Angela Duckworth: The Power of Grit | The Positive Leadership Podcast with JP

Positive Leadership with Jean-Philippe Courtois
22 Mar 202473:54

TLDRIn this insightful interview, Angela Duckworth, renowned psychologist and author of 'Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,' delves into the nuances of grit, self-control, and achievement. She shares personal anecdotes about her upbringing and the profound influence of her parents on her work. Duckworth also discusses the importance of situational contexts in shaping behavior and the critical role of intrinsic motivation in goal pursuit. Furthermore, she emphasizes the value of lifelong learning and the potential of AI to augment human intellect. Angela provides practical advice on setting and aligning goals, the significance of character, and the power of positive self-talk, ultimately advocating for a life of purpose and solidarity.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 Angela Duckworth's definition of grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals, emphasizing the importance of stamina and loyalty to a chosen direction.
  • 🔥 The concept of 'grit' is not about working furiously all night but about a long-term commitment with intrinsic motivation driving the hard work.
  • 💡 Duckworth's 'hard thing rule' for her daughters involves deliberate practice, commitment to not quitting in the middle, and the intrinsic motivation to choose one's own path.
  • 🌱 The importance of a growth mindset and the belief in the ability to improve and learn from challenges is a key factor in achieving excellence and success.
  • 🧠 The brain's capacity for change and growth at any age means that everyone can develop skills like self-confidence and resilience, which are crucial for positive leadership.
  • 🔄 The three-box model of human behavior explains how our objective situation, subjective thoughts, and our responses to situations shape our actions and ultimately, our character and destiny.
  • 🚀 The rapid change in the world of work, with AI and technology, requires a new set of skills, including intellectual tenacity and persistent curiosity, to adapt and thrive.
  • 🌳 Character is likened to a tree, taking time and nurturing to grow, and is composed of virtues that are good for both oneself and others, leading to a life of fulfillment and purpose.
  • 🎯 Setting goals should involve a hierarchy, with alignment from daily tasks to long-term aspirations, ensuring that actions contribute to one's highest values and purposes.
  • 💬 Positive self-talk is a skill that can be honed, focusing one's thoughts on change, growth, and control rather than on negativity or helplessness.
  • 🤝 The value of solidarity and connection with others in pursuing common goals cannot be overstated, as it is a fundamental human need and a source of profound satisfaction.

Q & A

  • How did Angela Duckworth's father influence her understanding of grit and achievement?

    -Angela's father admired genius and was focused on achievement, instilling in Angela a lifelong obsession with excellence and a model of passion and perseverance for long-term goals.

  • What was the impact of Angela's mother on her understanding of grit and situational influences?

    -Angela initially saw her mother as altruistic and supportive but not ambitious or gritty. Later, she realized her mother also had grit and ambition, but her situation as a housewife did not support those traits, shaping Angela's understanding of how circumstances can influence one's ability to achieve their dreams.

  • How did Angela Duckworth's experience of uncertainty and indecision in her early career influence her perspective on finding one's purpose?

    -Angela's decade of indecision and uncertainty before starting her PhD made her realize that not knowing one's direction is common and that it's a messy, non-linear process. This understanding helps her empathize with young people struggling to find their purpose.

  • What is the 'hard thing rule' that Angela Duckworth implemented in her family, and what were its three parts?

    -The 'hard thing rule' is a family policy that Angela and her husband implemented to teach their daughters about perseverance and commitment. It consists of three parts: 1) the children must do something that requires deliberate practice, 2) they cannot quit in the middle, and 3) the children must choose their own 'hard thing' to foster intrinsic motivation.

  • How did Angela Duckworth's mentors, such as Martin Seligman and Carol Dweck, influence her development as a psychologist?

    -Martin Seligman, Angela's PhD advisor, encouraged her to think big and modelled scientific thinking, while Carol Dweck's work on the growth mindset highlighted the importance of viewing challenges as opportunities for growth. These influences helped shape Angela's approach to studying grit and achievement.

  • What is Angela Duckworth's top-level goal or 'telos' that gives meaning to all her work?

    -Angela Duckworth's top-level goal or 'telos' is to increase psychological wisdom, which she sees as a guiding direction for all her endeavors in psychology and helping children thrive.

  • How does Angela Duckworth define 'grit' and what are its key components?

    -Grit is defined by Angela Duckworth as passion and perseverance for long-term goals. It involves stamina, loyalty to a chosen direction, hard work, and resilience on difficult days.

  • What is the 'three box model' of human behavior that Angela Duckworth refers to, and how does it relate to achieving goals?

    -The 'three box model' consists of the situation (objective circumstances), thoughts (subjective understanding), and response (actions taken). It suggests that by examining and influencing these three areas, individuals can better understand and shape their behavior and outcomes towards their goals.

  • How did Angela Duckworth's experience with failure and challenges contribute to her development of the 'hard thing rule'?

    -Angela Duckworth's personal struggles with failure and challenges, such as her difficult year of writing, led her to the realization that perseverance and learning from obstacles are crucial for achieving long-term goals, which in turn influenced the development of the 'hard thing rule'.

  • What is Angela Duckworth's perspective on the role of AI and technology in enhancing human learning and mental models?

    -Angela Duckworth sees AI and technology as tools that can upgrade our mental models at unprecedented rates, making us wiser, smarter, and more creative. She believes that if used intentionally, these technologies can greatly enhance our learning and thinking capabilities.

  • How does Angela Duckworth view the importance of intrinsic motivation in achieving success and personal fulfillment?

    -Angela Duckworth believes that intrinsic motivation is key to achieving success and personal fulfillment. Her research shows that grit is correlated with intrinsic motivation rather than extrinsic motivation, suggesting that individuals are more likely to persevere and achieve long-term goals when driven by internal desires and values.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 The Roots of Grit and Early Life Influences

In this segment, Angela Duckworth discusses her early life, the influence of her parents, and how their perspectives on achievement and genius shaped her. Her father's emphasis on achievement and her mother's unrecognized grit serve as foundational experiences that influenced her research on grit and self-control. Angela also shares her journey to discovering her 'why', highlighting the importance of perseverance and finding one's purpose.

05:01

🌟 Navigating Parental Influence and Defining Personal Grit

Angela Duckworth delves deeper into her mother's influence, reevaluating her initial perception of her mother as non-gritty and recognizing the environmental constraints that hindered her mother's ambitions. Angela's realization of her mother's grit and the importance of situational support in achieving goals forms the basis for her new book. She also discusses the interplay of her parents' traits and the impact on her personal and professional life, emphasizing the significance of humility and understanding in the pursuit of excellence.

10:02

🌟 Finding One's Purpose and the Role of Grit

Angela Duckworth shares her personal journey of finding her purpose, acknowledging the non-linear and challenging path to self-discovery. She emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the role of grit in achieving long-term goals. Angela also discusses the concept of the 'hard thing rule' she implemented with her daughters, highlighting the value of commitment, intrinsic motivation, and the balance between passion and resilience.

15:07

🌟 The Intersection of Grit, Mentorship, and Growth Mindset

Angela Duckworth explores the intersection of grit with the concepts of growth mindset and the influence of mentors. She credits her PhD advisor, Marty Seligman, for nurturing her ambition and shaping her as a psychologist. Angela also discusses the critical role of mentors in recognizing one's potential and the importance of a support system in achieving success, countering the notion of solitary achievement.

20:08

🌟 The Three Boxes Model and Behavioral Change

Angela introduces the 'Three Boxes Model' of human behavior, explaining how objective situations, subjective thoughts, and responses interconnect to shape our actions. She emphasizes the importance of being intentional about the situations we place ourselves in, as these greatly influence our thoughts and behaviors. Angela suggests that by understanding and managing these elements, individuals can foster environments conducive to personal growth and goal achievement.

25:09

🌟 Adapting to Change and Lifelong Learning in the AI Era

Angela discusses the rapid changes in the job market due to AI and the necessity of lifelong learning. She emphasizes the importance of intellectual tenacity and curiosity, suggesting that the demand for these traits is increasing. Angela also reflects on the '10,000-hour rule', suggesting that AI has the potential to accelerate the development of sophisticated mental models, thereby enhancing human wisdom and creativity.

30:13

🌟 The Power of Passion and Intrinsic Motivation

Angela Duckworth examines the power of passion and intrinsic motivation, comparing her views on grit with Dan Pink's emphasis on autonomy, mastery, and purpose. She acknowledges the importance of these intrinsic motivators and relates them to her research on grit, highlighting that individuals are driven by the desire to engage in long-term, challenging tasks that align with their values and interests.

35:16

🌟 Cultivating Character and the Importance of Virtues

Angela discusses the concept of character, likening it to a tree that requires nurturing over time. She emphasizes the importance of virtues such as honesty, kindness, forgiveness, and curiosity, and how they are not immediately rewarding but contribute to long-term personal growth. Angela also reflects on the interconnectedness of virtues and the potential for a single act of kindness to spark a chain reaction of positive behaviors.

40:20

🌟 Setting and Achieving Goals: The Hierarchy and Alignment

Angela Duckworth explains the hierarchy of goals, from daily tasks to long-term aspirations, and emphasizes the importance of alignment between these goals. She suggests that happiness and fulfillment come from ensuring that daily actions align with deeper values and purposes. Angela also shares her personal experiences of goal alignment and the peace it brings, contrasting it with the tension and conflict of misaligned goals.

45:26

🌟 Embracing Challenges and the Role of Positive Self-Talk

Angela discusses the concept of setting challenging, audacious goals that are thrilling, important, and daunting. She aligns these ideas with psychological research, emphasizing the need for goals to be enjoyable, meaningful, and aligned with personal values. Angela also highlights the significance of positive self-talk in shaping one's mindset and achieving goals, sharing her own experiences and offering advice on nurturing a positive internal dialogue.

50:30

🌟 Fostering Solidarity and the Importance of Connection

In the concluding segment, Angela Duckworth discusses the importance of solidarity and connection with others in achieving satisfaction and fulfillment. She expresses concern about the increasing isolation experienced by many, especially young people, and emphasizes the need to counteract this through intentional efforts to build and maintain meaningful relationships. Angela shares her personal experiences of finding joy in collaborative projects and urges others to seek out opportunities for connection and solidarity.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Grit

Grit is defined as passion and perseverance for long-term goals. It is a key concept in the video, with Angela Duckworth discussing its importance in achieving success. Grit involves having the stamina to remain loyal to a chosen direction and working hard through challenges. It is contrasted with the misconception that it is merely about working intensely, highlighting that it involves a marathon-like commitment rather than a sprint.

💡Self-Control

Self-control is the ability to manage one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in the face of temptations or impulses. In the context of the video, self-control is linked to Angela Duckworth's discussion on the process model of behavior, where it is seen as a crucial aspect of the 'situation' box that influences thoughts and subsequent actions. It is also related to the idea of 'eating bitterness', a Chinese expression that implies enduring hardship to achieve long-term success.

💡Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation refers to the internal drive that spurs individuals to engage in activities for their own sake, out of interest or enjoyment, rather than for external rewards. In the video, Angela Duckworth emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation, such as curiosity and the desire for mastery, in achieving grit and long-term success. This is contrasted with extrinsic motivation, which comes from external factors like rewards or punishments.

💡Character

Character is the set of moral and ethical principles that guide an individual's behavior and decision-making. In the video, Angela Duckworth discusses character as the 'tree' to reputation's 'shadow', emphasizing that character is the foundational aspect of one's identity. She also connects character to virtues and the importance of practicing these virtues consistently to foster personal growth and positive impact on others.

💡Goals

Goals are specific, desired future states that individuals aim to achieve. They can range from immediate tasks to long-term aspirations. In the video, the concept of a hierarchy of goals is introduced, with Angela Duckworth explaining the importance of aligning lower-level goals with higher-level objectives and one's overarching purpose. Goals should be thrilling, important, and daunting to be effective motivators.

💡Positive Self-Talk

Positive self-talk refers to the internal dialogue that focuses on encouraging and affirmative messages, which can boost confidence, motivation, and resilience. In the video, Angela Duckworth highlights the significance of positive self-talk in maintaining a growth mindset and achieving goals. She contrasts this with negative self-talk, which can hinder progress and reinforce pessimistic views.

💡Solidarity

Solidarity is the feeling of unity and support among individuals with common interests or goals. In the video, Angela Duckworth emphasizes the importance of solidarity in achieving satisfaction and success, particularly in the context of collaborative work. She argues that a sense of belonging and shared purpose is essential for human well-being and can be fostered through meaningful connections and collective efforts.

💡Intellectual Tenacity

Intellectual tenacity refers to the persistent pursuit of understanding and knowledge, especially in the face of challenges or complexities. In the video, Angela Duckworth mentions that the labor market is increasingly valuing individuals who demonstrate intellectual tenacity, as it involves a deep and ongoing curiosity that drives learning and problem-solving.

💡Mental Models

Mental models are the internal representations or frameworks that individuals use to understand and make sense of the world around them. In the video, Angela Duckworth discusses the development of increasingly sophisticated mental models through practice and feedback, which is crucial for expertise and effective decision-making. She also suggests that AI has the potential to enhance these mental models, enabling individuals to think more critically and creatively.

💡Autonomy

Autonomy refers to the ability of individuals to self-govern and make decisions without external control or influence. In the video, Angela Duckworth discusses the importance of autonomy as a component of intrinsic motivation, as it allows individuals to engage in activities based on personal interest and choice, leading to greater satisfaction and performance. Autonomy is one of the three elemental human drives highlighted in self-determination theory.

Highlights

Angela Duckworth, a highly sought after international speaker, author, and researcher, discusses her work on grit and self-control.

Duckworth's book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, was a number one New York Times bestseller and has influenced many.

Angela shares her personal experiences growing up in a Chinese immigrant family and how her father's focus on achievement and genius shaped her understanding of grit.

Duckworth's new book explores how our situations can change us and how we can change our situations, focusing on the theme of grit and personal achievement.

Angela's research on West Point Academy recruits and business leaders has helped refine her theory on grit.

Grit is defined as passion and perseverance for long-term goals, emphasizing the importance of commitment and resilience.

Duckworth discusses the 'hard thing rule' she implemented with her children to teach them about perseverance and commitment.

Angela's work has been influenced by other psychologists and researchers, including Carol Dweck's growth mindset theory and Martin Seligman's PERMA model of positive emotions.

Duckworth emphasizes the importance of mentorship and the role it played in her own development as a psychologist.

The concept of the 'three box model' of human behavior is introduced, highlighting the interplay between situation, thoughts, and response.

Duckworth discusses the importance of lifelong learning and curiosity in a rapidly changing job market, emphasizing the need for intellectual tenacity.

The 10,000-hour rule is revisited, with Duckworth discussing the potential for AI to enhance our learning and mental models.

Angela shares her thoughts on intrinsic motivation and how it relates to passion, autonomy, and personal fulfillment.

Duckworth explores the concept of character, comparing it to a tree whose virtues take time to grow and nurture.

The importance of setting aligned goals and the impact of goal alignment on happiness and achievement is discussed.

Duckworth emphasizes the significance of working towards a common purpose with trusted collaborators, highlighting the value of solidarity.

The role of positive self-talk in shaping one's mindset and its impact on goal achievement is explored.

Angela Duckworth shares her daily practices for maintaining positive energy and driving it towards others, focusing on the importance of connection and collaboration.