Podcast Summary
The Power of Grit: Passion and Perseverance for Long-Term Goals: Angela Duckworth's research shows that while talent matters, grit - the combination of passion and perseverance - is a crucial factor in achieving success. Grit can lead to excellence but may also cause individuals to overlook rational decisions.
While talent and natural ability play a role in achieving success, the real game-changer is grit - the combination of passion and perseverance for long-term goals. Angela Duckworth, a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, discovered this during her time as a math teacher when she noticed that some students who struggled initially ended up surpassing those who were quick learners. Grit, she believes, is responsible for much excellence and achievement. However, it's important to note that grit can also have a downside. People with high grit might not make the logical, rational decision because their determination compels them to keep going. Ultimately, the combination of talent and grit is the key to achieving extraordinary success.
The role of hard work in achieving greatness: Genius is not solely dependent on natural talent, consistent effort and dedication are crucial in reaching the pinnacle of success.
While natural talent is important in achieving greatness, it is not the only factor. The relentless hard work, focus, and obsession of individuals like Einstein and Picasso in their respective fields played a significant role in their success. The fluency and mastery we observe in their work may hide the countless hours of laborious effort and misfires that came before. Both the performer and the audience have a vested interest in presenting genius as effortless, allowing the audience to marvel at the performance without feeling the pressure to compete. Sociologist Dan Chambliss's observation that excellence is the result of many small acts further emphasizes the importance of dedication and consistent effort in the pursuit of greatness.
The path to excellence through deliberate practice: Deliberate practice, with focused effort to improve weaknesses, is the key to achieving excellence in any field.
Excellence is not an unattainable mystery or magic, but rather the result of countless deliberate practices, each one doable and essential. Anders Ericsson's research on experts in various domains, including spelling bee champions, reveals that the highest quality of practice, deliberate practice, is what truly sets them apart. Deliberate practice involves focused and intentional efforts to improve on weaknesses, often done alone and with a clear goal in mind. This type of practice, which can be applied to any field, requires dedication and consistency, but ultimately leads to mastery. So, if you're striving for excellence, remember that it's not about waiting for the magic to happen, but about putting in the deliberate practice and effort day by day.
The power of deliberate practice in competition success: Deliberate practice, despite being the most challenging and least enjoyable form, is the most effective way to improve skills and achieve success in competition.
Deliberate practice, although the least enjoyable and most effortful form of practice, is the most predictive of success in competition. The study on spelling bee competitors found that gritty individuals tended to engage in more deliberate practice, leading to better performance and achievement. This finding aligns with the idea that hard work, even if painful and unpleasant, can yield great rewards. However, it's important to note that not all high achievers share this perspective, and some find joy in the process. Future research could explore ways to make the most effective, yet challenging, practice more enjoyable to encourage more people to engage in it. Angela Duckworth's own grit stemmed from her father's reminder that life is suffering, emphasizing the importance of perseverance through difficulty.
The Power of Passion and Perseverance: Grit is the combination of passion and perseverance, and it's a quality that can be developed through effort and dedication, not just a fixed trait.
Grit, the ability to persevere through challenges and pursue long-term goals with passion, is not just about overcoming obstacles, but also about deeply loving what one does. Passion and perseverance go hand in hand. While some people may naturally seem grittier than others, it's not a fixed trait. Grit can be developed through habits, including the habit of being passionate about something. The idea that grit is the domain of a few naturally gifted individuals is a misconception. Instead, grit can be cultivated through effort and dedication. The idea that grit is solely about pushing through pain and hardship overlooks the importance of enjoying the process and finding satisfaction in the journey. So, in summary, grit is about both passion and perseverance, and it's a quality that can be developed by anyone.
Cultivating Grit through Psychological Assets: Deep interest, deliberate practice, sense of purpose, and hope can help cultivate grit, leading to increased motivation and perseverance.
Grit, a combination of passion and perseverance, can be cultivated through various psychological assets. These assets include having a deep interest in something, the capacity to do deliberate practice, a sense of purpose, and hope. Cultivating these assets can help individuals stay motivated and engaged, especially when faced with challenges. Parents, like Angela Duckworth, have also found success in implementing practices like the "hard thing rule" to help their children develop grit. This rule requires everyone in the family to do a hard thing that requires deliberate practice on a regular basis, allowing children to direct themselves while also building their capacity for perseverance and passion.
The 'hard thing rule' for building perseverance in children: Committing to a challenging activity for a semester can help kids develop perseverance and intrinsic motivation, but over-reliance on grit might lead to overlooking logical decisions
Instilling the "hard thing rule" in children can help them develop perseverance and intrinsic motivation. This rule, as shared by psychologist Angela Duckworth, requires kids to commit to a challenging activity for the duration of a semester or until they find a new hard thing to replace it. The rule promotes autonomy while also encouraging them to push through difficulties and not quit mid-way. However, it's essential to remember that grit, while beneficial, can have its downsides. Over-reliance on grit might lead individuals to overlook logical or rational decisions. As we delve deeper into the topic, we'll explore the dark side of grit and the importance of balance.
Knowing when to persist and when to move on: Grit is valuable but knowing when to persist and when to move on is crucial to avoid unnecessary harm and maximize productivity
While grit can lead to great accomplishments, it's important to know when to persist and when to move on. Gail Lucas' research shows that gritty individuals are more likely to keep going in the face of failure, even when it's not the rational choice. In one study, grittier people were more likely to keep playing an online game even when they were losing and the chances of winning were low. Another study showed that grittier individuals persisted longer on unsolvable anagrams, hurting their performance. While grit is a valuable trait, it's important to balance it with the ability to strategically move on from unproductive or unsolvable situations. Geert, who shares a personal experience of staying in a failing marriage for too long, emphasizes the importance of this balance. So, in summary, while grit can lead to great achievements, it's important to know when to persist and when to move on to avoid unnecessary harm.
The dangers of stubborn grit in relationships: Grit can help us overcome challenges in relationships, but stubbornness can keep us in unhealthy situations. Recognizing the difference is crucial.
There are two types of grit: the good kind that helps us overcome obstacles and the bad kind that ignores signs of failure. Gail's story illustrates the dangers of the latter. She applied her grit to her marriage, refusing to leave despite signs of trouble. However, in hindsight, she realizes that her stubbornness may have caused more harm than good. Society's stigma against quitting and the pressure to stay committed can make it difficult for gritty individuals to recognize when they're hurting themselves. While grit can predict stable marriages when both partners are able to overcome challenges, stubbornness can keep us in unhealthy situations. It's important to be able to distinguish between the two and recognize when it's time to move on.
The distinction between grit and stubbornness: People who persist through difficult times and those who stubbornly insist on their ways might be the same individuals, the outcome determines if it's grit or stubbornness.
Grit and stubbornness might be two sides of the same coin. Psychologist Philip Tetlock and his team found that people who persist through difficult times and those who stubbornly insist on their ways, despite setbacks, might be the same individuals. The distinction between grit and stubbornness depends on the outcome. So, next time you encounter someone who refuses to give up or seems overly determined, remember that they might just be displaying a high degree of grit. This insight comes from an episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, which is produced by Karamagra Callison, Maggie Pennman, and Max Nestrack. You can find more of Hidden Brain on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or sign up for their newsletter by emailing hiddenbrain@npr.org. I'm Shankar Vedantam, and this is NPR.
