Never, never, never give up. This quote is associated with Winston Churchill, based on his famous speech delivered during World War II. It is often used to inspire people to persevere, to hold the line, to refuse to quit no matter what–in other words, to display grit.

It is a great quote. But when I started digging deeper, I found it’s actually a shortened version of what Churchill really said: “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never–in nothing, great or small, large or petty–never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

The complete version is even more interesting. It suggests that sometimes it is better to give in or give up or quit. Churchill leaves room for discernment (the “good sense” piece).

What got me thinking about this? Somebody recently commented that grit is overrated. Their point was that grit has become so celebrated that it locks us into a kind of rigidity that doesn’t always serve us well.

Yes, grit is very often a good thing. It is not good to quit too early or flinch at every obstacle. But there are times it is wise to pause and take notice of whether something is working. Is being overly determined to stay the course helping or hurting?

Too much grit may stifle innovation. It can keep us from making course corrections. People may feel the need to keep pushing themselves past healthy limits. They may feel it is a defeat to stop and/or ask for help.

Dan Collard and I wrote a book called Rewiring Excellence. Its message is that we can hold on too long to practices that once worked very well but are no longer working. We live in a world that is very different from the world that existed even five years ago. It is okay to say, “At the time, this made sense, but now it no longer does.” It does not mean the practice was not correct. Some things need to be changed because of the external environment. And some may change due to the internal environment. The number of less-experienced people at the front line and in leadership roles often means we need to relook at the tools and make sure they are adjusted so they are doable. Less=always=consistency=better outcomes.

We do need grit — in business and in life — but we need flexible, smart, well-informed grit. 

A few tips on how to move forward with a good balance of grit and adaptability: 

Look at results. Are they where they need to be? If not, it may be time to rewire some processes or behaviors.

Figure out the non-negotiables. Then open up the table for suggestions. Get clear on the mission, values, and end goals you will persevere on. Everything else–the strategy, the tools, the timeline–can be open to review and rewiring.

Build in pause points as you move forward. Set regular checkpoints to ask: Is this still the best way forward? If it’s working, great. If it’s not, don’t be afraid to pivot.

Reward curiosity. Encourage leaders and teams to keep asking, What else might work better? Also, recognize people who spot better ways to do things and have the courage to change direction.

Stay well-informed. Make persistence a conscious choice, not a default. Seek out accurate, up-to-date information from multiple sources so your determination is grounded in reality–not outdated assumptions.

Grit is the fuel that keeps us moving when the road gets rough. But let’s not confuse endurance with progress. The organizations and leaders who thrive aren’t the ones who cling the longest to a single plan; they’re the ones who know when to press on and when to change course. 

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Quint Studer is the author of 16 books on leadership in the workplace and the community. His book Building a Vibrant Community is a valuable resource for civic leaders, business owners, and all citizens who have a stake in building a community they can be proud to call home.

In Sundays with Quint, he shares a selection of his popular leadership columns for leaders, employees, and business owners in all industries. He can be reached at Quint@QuintStuder.com.