Grit Culture - lets not do it

I used to believe in grit culture. In fact I still remember a fortune from a cookie that said “if you’re not getting your desired result, work harder.” I saved it to because I thought it was funny, but I also believed in it.

In my professional experience in academia and in non-profits, I’ve noticed one large commonality between the two and that’s lauding a culture of grit.

Both academia and non-profits prey on peoples innate drive to do purposeful work and rewards it with poor compensation and poor health outcomes.

How about instead of late nights in the lab/office, we leave at a resonable time to go home to our families? How about instead of last minute emails about grant proposals from our PI/ED, we plan ahead and set up a project management schedule that works for everyone? How about we retain good quality people (especially people of color and women), and not burn them out?

It’s possible. You have to value the folks that are working with you by creating a culture that encourages them to stay. Lets stop lauding grit. Let’s chat about strategies to retain people instead.