Lately, researchers have started looking at traits that don’t show up on transcripts. Grit and conscientiousness — once brushed off as quirks — now stand out as strong predictors of success. Angela Duckworth’s work on grit shows that sticking with tough goals often matters more than IQ.
In this piece, Learner digs into how traits like these show up in school and at work. The research makes a strong case: building character can go just as far, if not farther, than memorizing facts. And those habits can carry students well beyond graduation.
Defining the key players: Grit and conscientiousness
To see how non-academic traits drive success, you need to know the heavy hitters: grit and conscientiousness. They’re related, but each brings something different.
Grit is all about sticking with long-term goals. Psychologist Angela Duckworth broke it into two parts: perseverance of effort and consistency of interest. The first means pushing through tough stuff, even when progress is slow. The second is about staying focused over time and not getting sidetracked. Gritty students don’t just work hard; they stick with the same goal for the long haul.
Conscientiousness is broader. It’s about being dependable, organized, and disciplined. People who score high here tend to meet deadlines, stay on top of tasks, and plan ahead. Traits like diligence and self-control make it a strong predictor of academic success.
Some researchers argue grit is just a piece of conscientiousness. They both involve follow-through and goals. But others say grit stands out. One key study found that grit, specifically the perseverance part, predicts school performance even when conscientiousness is already factored in.
So while they overlap, grit’s laser focus on long-term goals gives it a unique edge, especially in school and beyond.
How grit and conscientiousness shape school success
Good grades aren’t just about IQ. Traits like grit and conscientiousness can have just as much impact, and sometimes even more.
Grit plays a big role in long-term success. Students with high grit often earn better GPAs, even if their test scores are average. One example: Ivy League students with more grit outperformed peers with higher SATs. The same trend shows up in intense programs like West Point, where cadets with grit are more likely to finish training, even when it gets brutal.
Conscientiousness also boosts academic performance, and not just because it overlaps with grit. A large meta-analysis found it strongly linked to GPA, even when IQ is taken out of the equation. That’s likely because conscientious students show up, meet deadlines, and stay organized.
IQ might help early on, but it doesn’t hold up over time. As students get older, non-cognitive traits start to matter more. One study found that from age 7 to 16, these traits — shaped partly by genetics — become increasingly important as school gets tougher.
In short, being smart helps, but grit and conscientiousness help you stick with it and succeed over the long haul.
Why grit and conscientiousness spark debate
Grit and conscientiousness offer helpful insight into what drives success, but they’re not without controversy.
First, there’s the issue of how we measure them. Most grit studies rely on self-reports, which are easy to skew. People might rate themselves higher just because grit sounds good. And since grit overlaps so much with conscientiousness, some researchers wonder if it’s really a separate trait or if it’s just a repackaged version of something we already know.
Then there’s the question of fairness. Critics say focusing on grit can put too much pressure on students from low-income backgrounds, making it seem like their struggles come down to effort alone. That kind of thinking ignores real barriers like underfunded schools or unstable housing. Still, research shows that smart, thoughtful programs can help students build grit without ignoring those bigger issues.
Grit also has a flip side. Sticking with goals is great, but not if it means hanging on to something that’s clearly not working. A student who won’t give up on the wrong major, for example, might waste time and money. Knowing when to quit, or at least change course, is just as important as pushing through.
Bottom line: traits like grit and conscientiousness matter, but so do context, flexibility, and common sense.
Why grit and conscientiousness matter long after graduation
Non-academic traits don’t stop being useful after school. In fact, grit and conscientiousness often predict how well people handle work, especially when things get tough.
Grit shows its strength during high-pressure times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, studies found that employees with more grit adapted better and kept their performance up. One standout group? Nurses. Those with higher grit levels reported less burnout and helped boost patient satisfaction. Their focus and follow-through made a real difference.
Conscientiousness is another strong career driver. Of all the Big Five personality traits, it’s the best predictor of job performance across industries. A large meta-analysis found that conscientious workers are more productive, dependable, and show up more consistently. Their time management and discipline pay off at every level.
Even top employers are paying attention. Companies like Google have shifted away from hiring based on GPA and now prioritize traits like persistence and adaptability. In fast-moving industries, being able to learn on the fly and stay motivated often matters more than your transcript.
The takeaway? Traits like grit and conscientiousness don’t just help you get through school; they help you thrive in your career.
Teaching grit and conscientiousness: What actually works
If grit and conscientiousness help drive success, the big question is: can we teach them? Research—and what’s already happening in classrooms—suggests we can.
Building grit starts with mindset. Growth mindset lessons help students see challenges as chances to grow, not threats to avoid. Teachers can back this up by breaking big tasks into smaller steps and giving steady feedback. This combination helps students stay focused and build confidence over time.
Conscientiousness needs structure. Simple tools, like planners, checklists, and consistent routines, teach students how to stay organized and follow through. Studies show that when classrooms are clear and predictable, students are more likely to develop self-control and responsibility.
Bigger changes could push this further. Some educators want to rethink standardized testing to include non-academic traits, not just scores. Others say teacher training should do more to cover social and emotional development so that schools are better equipped to grow these traits.
Bottom line: When schools weave these strategies into daily life, they’re not just helping students ace tests; they’re helping them succeed long after the final bell.
Redefining what it means to succeed
Knowledge still matters. Intelligence can open doors, especially early on. But getting through the tough stuff, like sticking with goals and handling setbacks, often depends on traits like grit and conscientiousness.
Researchers are still learning how these traits grow and change over time. Long-term studies are tracking how they develop, what influences them, and how they shape different life outcomes. At the same time, schools and employers have to think carefully about how and if they would measure these traits, since culture, upbringing, and access to support all play a role.
Even so, the lesson here is simple: real success isn’t just about acing tests. It’s about building the drive to finish what you start and the responsibility to keep moving forward.
This story was produced by Learner and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
