Being a good employee demonstrates your dedication to your job. You should strive to be the finest employee possible to succeed in your career. This will help you stand out among your coworkers and expand your job options.[1] In this post, we'll go over the qualities you'll need to be a great employee, as well as the steps you'll need to take to become one.
An employee is someone who is hired by someone else( an employer) to fulfil a certain function or task and is paid for it.[2] "Anyone who performs services for you is your employee under common-law rules if you can control what will be done and how it will be done," according to the Internal Revenue Service. Employees, in comparison to other categories of workers, have unique rights and responsibilities. Employers, on the other hand, typically have more influence over their employees, but they must nevertheless fulfil their tax duties on their behalf. Contractors, freelancers, and members of the gig economy are not typically classified as employees.[3]
If you are an employee, whether you work in an office, a factory, or a restaurant, you need to work hard. Being an excellent employee can have a lot of advantages. Good employees are more likely to receive promotions, raises, good feedback, and other work incentives. A good employee can serve as a role model for their colleagues and is chosen for unique tasks. What talents can you work on honing to ensure you're regarded as an excellent employee in your workplace? Developing characteristics that are common in good employees may assist you in making a favourable impression on your company.
Characteristics of Great Employees
A great employee must possess both soft and technical skills. Soft skills are qualities that may be used in any job and include communication, teamwork, time management, adaptability, work ethic, and so on. These are meant to supplement the technical or hard skills that are specific to each trade. Unlike soft skills, which are tied to one's personality, these skills are easily quantifiable.[4]
Here are some of the most relevant qualities of a great employee;
- Dedication: A strong sense of support and commitment to a business or employment role is an example of dedication. Employees that are committed are more purpose-driven in both their personal and professional life.[5] A person who is enthusiastic about his or her employment will not feel like he or she is working. As a result, he will automatically give his all since he enjoys what he does.
- Reliability: Dependable employees are valued in the job because they demonstrate that they can complete their tasks without much supervision. Being reliable also entails arriving on time for work, contacting the appropriate authorities when he is unable to do so, and adhering to deadlines.[6]
- Teamwork: Many businesses have teams. It is vital to perform successfully not only individually but also as a member of a team. Excellent communication skills, patience, tolerance, and dedication are required for a successful collaboration. Great employees show good cooperation skills and guarantee that they are a valuable addition to their present team.[7]
- Communication skills: Great employees can communicate clearly, whether they are speaking or writing.
- Integrity: Accountability and honesty, both of which are related to integrity, are characteristics of great employees. Integrity also entails being truthful about your abilities and preferences.[8]
Other qualities include Positivity, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, flexibility e.t.c
How to Be a Great Employee
To assist you to improve your efforts to be a good employee, follow these steps;
1. Improve your soft skills: The first step in becoming a great employee is to improve your personality. Personal development will assist you in becoming a better employee. Begin by cultivating the attributes listed above. You can make it a goal and strive toward it. If your employer notices a change in your character, you'll get extra benefits.
2. Be Organized: This is a skill that benefits both you and your job. It improves efficiency and output. Maintain a clean and orderly desk, and use a planner to keep track of meeting dates, deadlines, and so on.[9] Have the tools you use on a regular basis on hand at all times.
3. Be Professional: Great employees demonstrate professionalism in their speech, attire, and behaviour at work. Respect others and refrain from making crude remarks. Follow your company's dress code and always dress modestly; don't wear stained, damaged, or dirty clothing. Superiors should be addressed by their proper titles.
4. Follow company policies, rules, and regulations: They're there to keep you secure and comfortable while you're at work. [10] Set a good example for others.
5. Keep Job performance history pristine: Absences on a regular basis, missed deadlines, reprimands for unprofessional behaviour, and an excessive number of complaints are all things you should try to prevent. It won't appear that you value your job. And it's possible that you'll get dismissed as a result.[11] Complete tasks and deliver them on time.
6. Be proactive: Take the initiative to go above and beyond the responsibilities that have been given to you. Make an extra effort if possible. However, be cautious not to be presumptuous.
7. Hard work: Yes, this has made its way into practically every point, and it's understandable because employers want people who work hard and deliver results. So focus on your task when you're at work; it's not the time to look through social media messages. Pay attention and put in your best effort to perform duties as quickly as possible.
8. Understand how to set priorities: Great employees have strong principles and a strong sense of direction; they know when to say yes and when to say no, even though they want to be proactive. If they attempted to complete all of the tasks, they would never be able to finish what is genuinely vital.
9. Make an effort to become an expert in your field: Learn everything you can about how to do a good job. This may entail learning specific programmes, tools, and other resources that will help you with your task. Attending workshops and seminars, as well as taking refresher courses, can be extremely beneficial. These provide you with the opportunity to learn new abilities while also demonstrating your commitment to enhancing your working performance.[12]
10. Interact: This is a crucial skill. Being an excellent communicator will help you form bonds with your boss, coworkers, and clients. Don't isolate yourself at work; reach out and assist others. If you require assistance, ask for it. This improves the quality of your work.
11. Pay attention to what others are saying: Handle criticism with care and put what you've learned to good use. It demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn.
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