8 Qualities
of Remarkable Employees
Forget good
to great. Here's what makes a great employee remarkable.
Great
employees are reliable, dependable, proactive, diligent, great leaders and
great followers... they possess a wide range of easily-defined—but hard to
find—qualities.
A few hit
the next level. Some employees are remarkable, possessing qualities that may
not appear on performance appraisals but nonetheless make a major impact on
performance.
Here are
eight qualities of remarkable employees:
1. They
ignore job descriptions. The smaller the company, the more
important it is that employees can think on their feet, adapt quickly to
shifting priorities, and do whatever it takes, regardless of role or position,
to get things done.
When a key
customer's project is in jeopardy, remarkable employees know without being told
there's a problem and jump in without being asked—even if it's not their job.
2. They’re
eccentric... The best employees are often a little different: quirky,
sometimes irreverent, even delighted to be unusual. They seem slightly odd, but
in a really good way. Unusual personalities shake things up, make work more
fun, and transform a plain-vanilla group into a team with flair and flavor.
People who
aren't afraid to be different naturally stretch boundaries and challenge the
status quo, and they often come up with the best ideas.
3. But they
know when to dial it back. An unusual personality is a lot of fun...
until it isn't. When a major challenge pops up or a situation gets stressful,
the best employees stop expressing their individuality and fit seamlessly into
the team.
Remarkable
employees know when to play and when to be serious; when to be irreverent and
when to conform; and when to challenge and when to back off. It’s a tough
balance to strike, but a rare few can walk that fine line with ease.
4. They
publicly praise... Praise from a boss feels good. Praise from a peer feels
awesome, especially when you look up to that person.
Remarkable
employees recognize the contributions of others, especially in group settings
where the impact of their words is even greater.
5. And they
privately complain. We all want employees to bring issues forward, but some problems
are better handled in private. Great employees often get more latitude to bring
up controversial subjects in a group setting because their performance allows
greater freedom.
Remarkable
employees come to you before or after a meeting to discuss a sensitive issue,
knowing that bringing it up in a group setting could set off a firestorm.
6. They
speak when others won’t. Some employees are hesitant to speak
up in meetings. Some are even hesitant to speak up privately.
An employee
once asked me a question about potential layoffs. After the meeting I said to
him, “Why did you ask about that? You already know what's going on.” He said,
“I do, but a lot of other people don't, and they're afraid to ask. I thought it
would help if they heard the answer from you.”
Remarkable
employees have an innate feel for the issues and concerns of those around them,
and step up to ask questions or raise important issues when others hesitate.
7. They like
to prove others wrong. Self-motivation often springs from a desire
to show that doubters are wrong. The kid without a college degree or the woman
who was told she didn't have leadership potential often possess a burning
desire to prove other people wrong.
Education,
intelligence, talent, and skill are important, but drive is critical.
Remarkable employees are driven by something deeper and more personal than just
the desire to do a good job.
8. They’re
always fiddling. Some people are rarely satisfied (I mean that in a good way)
and are constantly tinkering with something: Reworking a timeline, adjusting a
process, tweaking a workflow.
Great
employees follow processes. Remarkable employees find ways to make those
processes even better, not only because they are expected to… but because they
just can't help it.
By: Jeff Haden
Source: Inc.
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