First — what is Grit?

Grit can generally be described as the ability to hold onto a passion and drive to accomplish goals for a sustained period of time. It has been hailed as the character trait that can lead you to greatness, and even more than IQ, grit has been linked to overall career success. But what is it specifically about gritty employees that makes them so valuable? Well, for one thing, Gritty employees don’t give in to failure.

Everyone wants their business to succeed. In order to make this a reality, they need to hire employees with zeal. They need employees determined to constantly improve and push the limits without being impeded by fear of failure. This is exactly what employees with grit have to offer. They generally aren’t put off by setbacks and persevere to accomplish goals, which makes them a very valuable asset to the business.

People with grit are optimists. Rather than accepting a bleak outlook, they are practical problem-solvers. They evaluate everything they have at their disposal, they think outside the box, and they are often unfazed by distractions. Importantly, they are able to maintain this energy and determination long-term. This is a recipe for a highly productive, successful individual, which is likely the reason that Google has named grit as one of the most important characteristics it looks out for in promising hires.

So why hire employees with Grit?

First — let’s talk about turnover. High turnover is an ongoing concern for businesses of all size. The negative effects of turnover extend far beyond the obvious recruitment and training costs. Turnover rates can also severely impact employee engagement, employee morale, overall performance, and company-wide productivity.

We know by now that gritty individuals aren’t content with mediocrity. They take their careers, goals, and aspirations seriously. This willing nature makes them the ideal employee when it comes to onboarding. They will engage with your existing employees, ask the right questions, and ensure they are provided with all the information and means necessary to fulfill their responsibilities. They won’t be worried about approaching their supervisor when they run into a problem. This is ideal for all businesses, as we all know the importance of a good onboarding process. The first three months are critical to an employee developing an understanding of company culture as well as building a relationship with management and co-workers.

“Grit is embedded in everything we do because we’re fighting for patients who are literally fighting for their lives…. grit makes up for a lot of what someone might lack in qualifications and current skills. We can always train and develop people, but the desire to succeed, the perseverance, is the most important thing for us.” Princess Cullum, Senior Manager — Leadership & Culture, Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Individuals with grit are enthusiastic about career development. When an employee is dedicated to improving their existing skills and advancing within your company, you know you have someone on your team who can offer real value. If you’re looking to the future, stagnant employees have little to offer in terms of promoting change and catapulting levels of productivity. Employees with grit are constantly seeking ways to improve, as they generally have an overarching goal driving them. They want to be a success and they want to reach the top of their chosen career. For this reason, most employees with grit will demonstrate an ownership in their personal career development. Your company should provide clear routes and possibilities for advancement. You don’t want to risk them jumping ship in favor of another company that can offer more.

How to identify Grit during the recruitment and selection process

With this knowledge, it is critical that you make the right decisions when it comes to employee selection. During the recruitment and selection process, we are often put in the difficult position of having to choose between the most skilled or experienced candidate or the one exuding more enthusiasm and energy. Of course, a combination of the two would be ideal, but there is evidence to suggest that employees with grit have what it takes to become true successes, thereby benefiting businesses in terms of productivity in the long run.

BestHire ( www.BestHireTesting.com ) is a web-based employment testing/screening application launching in about a month. Our state-of-the-art assessments were developed by nationally recognized psychometricians with over 30 years of recruitment and selection experience. BestHire assessments are based on the latest psychological theories and psychometric developments. We’ve come a long way since the days of intelligence testing! Our fair and unbiased tests measure what it truly takes to succeed in virtually any position — Grit. Use Best Hire to ensure the success of your business or organization.

Our pre-employment tests are the BEST predictors of successful employees in any industry and position. They are designed to increase employee productivity and decrease counterproductive workplace behaviors and are guaranteed to have a significant impact on your bottom line!