Natural Ability vs. Dedication: Which Matters More?

Natural ability and dedication both contribute to skill development, but research shows that adopting a growth mindset—believing abilities can be improved through practice—significantly enhances learning outcomes and resilience, with therapeutic support helping individuals develop this constructive perspective for achieving personal goals.

Ever feel like you're just not naturally gifted at something others seem to master effortlessly? Dedication might be more powerful than you think — and research reveals surprising truths about talent, mindset, and what really drives success.

Should I Persevere? Natural Ability Versus Dedication

“Dedication overcomes natural ability.” Most of us have heard this phrase at some point, but how accurate is it really? Are highly successful individuals always those with innate abilities, or is commitment equally crucial?

Everyone understands that developing a skill requires practice and dedication over time. So how do we reconcile this with individuals who seem naturally gifted at something you’ve worked hard to master? Here’s what research tells us about dedication, natural ability, and their relationship.

Natural ability versus dedication

Researchers have long been interested in the relationship between innate talent and hard work. Numerous studies have attempted to determine the relative importance of these factors. Some research has shown that people can be trained to acquire abilities previously thought to be innate, from emotional intelligence to perfect pitch. One study trained twenty-four children without perfect pitch until they developed this skill, suggesting that talents don’t have to be innborn—they can be developed through dedication.

However, other researchers argue that this study actually demonstrates another factor at play: genetic predisposition. One paper notes that children in the perfect pitch study required anywhere from two to eight years to develop the skill. In other words, some individuals require significantly more time and training than others to achieve the same proficiency. This supports the “multifactorial” perspective on expertise, which holds that while training is essential for mastery, genetic factors (natural gifts) may play a significant role throughout the development process.

Even without innate talent in a particular area, you can develop considerable expertise through training. It’s also worth noting that even naturally gifted individuals must invest substantial practice time to become experts. So dedication is fundamental either way, but there’s another crucial element for success that often goes unrecognized: mindset.

The growth mindset

Attributing success solely to natural talent overlooks another important factor: the presence of a growth mindset. The concept of growth mindset versus fixed mindset provides valuable insight into this discussion. Having a growth mindset means believing that intelligence, talents, and abilities are malleable—that they can be developed through dedication and practice. Conversely, a fixed mindset assumes that these qualities are inherently static and unchangeable over time.

Since abundant research demonstrates that these traits can indeed change with effort and time, the growth mindset proves quite accurate for many situations, regardless of your natural talents. Research also indicates that your beliefs about ability development can impact your skill acquisition. In other words, believing that you’re limited to the skills and natural abilities you were born with can become a self-fulfilling prophecy—as can the opposite belief. Consider these findings from a 2018 study examining students with a growth mindset compared to a control group:

• Post-error accuracy. Individuals with a growth mindset excel at identifying errors in their performance and receiving constructive feedback. They also demonstrated higher accuracy following mistakes.
• Resilience during learning. Students generally avoid risks that expose their weaknesses, but the growth mindset counterbalances this fear. The study found that growth-minded students are “more resilient and self-managed when faced with obstacles or challenges during their learning process.”
• Motivation. The research highlights the positive correlation between people having “intrinsic motivation for performing a task at work or school” and their performance on that task, finding that the growth mindset positively impacts this type of motivation.

In summary, the researchers conclude that “the promotion of a growth mindset can nurture individuals to learn.” The mind truly is powerful.

If you’re working to develop a new skill or talent—especially if you weren’t immediately proficient—adopting a growth mindset may help as you gain experience and increase your efforts.

Defining success

When considering the dedication versus natural ability question, it’s also important to examine how you define success. Success looks different for everyone, and holding yourself to standards that don’t interest or inspire you is unlikely to sustain your motivation as you develop skills. All the natural ability in the world can’t compensate for lack of investment in what you’re trying to accomplish. Since the study mentioned above shows that motivation correlates with performance, this factor deserves consideration.

So what does success mean to you? Is it about outperforming others in your field? Or does it involve maximizing your personal abilities and engaging in activities that bring you fulfillment? Is it sufficient to know you’ve worked hard and improved your skills as a result? Consider what truly matters to you. If you’re aiming to win an Olympic gold medal in a sport you’ve just started, you may need to accept that those with both natural ability and years of practice will likely have an advantage. However, embracing alternative definitions of success can help you derive joy and satisfaction from the learning process rather than focusing on perceived deficiencies compared to others.

Tips for improving a skill, talent, or ability

We know that dedication is crucial for improving a skill, talent, or ability, regardless of your natural proficiency level. What else can support your development process? Here are some recommendations.

1. Seek (and accept) feedback

Research from 2020 demonstrates that feedback positively impacts cognitive and motor skills, though it has less effect on motivational and behavioral outcomes. This aligns with the research mentioned earlier about motivation being important for skill acquisition and being positively influenced by a growth mindset. To improve cognitive or motor skills, receiving, accepting, and applying constructive feedback is likely essential.

2. Monitor your self-talk

Extensive research has examined the power of self-talk, or how we speak to ourselves mentally. Interestingly, many studies have focused on self-talk in athletic contexts. One study tested self-talk with tennis players, finding that positive self-talk improved task performance, reduced anxiety, and moderately increased self-confidence in athletes who used it. This may relate to the growth mindset: believing in your ability to improve can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

3. Learn from your mistakes

The most accomplished performers, musicians, and athletes practice consistently to maintain their edge, even when facing obstacles. Don’t fear failure or mistakes; they’re typically essential to learning and growth, and may help you discover new approaches to achieving your goals. After all, limiting yourself to activities you can perform flawlessly from the beginning would severely restrict your life experiences. Remember the findings from the 2018 study about students and the growth mindset:

Learning from mistakes can lead to higher accuracy in subsequent attempts, provided the individual believes in their capacity to develop new skills and talents.

4. Be willing to adjust your goals

If you’ve applied all the above strategies, invested time and effort, and still struggle to reach your goal, consider whether the goal itself needs adjustment. Remember the earlier point about defining success. Is your goal truly what you believe you should pursue? Was it actually established by someone else? Is it realistic for you? These questions might lead to helpful recalibration of your desired outcome. You might also discover that while your overall vision is realistic, your timeline isn’t. Breaking your ultimate goal into smaller achievements that you can accomplish incrementally may help.

Developing a more positive mindset requires effort itself. If you’d like support in cultivating more positive self-talk, building self-confidence, or shifting your perspective on your abilities, consider speaking with a therapist who can help with these challenges. Research suggests that virtual therapy offers similar benefits to in-person therapy, making it a viable option for many seeking professional guidance. Whichever format you prefer, a trained counselor can help you shift your mindset to improve your chances of achieving your goals.

Takeaway

Natural ability certainly facilitates skill development, but research shows it’s not everything. Both talent and dedication contribute to success. Practice, learning from mistakes, and approaching the process with the right mindset are also vital components in developing abilities. If you want help maintaining a constructive mindset throughout this process, consider connecting with a mental health professional.