True Grit
The Importance of grit for cybersecurity leaders
Being a cybersecurity leader in a high-risk organization today requires a unique set of skills. The nature of the job also requires personal characteristics like mental toughness, a committed and relentless pursuit of goals, perseverance and being indefatigable in the face of obstacles, sustained effort and energy over time, and follow through on commitments. It takes GRIT!
Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth, the author of “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” defines grit as focused attention, resilience, perseverance, and dedication to achieving specific long-term goals.
According to Duckworth, the ability to be gritty—to pursue what is important and be resilient and resolute in the face of challenges—is a crucial component of success independent of talent and intelligence.
Grit is important for a cybersecurity leader for several reasons –
Relentless adversaries: Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, and it takes non-stop determination to keep up and counter them.
The job is never done: Leading a team and being the face of a critical program takes constant effort, stamina, and determination to keep pushing to be better.
Difficult conversations and decisions: A cybersecurity leader must have the courage to have tough conversations, explain the reasoning, and lead through resistance to unpopular decisions.
Setbacks and obstacles: Challenges come with the territory, and cybersecurity leaders must use them as learning experiences – to assess what went wrong, adjust their strategies, and move forward.
Being calm in the center of the storm: Cyber events are stressful, and even “routine” board updates and budget meetings have high stakes. A security leader must maintain composure, think strategically, and confidently make clear-headed decisions under pressure.
Grit makes leaders determined, resilient, and adaptable in the face of the constant challenges this field throws their way. The good news is cybersecurity has a built-in source of grit – a sense of purpose. We serve a noble cause to protect others.
Everyone has the capacity for grit, and it can be developed. To build grit –
Think about the elements of your role that require grit: Do your own internal tabletop exercises of realistic scenarios and how to approach them. Anticipating potential events can help develop your confidence, problem-solving skills, decision-making under pressure, and ability to adapt.
Long-term goals: Identify goals and initiatives that will require long-term, sustained effort and adjust your mindset to running them as a marathon.
Learn from setbacks: Analyze the situation and what you can learn from it, so you can lead better through the next one.
Feed your passion: Identify what makes you most engaged and motivated – and how you can emphasize those parts of your job to stay energized for the long haul.
Practice: Characteristics such as perseverance, commitment, and work ethic align with grit. How can you practice them? Grit develops over time from habits, and developing habits takes practice.
Grit can help you become an effective and enduring leader in our demanding and dynamic field. It takes practice, clear purpose, dedication, and staying relentlessly hopeful in the face of challenges. Build daily habits that help you practice grit and develop those characteristics in the individuals on your team.
Hold Fast and Stay True!
Here is a link to Angela Lee Duckworth’s excellent TED talk on this topic –
You can also check out her book –