Leaders with grit have a combination of perseverance and passion toward long-term goals. They “work strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest despite failure, adversity and plateaus in progress,” according to Angela Duckworth, PhD, in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Of the four leadership personality dimensions, grit equips leaders to have the greatest success in engaging people. As a coach, I can attest to this.
The spectrum of human personality is extremely complex, with experts debating its intricacies and nuances. In Personality at Work: The Drivers and Derailers of Leadership (McGraw-Hill Education, 2017), Dr. Warren cites five behavioral traits, which leaders exhibit along a spectrum. He has also identified four key personality dimensions that affect organizational success:
- Social intelligence and teamwork
- Deference
- Dominance
- Grit/task mastery
Leaders with Grit
Leaders with grit focus on execution and achievement, promoting and upholding high standards. They have a strong drive to succeed, are group-focused and pride themselves on being strongly motivational.
Personal initiative, ambition and a desire to make a difference characterize these leaders, who love to solve problems and set worthy team goals. Their people are drawn to their strength, determination and confidence.
Leaders with grit are extremely conscientious and disciplined, keenly aware of what’s best, what’s right and why. These organized and detail-oriented leaders understand the consequences of their actions and strive to provide the best outcomes for their people and organizations.
Curiosity motivates them to enjoy learning, thinking and creating, so it’s no surprise they’re born innovators who attract like-minded people. They can, however, get carried away with excitement and lose track of their leadership responsibilities. Surrounding themselves with administrative thinkers can help avoid this trap.
Those who lack leadership grit can work with colleagues, mentors or professional coaches to increase initiative, focus on achievement, work on planning and goal-setting, and create a vision worth pursuing. As these new skills become habits, very little prompting will be necessary. Their newfound desire for achievement will be contagious.
What do you think? How do you define leadership grit? I’d love to hear from you. You can call me at 561-582-6060, let’s talk. And as always, I can be reached here or on LinkedIn.
