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.
