Why Grit is So Important for Your Career

You need many different qualities to succeed in any given career. Intelligence and work ethic help get you noticed and promoted. However, workplace grit is one of the best indicators of long-term success. Showing perseverance over an extended period of time is what truly separates success from failure throughout a career. All the intelligence and charisma in the world won't guarantee you success if you don't have the workplace grit to back it up.

Something as small as an email address can negatively affect your chances of getting a new job or a promotion. However, you can have everything else working in your favor and still not get anywhere professionally if you don't have workplace grit to go with it. This means that you have the discipline and the positive attitude to keep working towards your goals over an extended period of time regardless of the struggles and obstacles that get in your way.

Anything worthwhile takes work. However, nearly anyone can work hard for a brief period of time or when things are going well. People with workplace grit work hard for years, not allowing struggles or frustrations to prevent them from achieving those long-term goals. This requires focus, self-confidence and self control, which are qualities that everyone looks for in exceptional employees and managers.

Workplace grit means showing perseverance when things go wrong. It means potentially failing repeatedly and continuing to work towards your goal. It means continuing to send out resumes for jobs even after getting rejected dozens of times. If intelligence and ability are the vehicles that get you where you need to go at your job, workplace grit is the engine that drives the car.

Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth developed a Grit Scale with Chris Peterson that measures a person's perseverance and determination. The simple questionnaire has accurately predicted success rates in everything from military careers to national spelling bees.

While grit is a personality trait that some people have naturally, you can develop it through effective work habits and a positive attitude. Read books about perseverance, and take Duckworth's Grit Test to see where you fall on the scale. This gives you an idea of where you need to improve. When you get frustrated with something, remind yourself how important workplace grit is. Reframe your problems or obstacles in your mind so they don't seem as insurmountable. For you to get anywhere in your chosen career, you have to remain your own biggest advocate.

There are often people more skilled or more qualified than you in the workplace. Instead of being intimidated by this, even the playing field with superior drive. What ultimately matters is who works the hardest, because potential alone won't get the job done. It's rare to see someone who has intelligence, ability and grit all in one package. Of those qualities, workplace grit is the one you have the most control over.

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