Identifying Remarkable Employees
Great employees are simply hard to find. Even in today’s economy, where the supply of labor overshadows the demand, remarkable employees are few and far in between. Identifying these individuals is not as easy as one may think. Many of the characteristics that make an employee stand out cannot be identified in an interview, but require the employee to actually be doing the job.
Here is a list of traits to look out for when trying to point out the great performers:
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They’re not limited by their job descriptions: Employees who willingly take responsibility for tasks that are not part of their formal job description are great assets. The smaller the company, the more important this trait becomes because employees are required to think quick on their feet and put on many hats in order for the company to succeed.
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They publicly praise others: Great employees recognize when a member of their team deserves praise for certain achievements and accomplishments. Their words have great impact on the morale of their group and this is always noticeable in their team’s performance.
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They complain privately and speak when others won’t: Great employees know when to speak up about an issue in public, but also know when it’s better to resolve a problem in private with their manager or colleague. They like to voice their opinion but not at the expense of the team or organization performance.
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They prove others wrong: Employees who are self-motivated to go above and beyond the call of duty to succeed are a rare breed. They take on challenges and enjoy any adversity or doubt that comes along with it. They might fail at times, but it’s their spirit and go-getter attitude that energizes them and all those around them.
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They’re never satisfied with the status-quo: Some people are never satisfied with the norm. They are always rethinking a procedure, or reworking a certain design because they believe it can always be better. The best part is that they don’t need to be asked to do it, they just can’t help it.
