It is no secret that every business wants to hire and retain the best employees out there.
Most Human Resources (HR) Managers understand how difficult it is to find good employees, as candidates either lack specific skills or will not fit into the company culture. Business owners frequently focus solely on technical skills and fail to evaluate the qualities and characteristics that define the ideal employee. This negatively impacts culture and productivity and the organization’s overall performance.
So what does a ‘good employee’ look like in reality and what makes them truly stand out?
In our experience, here are the 5 characteristics that make an employee shine.
Good communication
In the workplace and everywhere in life, communication is key. It can affect both personal relationships and overall performance. Having the ability to clearly communicate ideas and emotions with others will remain one of the top qualities of a good employee.
Strong communication skills are valuable in almost any job. Every employee will most likely spend a significant amount of time communicating with customers, coworkers, vendors, or managers throughout their career. Having strong interpersonal skills will guarantee positive and effective interactions and help the employee stand out.
A good communicator frequently showcases the following characteristics:
- A high level of professionalism
- An open attitude toward new ideas and projects
- Active listening
Ambition
Good employees know where they want to be in the future and work on achieving that vision. Their undeniable dedication is fueled by ambition, a strong sense of support, and loyalty to their business or role. Committed employees are often more purpose-driven in both their personal and work lives, and they are more likely to work on strengthening the skills they need to advance in their careers.
Strong ethics
Being polite, well-spoken, and respectful builds solid relationships and trust at work.
Strong ethics include honesty, generosity, integrity, and reliability but are not limited to them. One quality that is often overlooked and not talked about enough is the employee’s ability to treat the company as if it were their own. They are not afraid to voice their opinions regarding important issues that affect the organization, and they are loyal to the company. They have a strong sense of responsibility and know the role they play in the success of the business.
Great things happen when managers spot these remarkable behaviours and reward them. Expressing appreciation goes a long way in retaining an employee who shows endless dedication and constant effort.
Subsequently, a good employee doesn’t take advantage of the company giving them certain benefits as a reward. They respect people who value them and place ethics at the center of their activities.
Eagerness to learn
A good employee is someone who is not afraid to ask questions. They know that learning never stops and continuously work on developing their skills and deepening their knowledge. Having the ability to keep learning from people who inspire you is a quality that will benefit you and your company as well. By showing enthusiasm to learn and staying updated on emerging technologies, employees prove to themselves and their employer that they are a long-term investment and that they have the ability to adapt to the fast-evolving business world.
Sense of leadership
Solid leadership skills in both executives and employees contribute to taking the company to higher grounds. Hiring employees with great leadership skills gives the company good chances of retaining and promoting those people who can serve as role models for others. Outstanding leadership skills include
confidence, honesty, reliability, and empathy. An employee who is able to inspire, encourage, and teach while continuously learn in parallel, is an employee who will most certainly stand out. Employees with a strong sense of initiative not only inspire but also bring new ideas that contribute to improving and developing the company.
Nurturing and developing those characteristics can help you stand out as an employee, and equally helps business owners build amazing teams who work on achieving the company’s goals and vision.
