Top performers are the employees that every organization desires to hire. Having such employees in your organization ensures the success and profitability of the organization. Top performers not only focus on bringing results but also try to achieve maximum profitability.
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Who is a top performer?
Differentiating a top performer from other employees is not difficult. A top performer employee exhibits the characteristics that make them a top performer. A top performer will never stick to his job profile and will always be ready to take on various responsibilities. They constantly look for work opportunities that will help them grow.
Top performers always work on improving their skills. They don’t miss any workplace opportunities to learn something new. In addition to this, they don’t shy away from spending extra hours daily to attend courses that will help them grow their potential as a leader in the organization.
Top performers are good at handling pressure and are always ready to accept responsibilities. They don’t get anxious when they are allotted some additional work; instead, they look for ways to efficiently manage their work and learn something from the opportunity.
Top performers are essential for the success of an organization. They are self-motivated and also motivate their colleagues to work hard and achieve organizational goals.
Characteristics of a top performer
1. Takes Initiative
The first and most important characteristic of top performers is the willingness to take the initiative. They are self-motivated and self-directed to achieve organizational goals. Unlike other employees, top performers don’t rely on the management to start working on a project.
They are always ready to take additional responsibilities and to work extra hours to complete a project. They always keep learning and make efforts to upgrade their skills. They are career-oriented and don’t miss any opportunity that can help in the growth of their career.
2. Open for Feedback
Another important characteristic of top performers is that they are always open to feedback. They don’t mind feedback from their management and customers, whether it is positive or negative feedback.
They appreciate detailed feedback from their managers on their work performance and ask them to point out the areas where they lack and are required to put extra effort.
They proactively stay in touch with their seniors and supervisors. They continuously try to learn from their seniors and gain knowledge from them. They use this knowledge to create opportunities that can be converted into work opportunities.
The difference between top performers and non-performer employees is that top performers don’t fear to face their manager and look forward to feedback. In contrast, non-performers try to avoid meetings with their manager and don’t like to get feedback on their work.
3. Passionate
Top performers are passionate about their work and the growth of the organization that they work for. They don’t do their work to earn their salaries or complete their working hours in the office. They do their work with full enthusiasm and interest. They put their 100% efforts to achieve organizational goals.
They are so passionate about their work that they regularly learn new skills and learn from their seniors’ experience. They consider their achievements at work as their achievements.
Top performer employees usually put in extra working hours to ensure that work can be complete on time. They are advocates of the organization. They present their organization as their organization and defend its image.
Big companies like Google and Apple hire people who are not only passionate about their personal growth but are also passionate about working in their organization. Other than the skills and qualifications, they also look for how passionate they work in their organization.
If a person is passionate about their work, they will stick with the organization thick and thin. They will not leave the organization when times become tough for the organization.
4. Take extra miles
Taking extra miles means to put extra efforts to achieve the organizational goals. They don’t just perform the duties which are mentioned in their job description. They are always ready to do additional work to complete work on time.
They work extra hard and don’t panic when problems arise. Instead, they think with a calm mind and try to find the solution for the problem. They discuss issues with their seniors and work with them to solve the issue.
Employees who put extra effort into their work also inspire other employees and encourage them to work hard to achieve the goal. They guide their colleagues whenever required.
This leaves a good impression of the colleagues on new joiners, and the trend follows. This sets a culture of too performing in the organization, which results in its growth.
5. Exhibit leadership qualities
Top performers exhibit the qualities of a leader. They don’t need anyone to lead or guide them to do their work. They are self-motivated as well as motivate their team members to do their work.
Employees with leadership qualities are an asset to an organization. They work for the growth of the organization. Top performers exhibit leadership qualities because they are looked upon by the rest of their colleagues.
They try to imitate what the top performers are doing, and in this respect, sometimes, top performers have to take charge and get things done according to them.
They show leadership qualities while training or mentoring them, and sometimes, in the absence of their manager, they may take up their role. Although this is usually temporary, in some cases, it may also become permanent. Therefore leadership qualities are essential in the top performers.
6. Accept change
Change is inevitable and accepting change happily is what makes an employee a top performer. A top performer can quickly recognize when there is a need for change and don’t delay a second to accept the change.
They not only accept the change but also encourage their colleagues to accept the change happily.
7. Detail-oriented
Another unique trait that makes an employee a top performer is their focus on detail. Their detail-oriented behavior helps them avoid making mistakes and gives them a unique perspective to look at the opportunities. They are first to notice problems in a matter and come up with a solution.
Employees who pay attention to the details are an asset to the organization. They get a better insight into the situation and help the company gain a competitive advantage over their competitors.
They do their work consciously and double-check their work to eliminate the chances of making a mistake in their work. They give 100% in their work and try to keep their customers happy and satisfied.
Their detail-oriented behavior helps an organization to retain their employees for a longer period.
8. Consistent
Top performers consistently put their 100% effort into all of their work. They make sure that all of their work is done perfectly and on time. They don’t give up when they take on work.
Their consistent performance in their work makes them a top performer. Their consistency increases their importance at work. Their management and their colleagues depend on them for their work and their knowledge on the matter.
9. Empathetic
Even though the trait of being empathetic has no direct relationship with the top performance. An empathetic person can understand the feeling better and relate to others’ emotions better. They can perform well and can relate to the feelings of others.
Empathic people plan their work by keeping the emotions of other people involved in mind and change their course of action if they find anyone not feeling comfortable with their decision.
Their empathetic behavior helps them in building a good relationship with their colleagues as well as their customers. People feel comfortable working with them, which makes them achieve their goals.
10. Have expertise
Top performers not only work hard to achieve their goals but also have expertise in their work. They use their knowledge and expertise to achieve their goals and guide their colleagues to achieve their goals.
Not only their colleagues but also their management seek their opinion on important matters.
11. Set a good example for other employees
Top performers set a good example for other employees to follow. They do their work as well as encourage other employees to work hard to achieve their goals.
Employees take inspiration from top performers to do their work and achieve their goals. Because of this reason, organizations recognize the achievements of top performers to inspire other employees to follow their path.
12. Willingness to stretch their limit
A unique characteristic of top performers is that they don’t shy away from stretching their limits to get the results. Their primary focus is to achieve their goal on time. Their manager trusts them with new projects because of this trait. They not only work hard to complete work but also learn new skills that are required for the new project.
Their willingness to stretch their limit and to learn fast helps them grow to a higher level. The top performer must be willing to stretch his limit. This will also be an example for others to follow.
Conclusion:
Top performers are essential in every organization because they are the ones who help the organization to grow. Every team expects to have a top performer because they help achieve their goals or rather go beyond them.
This results in growth for the team as well as the entire organization. They are also essential to balance out the non-performers. They bring prosperity to the business and become an integral part of the organization.
The company can expect growth only based on the top performers.
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