Effort - The Force Behind Perseverance

Grit, perseverance, and determination. These are just a few of the qualities that are essential for high achievement. Anyone who wants to perform at a high level, whether in academics, athletics, or any other field, must be resilient in the face of adversity. This means having the grit to keep going when things get tough and the determination to never give up on your goals.?

It also requires having a growth mindset, which means believing that you can always improve and get better. People with a growth mindset don't see failure as proof that they're not good enough; they see it as an opportunity to learn and grow.?

Those who are resilient in the face of adversity are more likely to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

Why is that??

In research done by?Angela Duckworth, the author of Grit, perseverance?boils down to two equations and explains how you go from developing your talent to high achievement:

1. Talent?(how fast you improve a skill)?multiplied by?Effort = Skill
2. Skill?multiplied by?Effort = Achievement

Effort?factors into both equations?twice. Effort?is twice as important as talent. Skill without effort is what could have been done but didn't. All of us know that super talented individual who is underperforming. Year on year, they are rated in their performance review as?"unconverted potential."

Developing perseverance is similar to developing a sustainable fitness routine.?It requires a habit of deliberate practice, repetition, focus, flow, and a growth mindset.?

"We don't rise to our level of expectation; we fall to our level of training."??-Archilocus

Here are a few ideas for developing a?Grit Mindset:

• Limit your choices to the few that impact your role most.
• Remove distractions that keep you from sustaining your moments in the flow.
• Keep a gratitude journal that also acts as a place to deposit?your negative thoughts and fears.
• Master your fears. Utilize the creative tension you experience to move you towards greatness.
• Give yourself a break. We all screw up at times. Learn from it and move forward. Amor Fati.

If you'd like to discuss this topic,?schedule?a 20-minute one-on-one Zoom with Jeff.?

This article appeared in Mariola Unlimited's Leadership EQuation Journal vol 23. Sign up to receive it twice a month in your inbox.