EXERCISING GRIT IN CHALLENGING TIMES

The author begins with an anecdote about the first time she flew an Army Apache helicopter, and the counterintuitive lessons she drew from it that became part of her work as the founder and chief executive officer of The Grit Institute, a leadership development organization. She describes her conceptualization of grit and contrasts it with that of the well‐known grit author/researcher Angela Duckworth. Approaches to risk are discussed: training to push through the places where we feel uncomfortable for any reason requires taking smaller risks, sometimes in other areas. Not only surviving, but thriving through challenges is a dance of reconnecting to foundational principles and being willing to act confidently with only partial information, and take that action with certainty and grounded optimism. Three areas are explored in detail: (1) setting your anchor, (2) leading with audacity, and (3) staying adaptable. For the adaptable leader, grit is still required. But adaptability requires grit as well as confidence and creativity. When faced with obstacles, a leader can shut down or be resigned to circumstance, or a leader can look for opportunity, look for other ways to accomplish goals.