Seven Habits of Highly Effective Employees

In every business, effective employees have special qualities that set them apart from others. In most cases, these employees are determined to develop and retain positive habits to help them succeed and stand out from the rest. Some of these habits include the following:

1. Punctuality:

If time and priorities are well managed, an employee will always be punctual in meeting deadlines and arriving at work in a regular, timely fashion. Rather than cramming everything and starting the day with a headache, simply figure out what you are supposed to accomplish in that day, and if anything else crops up later on, make time in your schedule and do it. Punctuality entails that the employee achieves more results with minimum supervision as compared to constant supervision and guidelines with fewer results.

2. Work Well with a Team:

Being a team player is another important habit of an effective employee. Whether one is the team leader or the apprentice on board, know when to let others shine. A team player respects fellow colleagues and maintains a positive, open flow of communication. A lot can get done if everyone is playing in a team and not seeking personal credit all the time. Build a lasting support system with others and refrain from unhealthy competition and gossip, and always give credit to those who deserve it.

3. Keep the End Result in Mind:

Always do the things you are supposed to do, and keep in mind what is expected of you. It is not about what others are going to say that should fuel your motivation, but what is at stake – and the duties that have to be completed. For example, when applying for a job position, a person prepares effectively, revising all the possible questions that might be asked of him, and more. In the same token, plan and prepare as much as possible prior to executing anything that’s required from you.

4. Be Proactive:

To be proactive is to be responsible in what you do, in contrast to being reactive. An effective employee acts as per his principles and as the situation demands, while thinking fast on the resolution to the same. A reactive employee blames others and gets panicky in any situation that might come up. Also, it’s all about deciding to go a step further than what is expected from you, be it lending a hand to your fellow employees.

5. Welcome Criticism:

Rather than avoid constructive criticism, an effective employee will seek it. People make mistakes all the time, and criticism is necessary as much as it might not be agreeable to some. It calls for an employee’s attention to an unhealthy state of affairs, be it in business or anything else. On the other hand, the average employee might get hostile and defensive when constructive criticism is offered. For an effective employee, he knows that without it, he simply cannot improve.

6. Look for Gaps to Fill:

A successful employee is always looking for opportunities and weaknesses in the company to correct, and to display leadership and other essential skills. He does not sit pretty and wait for opportunities to come calling. For instance, a highly effective employee is defined by the creativity, initiative shown, and a clear pattern of the way he uses available opportunities to display his leadership skills. Efficient people work to fill gaps in a product or service; it does not matter if the work is hard or time-consuming.

7. Self-Discipline:

Effective people are those who able to do their tasks excellently even if they might not feel like doing anything at all. Most of the employees are able to work just fine when their spirits are high. The real test comes when a person feels demotivated, down and unenergetic. In this case, the average employee is likely to give in, be it absconding duty at work, or call in sick and stay at home. As an effective employee, always maintain self-discipline, whatever your state of mind might be. Receiving a paycheck comes with the responsibility that you should be giving your employer your 100 percent at all times.

Photo Source: Cabinet Office