I read a great article the other day from LifeHealth Pro that I wanted to share.
With all the discussion about a shortage of qualified applicants for jobs, I thought this was a good take-away for those who are struggling to find a position, and even those who are employed.
Anyone can be a star performer…it’s not all about skills and education…it’s about what drives you….your ability to self-evaluate, your sense of right and wrong and your willingness to challenge
the status quo.
Here’s an excerpt from the article, Seven Qualities That Produce Star Performers:
Possessing the correct skill sets for a position in today’s economy is absolutely essential — but it’s not enough to be a star performer. With so much emphasis on job qualifications, it’s easy to give little thought to certain personal qualities that, when combined with outstanding competencies, result in extraordinary performance.
Here are personal qualities that can make a difference in the workplace:
A willingness to speak up. To set the record straight, blathering at the after-work watering hole and texting don’t count.
Speaking up is about expressing thoughtful ideas, offering suggestions, taking exception to things when appropriate, and coming to your own defense when you believe you’ve been wronged.
More than anything else, speaking up expresses a commitment to your work and your employer. It sends the signal about something important: you think for yourself, a capability that’s lacking in business.
A sense of modesty. Self-puffery is pervasive….there is the sadly mistaken notion that this is the way to do it because everyone does it. Being the exception by letting your ideas and performance speak for you may be the way to attract the attention of those who are looking to align with competent people.
People who don’t fall for “magic bullet” answers. It’s easy for businesses, both small and large, to fall prey to “magic bullet” solutions. They are dangerous because they drown out rational thought and force decisions that take the focus away from reaching sound business objectives.
People who are ruthless with themselves. Self-knowledge is perhaps the most critical trait that star performers share. A young, competent event planner alienated a key partner with her aggressive,
demanding approach. When she learned of the partner's dissatisfaction, she sought advice on how to change and was so successful that the partner declared she had undergone a metamorphosis and was a joy to work with.
David McCullough, Jr., a teacher at Wellesley High School, was equally ruthless in his 2012 graduation remarks. With utter clarity, he stated, “You are not special. You are not exceptional.” He went on to say, "You see, if everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless. ... We have of late, we Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement."
Achievement comes from being ruthless with ourselves.
People who possess a deep understanding of the customer. While this should be obvious by now, it isn’t. Far too many of us have substantial difficulty recognizing that customers can either help or hurt a business. If you want proof, just visit any nearby store or speak with almost any “customer service representative.”
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