Have you ever been to a restaurant where the service was so fantastic that it significantly affected your dining experience? We all have. Every now and then you come across an employee who is so fantastic at what he or she does that it makes your head spin. Those people are worth their weight in gold.
Ideal employees don’t just impact customers; one can only hope that some of their behavior rubs off on other employees. After all, they go the extra mile, do what’s right and treat the company as if it were their own. Every organization has a few of these people. They are exceptional in every way.
20 qualities of an ideal employee
Model employees are highly skilled, have a can-do attitude and possess unparalleled moral character. Here are 20 qualities of an ideal employee. Will you:
- Want to create positive vibes when you walk into the room?
- Contribute instead of complaining?
- Respect your word as if it were a signed contract?
- Do what is right instead of what is easy?
- Stay away from internal company politics?
- Working independently without much guidance?
- Do things before being asked?
- Accept feedback without becoming defensive?
- Do you set high standards for yourself – and for others?
- Do what’s required even if it’s not in your job description?
- Focus on the value you deliver instead of the time you put in?
- Investing in your personal development, even though you are busy?
- Help others without keeping score?
- Accept ownership of your mistakes and learn from them?
- Celebrate the success of your colleagues instead of envying them?
- Do you expect more of yourself than anyone could ever ask for?
- Earn rewards instead of demanding them?
- Do your best instead arrange for less?
- Want to be a positive ambassador for your organization?
- Inspire greatness in others?
The gold standard employee
The gold standard employee is hardworking and dedicated. They have a positive and professional attitude, act with integrity, treat colleagues with trust and respect, and so on. The key is that all of these descriptive terms do that too not describe the skills of a person – such as an effective communicator, listener or critical thinker; they refer to the power of your moral character. That’s not to say the skills you bring to the job aren’t important, but if you want to set yourself apart from the rest, it’s not just What you do or how good you do it, but WHO you are.
If you want to be among the best of the best, you can’t just do what’s expected of you, like showing up to work on time. You must have strong moral character.
If ten people were asked to describe you as a person, what would they say? Would they use terms like passionate, humble, selfless, and honorable? Then you meet the test of a gold standard employee. If not, what changes can you make today to live a more virtuous life? Are you open to the prescribed changes? As the Dalai Lama said, “After all, the goal is not to be better than the other man, but to be your previous self.”
LISTEN … Listen to your conscience. That’s why you have one is now available as an audiobook. Check it out Amazon, Audibleor iTunes.
How would you define the ideal employee?
Leave a comment and tell us what you think, or share it with someone who could benefit from the information.
Additional reading:
How to bring out the best in people
Do you say, “It’s not my job?”
Are you doing your best or just enough to get by?
Live with honor and integrity
Mediocre behavior is a choice
Do you choose convenience over principles?
It is easier to criticize than to contribute
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