A child’s academic achievement is a priority for many parents in Malaysia, but it is often placed at the expense of the development of character traits and values that are even more critical in driving and sustaining their child’s future success.
Photo via Smart Parenting
In its ongoing bid to champion the belief that sport is a great teacher of important life lessons and values, MILO recently commissioned a study among educators and employers called ‘The Grit Advantage’ that aimed to uncover the key ingredient that sets the truly successful apart from the rest.
A resounding 80% of educators and employers point to “grit” as the defining factor that will take our children on the path to significant, lasting success in the 21st century.
“Grit” is defined as passion and perseverance for long-term and meaningful goals. It encompasses traits that are commonly associated with the never-give-up mindset, spirit, and attitude of champions such as courage, determination, resilience, tenacity, passion, persistence, endurance, and excellence.
In addition to the importance of grit, the study delved into the attitudes and behaviours of today’s students and young professionals that will have an impact on the way they perceive and achieve success in the future.
“For 70 years, we have been nourishing the nation with our ambition to keep Malaysians going further. The uncertainties and challenges of these current unprecedented times have set us on a course to discover grit as a critical element in a child’s development that will help them to persevere and power through what lies ahead,” said Ng Su Yen, Business Executive Officer at MILO, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad.
Here are some of the key findings of The Grit Advantage study:
1. Educators caution academics alone is not enough
Balancing academics with extracurricular activities is critical for success, according to 3 out of 4 educators. Some 71% say it is important for children to learn from failure to be successful, while 82% believe that “determination to pursue one’s goal and never give up” is the most important early predictor of success. Meanwhile, 93% believe grit is central to character building and fulfilling one’s passion.
2. Employers observe the lack of grit among today’s young professionals
Taking the easy way out is an attitude that is pervasive amongst today’s young professionals, with 79% of employers noting fragmented career paths and frequent job switches on their résumés. As many as 72% say children today need to be taught patience and a sense of purpose, while 70% agree young professionals must be open to making mistakes and learning from them if they were to achieve enduring success on their career path. When it comes to hiring talents, 7 out of 10 employers choose well-rounded individuals over those with just good grades.
Check out the full MILO Grit Advantage report here!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
