Great Employees vs Average Employees

You might argue about some of following employee traits, in fact some of them may even bother you, but many would say that these are the qualities that make a good employee great and great employee truly remarkable. 

This list is not ours, the gist of it came from a blog post by Jeff Haden a few years back; we’ve altered it slightly to match our own experience in implementing hundreds of successful employee recognition programs. 

What makes an average employee great?

  Ø  They ignore job descriptions…they think on their feet and adapt and change quickly to shifting priorities

  Ø  They’re eccentric... people who aren't afraid to be different naturally stretch boundaries and challenge the status quo, and they often come up with the best ideas.

  Ø  But they know when to dial it back...the best employees know when to play and when to be serious; when to be irreverent and when to conform; and when to challenge and when to back off

  Ø  They praise publicly, and complain in private…Remarkable employees recognize the contributions of others, especially in group settings where the impact of their words is even greater.  But they come to your before or after a meeting to discuss a sensitive issue knowing that bringing it up in a group setting could cause a problem in the group

  Ø  They speak when others won’t…remarkable employees have an innate feel for the issues and concerns of those around them, and step up to ask questions or raise important issues when others hesitate.

  Ø  They like to prove others wrong... education, intelligence, talent, and skill are important, but drive is critical. Remarkable employees are driven by something deeper and more personal than just the desire to do a good job.

  Ø  They’re always fiddling...average employees follow processes. Remarkable employees find ways to make those processes even better.

  Ø  They volunteer and aren’t afraid to lead...average employees don’t like to do either.

When you find employees like this Recognize Them – Often!

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