You likely have many employees who are good at what they do, but there are always those who stand out among the rest. Beyond talent, they bring something to the table. They never buckle under pressure, always maintain a positive attitude, and have a knack for getting tasks done quickly and efficiently. These are your most valuable employees, so you don’t want them to get away. The first step in keeping them is identifying them. Here are some key characteristics of a good employee:
They Are Well-Liked
A good employee is well-liked by fellow colleagues for reasons that extend beyond personality traits. They genuinely want others to succeed, and will do what they can to make that happen. This is because they have the big picture in mind. They recognize that by helping others with small tasks, they are helping the efforts of the company at large.
They Possess Leadership Qualities
They’re the person that the team naturally gravitates towards when management is occupied elsewhere. They’re confident in their ideas and their ability to delegate tasks. More importantly, they acknowledge the good ideas and hard work of their coworkers.
They Are Open to Criticism
A good employee looks forward to getting feedback, even when negative. For them, criticism invites the opportunity to become a stronger leader and better worker. They appreciate you taking the time to point out short comings, and they make it their goal to prove that they can improve their performance.
They Have a Positive Attitude
A positive attitude goes a long way in dealing with a stressful situation, adapting to change, and staying motivated. Good employees aren’t bogged down by stress when a problem arises. Rather, they remain calm, and rethink their approach. When things don’t go as planned, they can make a decision and get back on track quickly.
They are Self-Starters
Being a manager involves keeping your team motivated, engaged, and happy. This can be done through consistent feedback, cash bonuses, public recognition, and more. The fact of the matter is, that while a top employee appreciates such things, they aren’t necessary for motivation. For them, maintaining motivation on their own accord is just part of a job.
Final Thoughts
There are obvious reasons why you want to do whatever you possibly can to keep your best employees. For one, they produce good work at a high level. Secondly, they contribute to your success as a company. Beyond those points, when top employees stay at your organization, other hard working employees stay too. The last thing you want is for employees to be constantly coming and going. Word travels fast among young professionals in the business world. It’s only a matter of time until your company gets a reputation as being a revolving door. This could prevent talented people in your area from applying to open positions. At LinkNow Media, we recommend nurturing hard working employees. It results in two positives: the retention of talented workers and the attraction of more.
