True Grit: Can Work Ethic, Mettle and Drive be Taught?

7 pages•Published: June 2, 2026

Abstract

Grit, mettle, drive and work ethic are essential skills for success in the professional workplace, but not all new graduates have these skills. This paper highlights results from a qualitative research study about work ethic in the construction industry. Both student and employer perspectives are shared. Strategies about how to teach work ethic in academic curricula at higher education institutions are also discussed.

Keyphrases: employability skills, grit, mettle, work ethic

In: Wesley Collins, Anthony Perrenoud and John Posillico (editors). Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 62nd Annual International Conference, vol 7, pages 388-394.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/Cn3c
	https://doi.org/10.29007/hrfv

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{ASC2026:True_Grit_Can_Work,
  author    = {Jennifer Warrner and Sherif Attallah},
  title     = {True Grit: Can Work Ethic, Mettle and Drive be Taught?},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 62nd Annual International Conference},
  editor    = {Wesley Collins and Anthony Perrenoud and John Posillico},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Built Environment},
  volume    = {7},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2632-881X},
  url       = {/publications/paper/Cn3c},
  doi       = {10.29007/hrfv},
  pages     = {388-394},
  year      = {2026}}

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