As a follow-up to my last blog Are You Gritty?, I discussed the theory behind why some students fail while others succeed.  It isn’t necessarily based on one’s IQ but rather it’s based on one’s grittiness. “Grit” is related to how much one can inspire themselves, access their passions, and sustain their motivation to achieve their goals. In other words, Grit is the drive that keeps one focused on a difficult task over a sustained period of time. It is a mindset that perceives a challenge as an opportunity rather than an obstacle to overcome.

As I dove a little further into this topic, I discovered that in our role as Master Educators we can help our students develop and grow their personal Grit. This week’s tip on helping students develop and grow their grit is PRAISE.

At some point, you have probably heard myself or another Milady trainer share the concept of praise in the classroom or student salon. Giving students praise can help build their level of confidence as well as help them develop a growth mindset. When we praise students for their successes it helps them shift from the mindset of “I can’t” to “I can.”  This “I can” mindset helps foster a higher level of resilience and empowers students to succeed.  It’s important to remember that success comes in all shapes and sizes.  Praise should not only be given out for large successes, it is important that we point out even the smallest of victories as well.

Keep your eyes open for my next blog where I will review a new tip on how to help build your students’ Grit.