What makes someone truly successful? This question has fascinated researchers, managers, and educators for decades. Intelligence, talent, and experience all play a role — but there is a quality that is increasingly being recognised as perhaps the most important predictor of long-term success: grit.
What is grit?
Grit is a concept developed by psychologist Angela Duckworth. She defines it as the combination of passion and perseverance in pursuit of long-term goals. In other words: the drive to keep going, even when things get tough, setbacks occur, or progress feels slow.
Grit is distinct from motivation, which can be fleeting, and from talent, which is largely innate. Grit is about sustained effort over time — the willingness to work hard day after day, year after year, towards a meaningful goal.
Why is grit important at work?
In her research, Duckworth found that grit was a better predictor of success than IQ in a variety of contexts — from West Point military cadets to spelling bee champions and sales professionals. People with high levels of grit are more likely to:
- Complete challenging projects
- Stay with their employer longer
- Bounce back from failures and setbacks
- Achieve their long-term career goals
Grit vs. talent
One of Duckworth's most provocative findings is that talent and grit are often inversely related. Highly talented individuals sometimes rely too heavily on their natural abilities and put in less effort when things get difficult. People with less natural talent but high grit often outperform them in the long run, simply because they keep going.
As Duckworth puts it: "Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare."
Can you measure grit?
Yes. Duckworth developed the Grit Scale, a short questionnaire that measures both perseverance of effort and consistency of interest. This scale has been validated in various research contexts and provides a reliable indication of someone's level of grit.
In selection processes, grit can be assessed through targeted interview questions, behavioural assessments, and specific psychometric tools.
Can grit be developed?
Research suggests that grit is not entirely fixed. While some people are naturally more persistent than others, grit can be cultivated — through deliberate practice, developing a growth mindset, and finding genuine meaning in your work.
Grit in selection and development
For organisations, grit is an increasingly relevant quality to assess in both selection and talent development. Candidates who demonstrate high grit are more likely to grow into their role, handle pressure effectively, and contribute to the organisation long-term.
Selection Lab incorporates grit-related traits into its assessment approach, helping organisations identify candidates who not only have the right skills today but also the drive to keep developing tomorrow.
Conclusion
Grit — the combination of passion and perseverance — is emerging as one of the most powerful predictors of workplace success. It goes beyond talent and intelligence, and it can be measured and developed. Want to know how to incorporate grit into your selection process? Get in touch with Selection Lab.
