Perseverance – What Is It Really?

Imagine two employees. Both are competent, driven, and start a new project with the same enthusiasm. But as the pace increases, deadlines approach, and energy runs low, something happens: one stays the course, the other starts to fall behind.

What sets them apart?
Not intelligence. Not experience.
But perseverance – the ability to keep going even when it no longer feels rewarding.

But what is it that makes some people persist longer than others? And can perseverance actually be trained – just like a muscle?

Perseverance – More Than Stubbornness

What does perseverance at work really mean? Is it the same as stubbornness – or something deeper?

Perseverance isn’t about pushing through at any cost. It’s the art of coming back, again and again, even when motivation fades.

It’s the project manager who finds a way forward despite a shrinking budget.
The salesperson who gets ten “no’s” but still makes the eleventh call.
Or the developer who tests five solutions before the sixth one finally works.

How do you react when things don’t go as planned – do you give up, or do you find a new path forward?
And what happens in organizations where perseverance is encouraged – rather than only rewarding quick results?

Perseverance isn’t hardness – it’s purposeful softness.

The Brain’s Resilience – and Its Limits

How does the brain influence our ability to persevere in everyday work?
Research shows that mental endurance isn’t just about willpower. The brain, much like our muscles, has a limited amount of energy for focus.

After a long day of meetings, our cognitive ability drops – decisions worsen, impulses grow stronger, and patience shortens. It’s not a lack of character; it’s biology.

So how can we build mental resilience without risking burnout?
What role do recovery, sleep, and microbreaks play in strengthening the brain’s endurance?

If you want to build perseverance – in yourself or in your team – it’s not about pushing harder. It’s about recovering smarter. Microbreaks, clear goals, and conscious focus resets are the brain’s best training sessions.

The Research That Changed How We See Success

Why do some people keep going, even when the odds are against them?
What does the research really say about the link between perseverance and success?

Angela Duckworth’s groundbreaking research on grit reshaped how we view performance.
She showed that it’s not the most talented who succeed – but those who endure the longest.

In studies of everyone from elite cadets to top students, perseverance predicted success better than IQ or innate talent.
Could it be that the ability to keep going, despite setbacks, is actually the most underrated skill in working life?

In other words: success depends less on how you start – and more on how you continue.

Source:
Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007).
Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087–1101.
DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087

How HR Can Use This

How can HR apply this research on perseverance in practice?
And is it really possible to identify which employees have high perseverance – or the potential to develop it?

Here’s where the research becomes practically useful.
With Jobmatch Talent, employers can gain a work-related profile based on ten main scales and their subscales, such as:

• Work Structure (planning, orderliness, attention to detail)

• Inner Drive (self-motivation, optimism, emotional balance)

• Stress Index (self-control, resilience, concentration)

• Decision-Making Character (thoughtfulness, determination, perseverance)

• Activity (energy level, tempo, engagement)

• Drive and Ambition (competitive instinct, development motivation, future orientation)

• Action, Tolerance, Social Interest, and Communication (how individuals act and interact at work)

Jobmatch Talent measures workstyle and behaviour – not personality in general.
This makes it possible to match the right people with the right roles and identify development needs, such as support in decision-making, stress management, or collaboration skills.

How would your organization change if recruitment and development were built around perseverance rather than just performance?

A manager who understands who needs variation, who thrives on structure, and who benefits from recovery holds the key to a sustainable team.

Because perseverance isn’t something you either have or don’t – it’s something you build.

Train Your Perseverance – For Real

How can you strengthen your perseverance in everyday life?
What’s an easy way to start building mental resilience today?

Try this:
Choose a simple goal – for example, read professional literature for 10 minutes every day for 30 days.
Write down when it feels difficult and what helps you keep going.

After 30 days, you’ll have learned more about your own perseverance than from any motivational book.

Perseverance isn’t about never giving up – it’s about knowing when and how to recover so you can start again.

Book Recommendation

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – Angela Duckworth
An inspiring book that shows why success is often less about talent, and more about never completely letting go of what matters most.

Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007).
Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087–1101.