Why building grit in the workplace matters
25 April 2024
With the often-grueling demands of the 21st-century workplace, passion alone won’t cut it, and neither can perseverance. In her bestselling book “Grit”, psychologist Angela Duckworth found that it’s grit (the combination of passion and perseverance) that becomes the significant predictor of success—and this applies to both individuals and organizations.
But first, what is grit?
Defined as the ability to sustain passions while also exemplifying hard work for a long period, grit is all about finishing strong no matter what.
Also known as resilience, numerous studies have shown its significance to employee engagement. For one, it aids job satisfaction in that it helps employees handle stress more positively. It is also found to be a building block of positive workplace relationships, as it encourages teamwork and open-minded responses to conflict.
Fostering grit in the workplace also normalizes failure and sees well-informed risks as a necessary step to innovation.
How then can you build a grittier workforce?
Implement resilience training
It could be through on demand learning and development modules, recurring workshops, a buddy system, or a combination of all three. Give your people the resources they need to establish workplace priorities, manage stress better, and face challenges head on.
Get to know your employees’ needs
While building resilience is first and foremost an individual responsibility, your people also need your support. More than just empty promises, create a safe space for your employees to be vocal about their workplace needs. Rally their cause to upper management and make sure they know that steps are being taken to address their concerns.
Don’t overly penalize failure
Show confidence in your employees by giving them the autonomy to make decisions. Don’t let mistakes hinder your people from trying new ways of working too. Remember that failures are not permanent and can even be a springboard for significant improvements.
Support their well-being
Make your employees’ well-being a priority, be it their physical or mental health. Have policies in place to allow for flexible work, especially in recovery periods between projects. Provide them access to mental healthcare support in the form of therapy or office support groups. You can also consider offering recurring well-being benefits and incentives for milestones, whether big or small.
Final thoughts
Grit is that unquenchable spirit that helps people get from Point A to Point B. It’s showing up and following through even when no one is looking. Moreover, it’s not something that anyone is born with but can be developed over time.
Set an example for your workforce to follow and see the results for yourself. Lastly, don’t forget to appreciate the efforts of your employees to exemplify grit. Let Pluxee help you craft your rewards journey to foster a more resilient workforce through meaningful rewards.
