They Speak Up in Meetings
Especially if you’re in a large meeting, intimidated by the higher-ups there, or don’t know much about what’s going on, it’s easy to sit tight and listen. But the people who get ahead don’t wait for permission or an invitation to speak—they make sure everyone in the room knows they have something to contribute. Even if you don’t have a suggestion? “Speaking up to advocate for a co-worker’s point of view or asking a well thought-out question can go just as far,” says leadership coach Jo Miller.
You’ve heard it a thousand times—but it consistently holds true. People who get ahead at work look to those above them and emulate not only the clothes they wear, but the ways in which they present themselves in the office, interact with others, and approach their work.
They Pitch In
At most companies, there’ll be opportunities to join committees or take on responsibilities that aren’t necessarily part of your job description: Your company is overhauling its social media procedures and needs a representative from every department to sit on the project team, say, or your office is putting on a major fundraiser and needs someone to coordinate with the event planning company. The most successful people pitch in—so they’re always right there where the action is.
Anyone can drop a complaint into the suggestion box, but the marker of a truly brilliant employee is coming up with solutions to those problems. Becoming a problem solver shows that you care—not only about your own career, but about the long-term health of the business as well.
They’re Respected by Their Colleagues
In any walk of life, you can get a general picture of somebody’s character by the way that others treat them; this is true in the workplace, too. It’s one thing for management to be impressed from afar, but if an employee is treated with respect by the peers that they spend the majority of their time with, then this is an ideal combination.
This is mainly because colleagues judge each other in a different way, and they appreciate integrity, honesty and the willingness to help each other over self-servitude. Certainly, it can help to identify if somebody is employing dirty tactics or brown-nosing in order to get ahead. Essentially, if somebody is performing well – and is liked by their peers, too – then it’s worth taking notice.
They Speak Their Mind in the Right Way
Speaking of brown-nosing, nobody likes a ‘yes’ man. Managers appreciate employees who will stand up and give an honest opinion on a particular course of action. Not only might their idea be a better one, but it also demonstrates that your employee is confident enough to disagree with you and cares enough to suggest a better way.
Of course, there are right ways and wrong ways of doing this – and a switched-on worker chooses their battles, too. For instance, if a member of staff is picking holes in everything from the cafeteria food to the corporate accounting strategy, then their voice starts to lose professional credibility. Good employees speak up only when they feel it’s necessary, and when they have something constructive to say.
Effective Communicator
Model employees will understand the importance of good communication in the workplace, and know that when done incorrectly, a simple misunderstanding can lead to a huge problem down the line. They speak clearly and clarify what they mean, leaving no room for error. They also have the ability to listen to what others are saying and digest the information before responding, showing that they have clearly thought about what they’ve just heard.
Having the ability to mediate between different situations isn’t easy – in fact, it can often be challenging to push your personal opinion aside within the workplace. However, a satisfactory employee will be able to diffuse heated situations, be empathetic towards their colleagues and consider other people’s perspectives.
Proactive
A good employee will go above and beyond their normal duties without thinking twice or complaining about it. They will find solutions to problems before even mentioning them and will be happy to get on with anything that is thrown their way.
Having the ability to discipline yourself and work hard is tricky, especially when you’re placed in an office with a number of distractions, from office gossip to workplace pranks. A valued employee, though, knows when to have a natter and when to block out distractions and get stuck into their work.
Joanna joined the CareerAddict content team in 2017, and her role has evolved into a multifaceted one over time. In between heading our CV writing services and orchestrating our digital marketing efforts, she takes the time to share her expertise in a variety of insightful and thought-provoking articles about CV writing, HR, recruitment, social media, job search strategies and more. Joanna holds both a BA and an MA in journalism, and previously worked within a variety of fields including HR and recruitment, travel, fashion and entertainment. She’s also our in-house fashion guru and enjoys cooking up a storm in her spare time.
Joanna joined the CareerAddict content team in 2017, and her role has evolved into a multifaceted one over time. In between heading our CV writing services and orchestrating our digital marketing efforts, she takes the time to share her expertise in a variety of insightful and thought-provoking articles about CV writing, HR, recruitment, social media, job search strategies and more. Joanna holds both a BA and an MA in journalism, and previously worked within a variety of fields including HR and recruitment, travel, fashion and entertainment. She’s also our in-house fashion guru and enjoys cooking up a storm in her spare time.
Resource:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/47-habits-of-highly-successful-employees
https://www.careeraddict.com/signs-good-employee
https://www.careeraddict.com/good-employee-qualities