quotient” test for applicant screening.
Jocko Willink constantly talks about discipline versus motivation as the foundation for achievement.
Look at your top performers.
- How would you rate their grit?
- How well do they continue to focus and execute even when things are going poorly?
- How would you rate your own?
- What do you do to improve your own grit and that of your team?
This is a trait that is like a muscle and can be built with disciplined practice and coaching.