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5 Ways to Become a Top Performer at Any Company

People collaborating. (Canva Studio/Pexels)


By Ryan McGrath

I often get asked what I look for in new talent. What makes an employee genuinely invaluable?聽What differentiates a typical employee from聽a top performer?聽It鈥檚聽a question we鈥檝e all likely asked ourselves at some point throughout our careers.聽And while every company, field, and聽role聽requires聽a unique set of qualifications聽and technical skills,聽certain聽attributes聽are聽indispensable聽no matter聽where you聽work聽or聽what you聽do.

Here are聽the five聽attributes that characterize a聽truly聽remarkable聽employee.

1. Naturally Curious

se individuals are not at your organization just to do a job, but rather to make their mark on the company as a whole. y are deeply inquisitive, which typically means they see beyond just the roles and responsibilities outlined within a 100-word job description. Instead, they view their day-to-day work as a way to further the organization鈥檚 vision at large. y inherently connect the dots鈥攗nderstanding that each task, big or small, supports a collective push.

se employees are always present. In other words, they bring their whole selves to work and sincerely believe in the impact, and ripple effect, of a job well done. ir penchant to learn and problem-solve is not only admirable, but also insatiable. Looking for creative solutions to business problems is almost like a reflex to them. y are asking themselves the important questions, enabling them to remain proactive before a manager needs to step in鈥攗ltimately reducing feedback loops and driving companywide productivity.

2. Innate Ability to Learn

second attribute goes hand-in-hand with the first. An employee鈥檚 natural curiosity will, in most cases, sharpen his or her ability to learn quickly. Though it may sound straightforward, the propensity to learn new things quickly and effectively is an integral skill. Being able to absorb information rapidly, process it, and ultimately translate that new information into action spurs growth at scale.

I don鈥檛 give too much credence to a prospective employee鈥檚 college major. While some roles require technical knowledge, what I鈥檓 actually looking for centers around how an individual navigates ambiguity. Can he or she excel during uncertain times? When he or she is faced with an unfamiliar task, is he or she able to adapt in real time? If the last year and a half has taught us all anything, it鈥檚 this: organizations (and people) that are able to acclimate to new circumstances, by way of learning, are the ones that avert crisis and prevail in the end.

3. Able to Turn Feedback Into Action

Feedback is the foundation of any successful relationship, personal or professional. And, while giving feedback can at times be uncomfortable, having hard conversations are imperative, particularly in business. Perfection doesn鈥檛 exist, not even among standout employees, so feedback is compulsory and encouraged. What truly sets top performers apart is the way in which they react to feedback.

Are they able to see the constructive feedback for what it is? It鈥檚 challenging to reconcile with feedback at times; I can attest to this myself. A standout employee, however, uses feedback as a way to tangibly showcase improvement and growth. He or she is abundantly aware of his or her shortcomings and works diligently to transform weaknesses into strengths. setbacks motivate these employees, ultimately making them stronger and more resilient.

4. Dually Autonomous and Collaborative

Naturally, people who can work with little or no guidance are exceedingly valuable at work. y take direction well and require no handholding. That being said, top performers are not only autonomous, but they also thrive in group settings. Able to collaborate, share ideas, and grind independently, these rare individuals are a double threat鈥攊n the best possible way.

ability to work alone and with a group affords them versatility. In other words, they鈥檒l thrive in many different roles at the company鈥攅xcelling in cross-functional settings. As a CEO, you can assign them a variety of projects and rely on them; as rudimentary as that sounds, it鈥檚 critically important. Simply put, teammates respect them, managers trust them, and the organization prospers because of them.

5. Empower Those Around m

This final attribute may be the most critical. All things considered, real standout employees are the ones that make everyone around them better. If it鈥檚 a standout manager or leader, this means developing and nurturing the talent that reports to them. If it鈥檚 a junior or entry-level employee, this involves uplifting and inspiring peers they collaborate with regularly.

This component leans more on an individual鈥檚 emotional intelligence. Standout employees are able to empathize with the people they work alongside. In a lot of ways, they view their colleagues as an extension of their family. This is because they recognize that when one employee grows and succeeds, it’s a win for everyone. In the end, standout employees are simply human, and that humanness is an advantage鈥攏ot a drawback.

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