8 Signs an
Employee Is Exceptional (Which Never Appear on Performance Evaluations)
Many are good. Some are superior. And a few--just a few--are
exceptional. Here's how to tell the difference.
We can all spot a great employee: she's dependable, proactive, hardworking, a great leader, and a
great follower. She brings a wide variety of easily defined--but hard to find--skills to the table.
Some employees, though, are exceptional. They
have skills and qualities that aren't evaluated on performance appraisals but
make a huge impact on that individual's performance, the performance of the
people around her, and especially on the company's results.
1. They think well beyond 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,
exceptional employees know without being told there's a problem, and they jump
in without being asked, even if--especially if--it's not their job.
2. They're quirky...
The best employees are often a little
different: a little eccentric, 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. And they know when to rein in their
individuality.
An unusual personality is a lot of fun--right
up until the moment 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.
Exceptional 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, and a rare
few can walk that fine line with ease.
4. They praise other people in public...
Praise from a boss feels good. Praise from a
peer feels awesome, especially when you look up to that person.
Exceptional employees recognize the
contributions of others, especially in group settings where the impact of their
words is even greater.
5. And they disagree in private.
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.
Exceptional 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 ask questions 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."
Exceptional 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 other people wrong.
Self-motivation often springs from a desire
to show that doubters are wrong. The woman without a college degree or the man
who was told he didn't have leadership potential often possesses a burning
desire to prove other people wrong.
Education, intelligence, talent, and skill
are important, but drive is critical. Exceptional employees are driven by
something deeper and more personal than just the desire to do a good job.
8. They're constantly exploring.
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.
Good employees follow processes. Great
employees tweak processes. Exceptional employees find ways to reinvent
processes, not just because they are expected to...but because they just can't
help themselves.
BY JEFF
HADEN
http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/8-signs-an-employee-is-exceptional-that-never-appear-on-performance-evaluations.html?cid=em01014week29a
No comments:
Post a Comment