First, how do we define remarkable? Remarkable is defined as notably or conspicuously unusual; extraordinary, worthy of notice or attention, or even exceptional, impressive, and phenomenal. If we know what remarkable looks like, what does a remarkable employee look like? Of course this is subjective, but think about some of the qualities every employer is looking for in an employee. It’s that “thing” that sets apart good from great. But what are the qualities that really make an employee great?
Fearless - We aren’t talking about being reckless, more courageous and willing to speak up and take chances. One of my favorite quotes I live by is, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor,” which serves true to being fearless with the right parameters. We have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, because if we are always comfortable, we aren’t changing or growing. Being able to step into the realm of comfortability or a “rough sea” is an intuitive trait not every employee will possess.
Solution-Oriented - Why focus on what can’t be done when you can focus on finding a solution. To me, there are not a whole lot of things that are actually impossible. Although we have all worked with someone in our lifetime that sees most problems as just that, impossible. If you take a barrier or challenge and gauge the possibilities, you are already one step ahead. Think HOW; not IF. Employees who think like this are not only more productive, but impact the team morale significantly.
Resilient Focus - A resilient focus is an unwavering effort when faced with challenges, and being able to withstand and recover quickly from difficult conditions. But staying focused on your vision and goals is a lot easier said than done. We encourage you tie everything you do back to your goals and ultimate vision. If your duties/daily activities aren’t connected to achieving these, an employee with a truly resilient focus will initiate a reset. There is an edge that resiliency surfaces when it comes to remarkable employees.
Learners - The saying “you learn something new every day” is not an exaggeration and should be intentionally strived for. The employee that doesn’t want to learn anything new or thinks they have the answers, lacks collaboration and holds little room for improvement. This is not only unproductive for them, but for your teams. No one person knows more than all of us, and that is the truth. We want an employee with this mindset!
Humble - In addition to someone that is open to learning, remarkable employees don’t boost their achievements, they often fly under the radar because they don’t do what they do for the recognition. They are remarkable because they believe in a vision and they are passionate, committed, and authentic. We can’t go at it alone, and a humble employee knows this to be true.
Yes, we all want a team full of employees like this. So, now what? Notice we didn’t highlight role-specific skills or even generic job-related qualities like organization, punctuality, communication, etc. Yes, these are needed and should be considered, but these are the qualities when brought together make a remarkable employee. Uncovering these traits in potential and future employees is imperative to building the best team possible, which is why we’re putting together a guide on how to surface these qualities with the next generation of critical interview questions. Stay tuned until next week for our guide.
Ready to Shift?
Turn your commute into a classroom with the Shift Happens podcast. Join Joe Mechlinski, CEO of SHIFT, as he sits down with today’s most prolific icons and influencers to talk business, productivity, well-being, politics, leadership and everything in-between.
Continue your journey of discovery on iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify.
