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Samson J. De Sessa, FSCEO
Assistant Fire Chief
NAS Fort Worth FD Operations Division (TX)

Real “True Grit”

Enthusiasm is common, endurance is not. I define grit simply as to “Be a Finisher.” While this is simple to understand, simple does not always mean easy. The concept is easy, “stick with it no matter what,” however, when you have various obstacles and distractions getting in your way it can be very difficult to stay on task. Oftentimes, we have excuses to excuse us from completing the goals that we set out to accomplish but generally, excuses are the polite lies we tell ourselves to ‘let us off the hook.’ 

As leaders, we do not have that luxury, we must model grit. Allow your subordinates to see your passion and perseverance. A career should be viewed as a marathon, not a sprint, it will be rife with highs and lows. You may be familiar with the expression, “Smooth seas do not create skilled sailors.” Be transparent about your failures and obstacles along the way and share how you overcame them. Your personnel need to see that hindrances and obstacles are opportunities to grow and overcome. Grit is not an inherited character trait, it is a habit. Like a muscle, it can be built upon through challenges and practice. Studies have proven that quitting is habit-forming as well. As leaders, we must ask ourselves which trait we want people to associate with us “grit or quit?”

Is there anyone you work with that is quick to raise their hand when opportunities are offered for special projects or tasks but they seldom follow through? In some cases, they just want to look good to management. Based on the Dunning–Kruger effect, they may not see themselves accurately. You may even be able to walk through the work space and see the projects they started but did not complete. We also have people that work diligently at the things they enjoy doing, but when it comes to day-to-day tasks they do not have the same work ethic. 

One of our responsibilities as leaders is to assist our employees in developing their grit. We must be Grit-builders! When we have an employee that lacks grit the goal is to help them change their attitude and not merely focus on behavior modification. A positive attitude will produce long-term transformation creating improved employees and better teammates. It is beneficial to assist them in discovering their “why” or purpose for being thorough and crossing the finish line. The Lawrence Dale Bell quote “Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things.” summarizes this value perfectly. A person who works hard and follows through on commitments is said to have “Real Grit” or “True Grit.”  Those qualities should be recognized, acknowledged and celebrated as often as possible. 

True Grit is a combination of endurance, discipline and resilience. Exercising endurance does not seem as difficult if you are more focused on the “why” of the work you are doing. Motivation can be temporary, whereas discipline produces long-term dedication. Resilience enables the individual to try and fail and yet try again. Resilience has been shown in many studies to be a protective factor against PTSD, depression, and occupational burnout. In a day and age where the Fire Service, for example, is suffering more loss from suicides than on firegrounds, our brothers and sisters need to be armed with grit in order to achieve 10, 20 or even 30 years, healthy and whole. We can all benefit from building our own grit and encouraging it in those around us. Brotherhood is a verb, which takes a considerable amount of real, true grit.