We are in a competitive hiring landscape. It’s tough to find good employees to help grow or sustain a business. They are the lifeblood of any business, so it’s important to find the right ones. Here’s a guide.
Think of it like this, a great employee has six (6) key characteristics that help them perform better. Expertise and education are identified through the hanging of credentials and added bullet points during their career. However, these aren’t the primary identifiers. It’s possible to have a terrible employee with extensive experience and a high level of education. Some people have untapped potential. And, those are the ones that we are looking for. The ones that slip through the cracks. Employees can miss out on perfect situations because of a lack of experience or education, but leaders that are intentional about their search can sift through to find diamonds in the rough and can mold an employee into an expert.
What Makes A Good Employee?
It’s someone that has passion and excitement for the product, service, leadership, and/or organization. When there is a natural alignment between the company’s mission and values and the employee’s purpose and passion, they will organically carry the confidence needed to overcome constraints and challenges because they feel positive and enthusiastic about the change the company is making.
If the task is tougher than the experience and expertise the employee holds, their eagerness will push them to engage and find a way to contribute to the task or project at hand. Character-driven people can sense when they are failing and will find a solution to resolve the issue. They understand and believe that each chance, whether or not it’s successful, will enable them to grow and develop.
A good employee will do what is necessary to prepare for the project ahead of time. Instead of blinding walking into a situation, a good employee researches the subject, practices their pitches, and comes into a meeting with relevant ways to engage with the overarching topic. While discussing, a good employee has strong communication skills that allow them to be confident and comfortable expressing their ideas to involved members.
Additionally, look for candidates that have a continued desire to learn instead of complacency. Are they curious? Do they ask questions? Is there an inclination for trying to understand? The age of the employee doesn’t matter, neither does their experience, or degree. What matters is their curiosity and penchant for learning. If they have a desire to learn, they will find new ways to innovate and be creative in the field. Regardless of what era or industry, there is always room to learn, grow, and innovate.
Yes, it’s possible to find all of these attributes bundled up nicely in a well-educated, and experienced candidate, however, these six characteristics are immutable in their value to a company. In today’s job climate though, it’s even harder to find. Job skills, degrees, and work experience can be developed, but passion, eagerness, preparedness, communication skills, desire to learn, and creativity are the core strengths of a good employee. See if the employee aligns with your company’s values, vision, and mission, and look at their behaviors to determine the fit.