There are no silver bullets to success but some habits and ways of being up the odds that we will flourish in life and work. Zest and grit are two characteristics that we can use to live more fulfilling and productive lives.

Zest:  a positive trait reflecting a person's approach to life with anticipation, energy, and excitement.[1]

When you have zest for your job, your work is joyful and not a chore.  The more you love your job, the better you perform it.  Obviously, the better you perform your job, the more likely you are to succeed.  For individuals and organizations, building zest is a win-win. Rarely do you see someone who hates their job putting in extra effort, but a person with zest is not only willing to put in the extra effort, they want to give their work their all.  They are excited and energized to take on new tasks.  They are enthusiastic about lifelong learning and because of this, they remain relevant and productive.

An online survey was conducted between 9/02 and 12/03 on the Authentic Happiness website (www.authentichappiness.com) which measured zest and satisfaction with work and life.  The participants were from every occupation level.  The survey results showed that "dispositional zest predicts not only general life satisfaction but also work satisfaction...".[1]

These researchers also found that zest was a predictor of work being a calling (meaning that the person's job was intrinsically tied to who they are).  A description of that person would include a description of the work they do.  They aren't just showing up every day for the paycheck.  Wow, I want more zest, how about you? The results also showed that professionals had the highest levels of zest while clerical workers had the least.  And professionals reported the highest level of seeing their work as a calling while clerical workers were again at the bottom of the list.  What this means for organizations is that while so much focus is placed on improving the performance of top professionals, we need to look at ways to make all jobs interesting, engaging, and meaningful.

So how can companies help individuals increase zest?  One approach would be to help match employees to the work that best suits their interests and design jobs that are more interesting and appealing at all levels in the organization. Fit and interest are key - when we love our work and it suits our strengths and interests, everyone wins. Another idea would be to "increase the density of energizing relationships while decreasing or eliminating those that de-energize.  One may further speculate that positive psychology exercises that cultivate gratitude and savoring, if tailored to the workplace, might also bolster zest."[2] Many of us don't take the time to savor the wonderful aspects of our work. We blast through tasks, meetings, and conversations.   

If we make some of these positive changes we can create organizations teaming with zestful employees who see their work as a calling. And this dynamic would certainly improve employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity.

If zest is the spirit and life that we bring to our work and lives, grit is a characteristic that fuels the journey forward.

   Grit:  perseverance and passion toward long-term goals[3].

There are many factors that affect why some people are more successful than others including charisma, education, intelligence, and one's social network. And research has found another reason:  grit.  Someone who has grit will keep chipping away at a goal over time while his or her less gritty counterparts will give up and go on to the next thing.  Someone who has grit will put in extra hours practicing/studying/working because the activity or outcome is vital to them. People who demonstrate grit are like terriers - they never give up. 

Why do some people have more grit?  Having focus and attention help.  In our multi-tasking, data-overloaded world it's easy to get distracted by shiny things that clamor for our attention.  New can feel more exciting! Volume also affects focus. When we feel overwhelmed by too many possibilities or tasks, it is more difficult to focus on any single goal.  And what about fear of failure? It can be a barrier, too. Why risk reaching for the stars and falling when the ground is so much closer and less likely to be painful?

If an organization can help employees increase the zest they feel for their work (yes), can we also build grit? Yes! One suggestion from Emiliya Zhivotovkaya, founder of Flourish, Inc., is to "recommend that clients keep a list of things they want to accomplish in the future.  This list reminds them that they will get to it eventually and enables them to focus on their current project."  Without the distraction of other projects beckoning, attention can be fully given to achieving the current goal.

We can also build grittier workers, teams, and departments by talking about and reinforcing perseverance, follow-through, and tidying up loose ends and by offering training that helps employees build these skills. As a natural born starter, I know that the tendency and capability to show grit is something we can and should learn.

It is also important that we don't romanticize multi-tasking at the expense of focus and follow-through.   

Have you thought about zest and grit in these ways? As a professional, which quality might you most benefit from cultivating? As leaders, how might you reinforce these important characteristics to help your employees thrive? By increasing zest and grit, we will feel happier, more energized, and more in love with our work. We will stick with projects no matter the obstacles that threaten to derail them and achieve more.  And as leaders, we will role model how to bring life and progress to work.  

Want to learn more? Check out some of the resources we referenced below. 

Book Quote: The Traits of Leadership Team Partnership

from Chapter 2: The Clash of the Titans