Grit is not hard work. It is single-mindedness. Research indicates that if a candidate answers 'I finish whatever I begin' then he is most probably our candidate for performance. Or is it?

1. Grit: Is it a measure of Success?<br />We all know story of spider in a cave. King lost battle, went hiding in a cave, watched a spider climb and fall again & again, spider succeeded around 9th time, King got inspired, fought battle again, won this time. Perseverance won the day with little variables like luck, ability to wield sword etc.<br />Let us first start with a query: How can companies predict ability of an employee to perform on job, with his answer to one simple question? Fast Company came out with an article in its March 2011 issue (http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/153/true-grit.html) where it tries to answer the above question. A small story on 'Grit' (or perseverance) in action taken from article:<br />quot;
In 1990, Sally Herndon became the program manager in North Carolina for Project ASSIST, an antismoking initiative. Her mandate was to improve the public's health by reducing smoking. But how could she prevail against one of the world's most powerful lobbies -- on its home soil of North Carolina? A knockout blow seemed highly unlikely. Rather, Herndon knew that to succeed she would need to chip away at the problem.<br />Herndon and her team spent two years planning, but just as their rollout began, they suffered a terrible setback. In 1993, the tobacco industry persuaded the state legislature to pass a law mandating that 20% of the space in government buildings be reserved for smoking. Devilishly, the law limited local governments from passing stricter regulation. Herndon called it the quot;
dirty air law.quot;
<br />So the team had to chip away where it could. It started by picking a fight it thought it could win: making schools smoke free. quot;
Even tobacco farmers didn't want their kids to smoke,quot;
Herndon says. Her team had to go from school board to school board, one at a time, grinding out tough victories at the local level. By 2000, it had persuaded 10% of the state's districts to go tobacco free. In 2004, it reached 50%. In 2007, it hit 100%, thanks to a statewide ban on smoking in schools.<br />In the meantime, more fronts opened up: private hospitals, where sick patients often had to walk through secondhand plumes at entry point. Progressive hospitals declared their facilities smoke free. Then prisons, the state's General Assembly, and, finally, in 2009, restaurants and bars. Chip, chip, chip.<br />During Herndon's relentless 20-year campaign in North Carolina, the adult smoking rate had dropped by almost 25%, and millions of people have been spared the effects of secondhand smoke. Herndon's willingness to withstand such a slog in a challenging environment is an undeniable showcase of quot;
grit.quot;
<br />(adapted from Fast Company's article)<br />What the above lady showed was Grit. Grit is not hard work. It is single-mindedness. Now as per study quoted in the article if a candidate answers 'I finish whatever I begin' then he is most probably our candidate for performance. It looks good on paper atleast since researches have been conducted on it. Research in article says that presence of high Grit did predicted presence of a great performance for those test subjects. Further validation of Grit was done by subsequent research where questions indicative of Grit were validated and predicting factor was stabilized.<br />Here are both the studies for reading.<br />http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~duckwort/images/Grit%20JPSP.pdf<br />http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~duckwort/images/Duckworth%20and%20Quinn.GritS.pdf<br />Now if we HR ‘pipul’ will try to implement this study, we deserve to be masticated. Why?<br />1) Limitation of research was that there were unmeasured variables which could actually be the originator of the Grit. Second limitation was that sample size was too small and narrow. 2nd study expanded its sample size which is still limited, but atleast sample population became more varied.<br />2) I believe any test measures one-time response only at the time of test. Test-takers do not fathom the extent of choices they'll have to live with. That is, it is easy to say 'I will do, whatever it takes' in 5 seconds than to live it for 2 years on your job.<br />3) Biggest limitation is that in both studies it is still 'self-assessment questionnaire', where things usually portray 'ought to do/should do' things as 'I do that every time'. If only being rationally objective with yourself could be so easy.<br />Above conclusion that Grit is predictor of success based on self-questionnaire test is almost similar to a school approach that IQ is the only intelligence. Of so many intelligence models, Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence tests has surely impressed as one of the first steps where intelligence was considered more than the IQ. Further the model which has made sense to me is Triarchic Theory of Intelligence by Dr. Robert Sternberg. He categorizes intelligence into three parts, which are central in his theory, the triarchic theory of intelligence:<br />Analytical intelligence, the ability to complete academic, problem-solving tasks, such as those used in traditional intelligence tests. These types of tasks usually present well-defined problems that have only a single correct answer.<br />Creative or synthetic intelligence, the ability to successfully deal with new and unusual situations by drawing on existing knowledge and skills. Individuals high in creative intelligence may give 'wrong' answers because they see things from a different perspective.<br />Practical intelligence, the ability to adapt to everyday life by drawing on existing knowledge and skills. Practical intelligence enables an individual to understand what needs to be done in a specific setting and then do it.<br />As one can observe it is this same Practical intelligence aspect which tells you which goals to make, once made then to pursue, once pursued then whether to persevere for attainment and most importantly to know when to quit. Difference between Perseverance and Stubbornness is almost blurred. <br />Conclusion:<br />1) Psychological tests are good for assessment. It may indicate, but it rarely pinpoints especially en masse.<br />2) There are good researches (Grit) and bad researches (MBTI: umm...! was there even a research for it?). Even good researches can be portrayed in bad light when viewed with coloured glasses.<br />3) Chipping away at the problem is also very effective strategic tool. Eg: we can test it against inward looking tendencies or potential disciplinary issues.<br />4) Grit/Perseverance is a good trait to observe and depend upon, but it is more important to choose your goals wisely, which usually comes from experience and practical intelligence aspect.<br />Above reading was also inspired by<br />http://hrtests.blogspot.com/2011/02/grit-example-of-will-do.html<br />