Staying And Growing Can Be Heroic
“You can do anything you want”, is a mantra that I’ve heard parents often say to their kids, with the desire to see them maximize their potential. The concept of reaching one’s full potential has been a focal point in various fields of thought for centuries. Philosophers, psychologists, and theologians have extensively explored methods to maximize latent human potential. In The Hero with A Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell, outlines an ancient, universal pattern of adventure and transformation that many heroes in myths and stories undergo. This journey can be seen as a metaphor for personal growth and self-actualization. Campbell’s monomyth suggests that everyone has the potential to embark on their own hero’s journey, facing challenges, growing from experiences, and ultimately transforming themselves and their communities.[1]
Developing human potential has also made its way into the modern evangelical church. A cursory search on the internet reveals that even contemporary Western preachers have engaged with this theme, delivering sermons with titles such as “How to Unlock Your Potential,” “Living Up to Your Potential,” and “Releasing Your Potential.” Leaders and followers have even conscripted Jesus to help us do all of the things our little Evangelical hearts might desire by misquoting the apostle Paul (Philippians 4.10-13). He was talking about learning to be content in all circumstances while sitting in a Roman jail, not attempting fame, fortune or pursuing a big vision.
Through her research, Angela Duckworth demystifies how human potential can be developed in her important work, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. All things being equal, such as talent and IQ, grit is the determining factor in maximizing human potential. Duckworth’s research uncovers two primary elements. After examining high achievers, she wrote:
In sum, no matter the domain, the highly successful had a kind of ferocious determination that played out in two ways. First, these exemplars were unusually resilient and hardworking. Second, they knew in a very, very deep way what it was they wanted. They not only had determination, they had direction. It was this combination of passion and perseverance that made high achievers special. In a word, they had grit.[2]
Not to be confused with enthusiasm, passion is defined by Duckworth as caring about an overarching purpose in a sustained, loyal and abiding way.[3] This grand purpose is so compelling, she notes, “…that it organizes a great deal of your waking activity.”[4]
Perseverance, on the other hand, is the ability to continue to pursue the overarching goal in the face of setbacks and failure. Using an exercise metaphor, she writes, “Many of us, it seems, quit what we start far too early and far too often. Even more than the effort a gritty person puts in on a single day, what matters is that they wake up the next day, and the next, ready to get on that treadmill and keep going.”[5]
Two of the pivotal concepts presented in this book are that grit is both measurable and developable. This implies that people who are invested in their personal development, or in the development of others, have the capacity to monitor, and enhance their level of grit. Grit is not an exclusive trait possessed by a select few; rather, it is an attribute that can be nurtured by anyone. The concluding sections of the book explain that grit can be fostered internally by the individual. Additionally, grit can be cultivated within familial settings and other environments. In the subsequent discussion, I will delve into strategies that leaders can employ to develop grit.
Gritty Leaders
Duckworth points to four factors that help people develop internal grit. I will use these four to reflect on strategies leaders can use to develop their grit. They are:
- INTEREST: It is essential to discover, develop and deepen the passion of your life. Engaging in what one loves over a sustained period is crucial.[6] By aligning work to passion leaders can begin to increase their grit factor. If most of a leader’s job responsibilities lie predominantly outside of their passions, their grit will diminish. Leader’s must work hard then, to align passions with the work they are doing. If alignment is not feasible, it might signal the need to explore a different role or workplace.
- PRACTICE: Deliberate practice over a sustained period is required to make progress toward the goal.[7] Leaders need intentional practice in the skills that are required for them to succeed. In her book, Leadersmithing, Eve Poole suggests intentionally practicing core leadership skills using the metaphor of a card deck. Each suit represents a category: Diamonds for sharpness, Clubs for impact, Spades for practical tools, and Hearts for relational skills. Each card corresponds with a specific skill, with one skill to develop for each week of the year.[8]
- PURPOSE: People with grit eventually discover a life purpose that contributes to the well-being of other people. What we do matters to the larger community in which we are in.[9] In Start with Why, Simon Sinek notes that most leaders are aware of what they do and how they do it, but they have a hard time understanding and articulating the ‘Why’. Why you get out of bed every morning and why anyone should care is the only thing that sustains lasting success.[10] Helping leaders discover and articulate a clear sense of calling will be important in the development of grit.
- HOPE: Hope is not wishful thinking, but a firm belief that our actions will improve the future even if we have had setbacks.[11] Duckworth links despair and hope to pessimism and optimism. A pessimist ties failure to their identity, whereas an optimist identifies problems that need to be corrected. In church leader development, helping leaders develop a secure identity rooted in Christ can develop greater grit.
While grit is not the only predictor of success, it is certainly something to develop intentionally. Reflecting on numerous professions, Duckworth noted, “Regardless of specific attributes and advantages that help someone succeed in each of these diverse domains of challenge, grit matters in all of them.”[12] Grit underscores the importance of sustained effort and resilience in the face of challenges in every profession.
Why does it matter so much to me? For many good reasons but, as I reflect on leadership for this program, I recall a story that I heard when I was a younger leader. I heard this narrative from Pastor Michael Slaughter of Ginghamsburg Church in Ohio which serves as a poignant illustration of grit. Over his 25-plus years of service, Slaughter helped transform a struggling church into a thriving community with multiple services. During his 20th anniversary celebration, a long-time member remarked that Slaughter had not achieved any singularly great feat in any one year but had simply “stayed.” After this comment the room went silent. However, Slaughter humbly commented that what the man said was true. This man’s comment and Slaughter’s response highlights the essence of grit: the ability to persist with passion and remain committed over the long haul, even when immediate results are not apparent.
Slaughter’s story emphasizes that true leadership is not simply about talent or sporadic, monumental achievements but about consistent, dedicated effort. At the closing of his story he advised those in the room, “stay when things get hard, stay when you fail, stay when others leave”. This advice encapsulates the core of grit. This mindset is crucial for leaders who aim to not only develop their own potential but also to develop the latent potential of their ministries. Staying and persevering in the face of massive challenges, discouragement, and mundane seasons may be one of the most heroic things a leader can do with the help of Jesus.
[1] Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 3. ed., with rev, The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell 17 (Novato, Calif: New World Library, 2008).
[2] Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Kindle (Toronto: Harper Collins, 2016), 8.
[3] Duckworth, 64.
[4] Duckworth, 64.
[5] Duckworth, 50.
[6] Duckworth, 103.
[7] Duckworth, 123.
[8] Eve Poole, Leadersmithing: An Apprenticeship Approach to Making Great Leaders (London ; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Business, 2017), 74.
[9] Duckworth, Grit, 143.
[10] Simon Sinek, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (London: Portfolio Penguin, 2011), 50.
[11] Duckworth, Grit, 169.
[12] Duckworth, 12.
About the Author
Graham English
I was born in Cape Town, South Africa 30 minutes from Table Mountain, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. My family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada where I spent my teen years, met Wendy, and got married. We now live on the Canadian prairies in northern Alberta. I think God has a sense of humour. I'm a follower of Jesus, work in leadership and church development, love my family and walk a lot.13 responses to “Staying And Growing Can Be Heroic”
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Great post Graham. I laughed out loud at this line: “Leaders and followers have even conscripted Jesus to help us do all of the things our little Evangelical hearts might desire by misquoting the apostle Paul (Philippians 4.10-13).”
Why do you think the “bigger and better” is more alluring than “stay when things are hard”? how do we encourage grit in the people around us in a world where we want results quickly?
Hi Ryan, I think that “bigger and better” is potentially linked to next week’s reading. I am addressing it in my next blog.
How do we help people develop grit? Starting with the four factors in the book: interest, practice, purpose, and hope. As a leader, I want to encourage growth, development, effort etc rather than results.
Graham,
I appreciate your stody of the church in Ohio, I have never heard of it, had to look it up. I appreciated the other books you brought into this including Campbell’s.
With your work in church development, are you able to assess the grit that might be present in those with whom you work; do you have a good feel who will still be in the same ministry/same location in the next five years and who will move on?
That’s a great question, Jeff. I don’t have anything formal but I would say that our gritty leaders are developing themselves and have a support network of peers who are growing.
Graham,
Staying is such a powerful thing that we do often overlook. I often ask people if they can recall the powerful thing that Billy Graham did in the summer of 1997? They will try to think of something and then stumped, ask me what he did. I answer, “I have no idea. It is irrelevant. We don’t divide his life into such small segments. Neither should we divide our lives into such small segments. Rather, we should look at our lives with a longer focus.”
What is one thing that you did not have enough grit to stick with but you look back on now and wish you had been grittier at the time?
Love your Billy Graham question. I think back to my university days. I basically gave up on calculus because I couldn’t do it. I am disappointed that I didn’t work harder and ask for help. It’s not that I need it now, but I think I would have benefited from pressing through.
Hi Graham,
In your experience, how can church leaders effectively align their passions with their work to develop greater grit? Additionally, how does a secure identity rooted in Christ help sustain hope and purpose in their ministry?
I think we need to get into places where at least 70-80% of our work is aligned around our passions. We can work with boards or supervisors to see if it’s possible. If not, there are other opportunities out there.
A secure identity, means we are not simply attached to our work but to Christ and his call.
This is great Graham, thanks. I appreciate the detail and the examples.
My question is either about the past – Where have you found that you had to “stay” and get grittier – or the future – Where do you anticipate having to “stay” and get grittier?
Thanks Debbie, I’ll choose the future. I think it’s actually working on my NPO and implementing a solution once I’ve completed the program.
Graham, I like how you took Duckworth’s four element of grit and applied to leadership strategies. I’m curious in your experience, which of these elements do you think Christian leaders tend to neglect the most?
Great question. I think it’s the practice of certain leadership skills. Many of church leaders have been stuck in a “trait” mindset of leadership. Leaders are viewed as expert/heroes who have the answers we need. I would love to help our leaders adopt an apprenticeship approach.
However, I also see aspects of all of the others in our leaders and in my own life as well.
Hi Graham! If you could be like Pastor Michael Slaughter and just ‘stay’ in one thing, what would that be? In other words, if you could flash forward to the end of your life, what is something you hope to have ‘stayed’ in?