So which are you? Great employees are reliable, dependable, proactive (isn’t that just the most superficial word?), diligent, great leaders and great followers...they possess a wide range of easy to define - but often hard to find - qualities. Yet only a few go to the next level. These people are truly remarkable, possessing qualities that don’t appear on performance appraisals but nonetheless have a major impact on performance, morale and profitability.
So what are the outstanding qualities that make extraordinary employees?
1. They defy job descriptions.
The smaller the company, the more important it is for employees to think on their feet, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and do whatever it takes to get things done.
2. They’re eccentric...The best employees are often a little quirky, sometimes irreverent, even happy to be unusual. They might seem slightly odd (but in a really good way!). Extraordinary personalities shake things up, make work more fun, and transform a ‘beige’ group into a team with flair, fervour and fire.
3. But they know when to keep it under control.Extraordinary employees know when to work, rest and play; when to be serious; when to be irreverent and when to tow the line; when to challenge and when to back off. It’s a tough balance to strike, and a rare skill.
4. They publicly praise...Acknowledgement from the boss feels good. Praise from a peer is breath taking, especially when it’s from someone you look up to. Extraordinary employees always look for and praise the achievements of others, especially in group settings where the impact is even greater.
5. And they complain privately.You want employees who bring issues forward, but some problems are best handled privately. Great employees often bring up controversial subjects in a group setting because their performance escapes greater scrutiny. Extraordinary employees come to you before or after a meeting to discuss sensitive issues, knowing that discussion in a group setting will only cause damage.
6. They speak when others won’t.Some employees hesitate about speaking up in meetings. Some won’t even speak up privately. Extraordinary employees have an innate sense of the issues and concerns of their colleagues, and step up to question or raise issues when others step back.
7. They like to prove others wrong.Self-motivation springs from a desire to put doubters on the back foot. A colleague without a degree or someone who has been told they don’t have leadership potential often possesses a burning desire to challenge that position. Drive is critical. Extraordinary employees are driven by something deeper and more personal than just the need to do a good job.
8. They’re always fiddling!Some people are never satisfied and will constantly tinker; a timeline, a process, a workflow. Great employees follow processes. Extraordinary employees find ways to improve processes, not because they are expected to…but because they just can't stop themselves.
Posted by Idealogy
No comments :
Post a Comment