Applying grit to achieve greater efficiency

                    By Bayo Ogunmupe
    To win in life, you need the indomitable spirit called grit. The Germans who are known for team spirit and hard work have grit as a concept known as sitzfleisch. The concept is taught in German schools and polytechnics. You need to imbibe this stick by it spirit. If you have grit, it means you can endure lengthy or boring tasks until they are done. The cultural association is the ability to sit still for an extended period of time to get things done. Grit is the antidote to procrastination- getting things done through hard periods of uninterrupted work. The dictionary also translated it as endurance, but it can also be called 'staying power,' that you are able to sit in one place for an extended period of time.
    Sitzfleisch describes a character trait of endurance or the capacity to sit and put up with your uncomfortable tasks until they are done. It means sitting still for the long period of time required to be truly productive. It means having the stamina to work through a difficult situation and see a project through to the end. Every worthwhile endeavor requires concentration, focus and endurance. But developing grit takes practice. Getting good at anything requires time, application, perseverance and emotional courage to to keep moving. When your ultimate goal is to write a book, manage a project to conclusion, as a coach lead a team to a tournament or improve your skill for the attainment of a major goal, the process is always the same - commit time and energy to a single purpose long enough and you will get the results you are seeking. Never allow distraction get in the way of what you must do. Work on one thing at a time.
     Then, how do you cultivate grit? You have to learn getting used to the discomfort of getting things done. To gain the best chance of succeeding when practising grit, you must recognise you need to work on your endurance. You must also have the desire to improve your productivity. You must optimise your environment for focus. Never underestimate how adjusting your surroundings can make you more productive. Thus, your immediate work environment matters much more to your personal efficiency than you might think. Prime yourself for grit by taking care of the noise, notifications, and small talk around you. Indeed, the right kind of sound can relax your mind, hone your focus and drown out distractions.
     Research has found that a high level of noise hurts creativity. Says a researcher: "Process measures reveal that a moderate as   opposed to low level of noise increases processing difficulty, inducing a higher construal level and thus promoting abstract processing, which subsequently leads to higher creativity. A high level of noise, however, reduces the extent of information processing and thus impairs creativity." If you like working to music, your personal preferences will play a part in what you choose to listen to. Optimize your productivity by making your work environment a positive, attractive and organized space. Experiment, but later stick to a comfortable work environment that supports focused work.
     Your staying power in an optimized environment helps you achieve personal efficiency. "If you feel threatened by a situation, you will become stressed," writes a professor of Creative Problem Solving Tchiki Davis, PhD. "But if instead you viewed it as a challenge or an opportunity to overcome adversity- you will be able to transform your stress into invigoration." Being able to embrace your work, as a challenge, no matter how difficult, instead if viewing it as a threat, is a way to overcome the challenge of finishing what you start. The great thing about grit is that it enables you to uncover the power and courage to follow through with your unfinished work. Grit also refers you to any task you cannot muster the courage to overcome or get done.