Perseverance at a glance
Perseverance refers to a continuum of behaviour that results from the intensity with which you strive to meet your goals (as opposed to shifting priorities because “enough is enough”).
WHEN YOU EXCLUSIVELY ALLOW PRIORITY SHIFTS
- You will be quick to set goals to the side.
- You will have a cautious attitude.
- You will carefully measure costs.
- You will take risks seriously.
- You will have a realistic sense of self and others.
WHEN YOU EXCLUSIVELY PURSUE YOUR GOALS
- You will relentlessly pursue your goals.
- You will strive “no matter what it takes”.
- You will make undue sacrifices.
- You will prioritize goal attainment over risk.
- You may overestimate yourself and others.
Each MIPI dimension is measured on a continuum that ranges from 0 - 90.
| COMPETENCY IS ABSENT | 0 - 15 | 16 - 30 | 31 - 45 | 46 - 60 | 61 - 75 | 76 - 90 | COMPETENCY IS MAXED |
| MIDPOINT | |||||||
These continua can be subdivided into 6 “hextiles” that represent signposts of behaviour, radiating outwards from the midpoint. These hextiles appear below. Click their names for more details.
| INCREASINGLY TENDS TOWARDS PRIORITY SHIFTS |
INCREASINGLY TENDS TOWARDS GOAL ATTAINMENT |
When a client's score is malleable, the competency in question is not in the client’s repertoire. The client will almost exclusively use alternative competencies.
In the case of malleable Perseverance, the client will almost exclusively allow their priorities to shift under pressure and will seldom if ever push through adversity to attain their goals.
| Hextile: | PE-A03 |
| Representation: |
left strong |
| Nearest adjective: | “realistic” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “cautious”, “practical” |
| T-score range: | 0 - 15 |
As with all MIPI competencies, malleable Perseverance can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
- Considers cost and risk in pursuits
- Realistic expectations
- Practical about what they can control
- Careful decision making
- Developed critical thinking skills
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
- Quickly abandons goals
- Can lose sight of the “big picture”
- Excessively risk averse
- Appears pessimistic
- Regretful of missed opportunities
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
- Situations with complex risk profiles
- Situations requiring caution
- Projects with short turnarounds
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
- Brainstorming sessions with others
- Highly uncertain situations
- Projects with long timelines
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- Set your agenda together. They will benefit if you take an active role shaping outcomes.
- Set small, manageable goals. “Quick wins” will allow someone in this band to see early value.
- Do a cost-benefit analysis. This is an important skill for someone in this band to learn.
- DO NOT let them set the agenda. Someone in this band will struggle to articulate a clear goal.
- DO NOT set stretch goals. Someone in this band will not rise to them and will only become frustrated.
- DO NOT emphasize risk. Someone in this band is already sensitive to risk and will be quick to abandon a goal.
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
- Explore the difference between risk aversion and risk intolerance. This can help you identify small risks that you might be prepared to accept.
- Elevate your mood ahead of planning activities. This can reduce the intensity of your critical thinking and predispose you to be more accepting of new ideas.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Perform a qualitative risk assessment. This involves subjectively identifying the likelihood and impacts of risk events and creating plans to manage them.
- Develop an “agile approach” to your work. This involves re-organizing your plans to enjoy smaller results sooner and minimize the anxiety of uncertainty.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with malleable Perseverance.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is developing, the client has begun to use the competency but will still resort to using alternatives for most situations.
In the case of developing Perseverance, the client will tend to allow their priorities to shift under pressure, but will push through adversity to attain their goals when it feels safe to do so.
| Hextile: | PE-A02 |
| Representation: |
left moderate |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 16 - 30 |
As with all MIPI competencies, developing Perseverance can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Develop a growth mindset. This involves changing your approach to skill development in ways that encourage practice, embrace challenge and see improvement.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with developing Perseverance.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is balanced (left), the client has a good balance between the competency in question and its alteratives, but will gravitate towards alternatives under pressure.
In the case of balanced (left) Perseverance, the client is equally comfortable allowing priorities to shift under pressure and pushing through adversity to attain their goals, but will allow priority shifts when threatened or presented with an ambiguous situation.
| Hextile: | PE-A01 |
| Representation: |
left slight |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 31 - 45 |
As with all MIPI competencies, balanced (left) Perseverance can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Implement a formal approach to schedule planning. This involves using a variety of techniques to map, sequence and estimate your work.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with balanced (left) Perseverance.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is balanced (right), the client has a good balance between the competency in question and its alternatives, but will gravitate towards the competency under pressure.
In the case of balanced (right) Perseverance, the client is equally comfortable allowing priorities to shift under pressure and pushing through adversity to attain their goals, but will prioritize their goals when threatened or presented with an ambiguous situation.
| Hextile: | PE-B01 |
| Representation: |
right slight |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 46 - 60 |
As with all MIPI competencies, balanced (right) Perseverance can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Implement atomic habits. This involves making changes to your environment and behaviour that improve good habit uptake and reduce bad habit continuance.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with balanced (right) Perseverance.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is solidifying, the client has begun to explore alternatives but will still resort to using the competency in question for most situations.
In the case of solidifying Perseverance, the client will tend to push through adversity to attain their goals, but will allow their priorities to shift under pressure when it feels safe to do so.
| Hextile: | PE-B02 |
| Representation: |
right moderate |
| Nearest adjective: | “” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “”, “” |
| T-score range: | 61 - 75 |
As with all MIPI competencies, solidifying Perseverance can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
- DO NOT
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Consider the “total cost of quality”. This involves recognizing the delicate balance between prevention costs and failure costs.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with solidifying Perseverance.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.
When a client's score is reinforced, alternatives to the competency are not in the client’s repertoire. The client will almost exclusively use the competency in question.
In the case of reinforced Perseverance, the client will almost exclusively push through adversity to attain their goals and will seldom if ever allow their priorities to shift under pressure.
| Hextile: | PE-B03 |
| Representation: |
right strong |
| Nearest adjective: | “driven” |
| Adjacent adjectives: | “savvy”, “resourceful” |
| T-score range: | 76 - 90 |
As with all MIPI competencies, reinforced Perseverance can be understood through three different lenses:
- Appearance (what does this competency band look like in terms of behaviour?)
- Engagement (what is the best way to interact with a person in this competency band?)
- Development (what are some things someone in this competency band can do to improve their quality of life?)
The details of these lenses appear in the tables below (click table headings to toggle open/closed).
STRENGTHS
CHALLENGES
BEHAVIOURS
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following beneficial behaviours:
- Highly determined
- “Big picture” focused
- Easily switches tasks
- Skilled at removing obstacles
- Adaptable under pressure
Someone in this band may demonstrate the following unhelpful behaviours:
- Prone to spend unnecessarily
- Impractical expectations
- Excessively risk tolerant
- Can push others too hard
- Regretful of past sacrifices
SITUATIONS
Someone in this band may fare best
in the following situations:
- Brainstorming sessions with others
- Highly uncertain situations
- Projects with long timelines
Someone in this band may struggle
in the following situations:
- Situations with complex risk profiles
- Situations requiring caution
- Striking a work-life balance
DO
DO NOT
STRATEGIES
- Let them set the agenda. They are highly driven and will work hard towards their goals.
- Set stretch goals together. Someone in this band will likely rise to the challenge.
- Openly discuss goal costs. Someone in this band may have a tendency to overlook necessary sacrifices.
- DO NOT let them prescribe their own path. Their drive increases their risk of blind spots.
- DO NOT encourage unattainable goals. These will only leave someone in this band unhappy.
- DO NOT forget to look at indirect costs. Relationships with friends and family are a cost too.
SAMPLE STRATEGIES
SAMPLE ACTIVITY
MITIGATIONS
Mitigating strategies will help to ease some of the immediate concerns that someone in this competency band may face, but will not address underlying causes.
- Use relaxation techniques (e.g., “box breathing”) to help calm yourself when emotions run high. This will help to reduce frustration with obstacles.
- Perform a values inventory. This involves selecting adjectives that most resonate with you, so that you can remind yourself who and what is most important.
LONG-TERM
Long-term strategies will help to address deeper issues and can move the needle on this competency band. These take more time to practice and learn.
- Get “unstuck” from perseverative behaviour. This involves implementing controlled distractions to divert your attention from activities you can’t stop.
- Develop a mindset of self-compassion. This involves treating yourself with kindness, recognizing shared humanity and being mindful of difficult feelings.
The following complimentary worksheet PDF may be useful for a client with reinforced Perseverance.
For more programming ideas, including workshops, coaching suggestions, workbooks and Powerpoint slides (for both individuals and groups), please contact us.