Key Trait for Career Success: Grit Over IQ

September 1, 2025 - 20:19

Angela Lee Duckworth, a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, emphasizes that career success is less about high intelligence and more about a quality known as grit. Defined as a combination of passion and perseverance for long-term goals, grit has emerged as a crucial predictor of achievement across various fields. In her influential TED Talk, Duckworth presented compelling research indicating that grit consistently outperformed traditional measures of intelligence and social skills when forecasting success among diverse groups, including military cadets, students, and employees.

Duckworth connects the development of grit to the concept of a "growth mindset," which is the belief that one's abilities can improve through dedication and hard work. This mindset fosters resilience and encourages individuals to embrace challenges rather than shy away from them. Furthermore, Duckworth highlights that grit does not operate in isolation; it interacts with structural factors in one's environment, ultimately shaping the pathways to success. Her insights challenge conventional wisdom and suggest that anyone can cultivate the grit necessary to achieve their goals.