MapMyTalent Blog IQ and EQ are not enough. You need GRIT too

Since time immemorial humans are in search of that one material which can turn any metal into gold. Since that time only humans are also in search of the mantra for success. While looking for this success mantra one found IQ in 1912 and it was believed that if one has more IQ one would be more successful. A lot was written about the concept and some employees also started using IQ tests for employee selection but after a few years it was found that only IQ was not the sure shot mantra of performance and perhaps something more was needed. Then in 1980-90 things turned towards EQ. EQ measures the emotional intelligence of people and it was believed that if one has more EQ one would be more successful in team situation and leadership situation. A recent research says that only IQ and EQ are not enough. There is something more that takes one towards success or achievement. According to the researchers it is GRIT.If we analyze achievers of different fields, we will find GRIT as a common factor. Whether it is big leaders like Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela or sports persons, entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Authors like J K Rowling, all are examples of GRIT. We all know about the struggles of Mahatma Gandhi. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in Jail before becoming the President. Steve Jobs started Apple at the age of 20 but had to quit only to come back again in Apple. J K Rowling was going through financial difficulties and her famous Harry Potter books were rejected by 12 publishers. Thomas Edison failed a 100 times before inventing the electric bulb. Our own P V Sindhu who has recently won Silver medal in Rio Olympics started training at the age of 8. All these are examples of GRIT.Another big researcher Dr Stoltz says that if we compare life to climbing a mountain, then we can have three different types of people.1. Quitters : These people quit at the first opportunity sometimes even before starting.2. Campers : These people will reach the base camp and stay there. They just avoid climbing further and enjoy the initial comfort of the base camp.3. Climbers : These people move ahead through out their lives and even in the face of difficulties they reach success.Just close your eyes and analyze which type are you?Whether you are a student, or employee or manager or leader or at any stage of life, if you want true success then you have to adopt the climber mindset and move ahead with Grit.Harvard researcher Angela Duckworth who has written the book named In Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, did extensive research on successful people and found that people who win are the ones who keep working towards their goals.If you look at it from the spiritual perspective in Gita also Bhagwan Krishna tells Arjuna to do "Purushaarth" throughout his life.So now we can conclude that Grit is essential perhaps more than IQ and EQ. Now the question arises can we learn to create grit in us or How can we have more Grit.And the answer to this question is, Yes grit can be learned. For example when one faces failure then we say that its ok, you tried your best. But rather than saying this if we say that ok, this time we are not successful. Let us find out what we can do better next time so that we are successful and then do it. then the results will be better next time. If you see successful people do this continuously. Small habits like this can enhance our mental toughness and patience. You can do a work for a long period of time only when you have a habit of it. You can control your mind by small small wins and prepare it for a big task. One can start with a small habit like of getting up a little early and going for a walk or exercising for a month without any excuse. The Indian tradition of fasting teaches us this only - Grit. So just change your habits, be self motivated and move ahead with a belief in your self and no one can stop you from being successful.