Grit and Individual Achievement
Angela Duckworth on the power of support communities
Angela Duckworth, the author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, recently appeared on the Prof G podcast to discuss how to cultivate this elusive characteristic that she frames as a key to success.
If you’re unfamiliar with the book, Duckworth theorizes that talent is just one small piece of the puzzle for successful people. It’s grit, she claims, that’s more important. Grit is a combination of passion and perseverance for a “singularly important goal” and she believes it’s the key to highly successful people in any field or area of focus.
This concept has been discussed and adopted now in a number of different areas of the corporate world, and unfortunately in some places, it’s been warped to reflect a certain kind of hustle culture. But Duckworth is clear that grit is not meant to fuel hustle or encourage burnout. It’s more reflective of the way people respond to challenge and rejection in the face of their greatest pursuits. She believes this is a quality that can be cultivated.
Of course, what caught me in the podcast was somewhere in the middle, where she says she believes that “the crucible of grit is challenge plus support.” In other words, facing and overcoming challenges is one way to develop grit, but it’s not always possible without other people around you to encourage, help, or promote you.
Galloway then responds with a phase he repeats often: “Greatness is in the agency of others.”
He explains: “Would you have nearly the impact you’re having without great research associates, great colleagues, all the people who’ve come before you at Penn…?”
This feels akin to the Scenius concept I wrote about last week. And it clarifies a bit more as well because it makes it obvious that individuals do need to have their own sense of persistence and passion and even talent. But while we love to revere the individual, we forget or downplay the support systems that hold up these people to give them visibility and credibility and even fame. Duckworth says, “that feels anti-heroic in some way.” It’s as if needing support means you have fewer “grit points.” But she’s recognizing that in her research on grit, it’s important that their environments and the people around them be an ally to the work they are doing.
Food for thought as we explore the role of groups, communities, and participation in the pursuit of deep, meaningful, impactful work.