Career & Finance Fridays

“When you have a choice, take your time and make the right choice because if you make the wrong choice, you will have no choice.” ― Anuj Jasani

There are certain qualities good employees share that help them perform their jobs effectively. Many employers look for these characteristics when making recruitment decisions. Understanding which qualities employers value can help you develop as a professional and excel in your workplace. In this article, we discuss what good employee qualities are, identify the importance of improving them, and highlight 10 examples of these qualities.

Importance of developing good employee qualities

Some qualities make you an asset to your employer and have immense benefits for you and your career. Here are some benefits to developing good employee qualities:

They make you more attractive to potential employers

Most employees look for certain qualities when recruiting. Often, hiring managers include these qualities in the job descriptions. While these specific qualities vary according to the role and industry, all employers value general qualities like honesty and integrity. Developing good employee qualities and including them in your resume and cover letter can improve your application success rate. You can demonstrate these qualities by incorporating them into your work experience and achievements sections. Ensure you read the job description carefully to determine which of your qualities are most relevant to the role and important to the hiring manager.

They make you a better employee

Qualities like dedication, time management, and strategic thinking help you prioritize tasks properly and complete them efficiently. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills help you with complex tasks and ensure you always deliver great work. Integrity and honesty ensure you stay dedicated to the company's values and abide by all its rules, regulations, and professional ethics. These qualities make you a valuable asset to the company and can also influence your personal life.

They help you build professional relationships

When you demonstrate qualities employers value, you become an effective employee. This makes you more admirable to your colleagues, and they're likely to want to build a professional relationship with you. Additionally, as your good qualities expose you to more career opportunities, you're likely to connect with various professionals. Many employee qualities like teamwork and interpersonal skills relate to how you treat people. Having good interpersonal skills can make you more likeable to your employer, supervisor, and colleagues. This helps you develop long-lasting professional relationships that can be very beneficial to you.

They help you advance your career

Employees with good qualities deliver excellent results and are an asset to their employers. When you include these achievements on your resume, you become more marketable and eligible for greater career opportunities. People you've worked with are more likely to refer you for opportunities or support your professional ambition when they can vouch for your qualities. Having such qualities also helps you stand out for promotions within your current workplace. Showing qualities like leadership and initiative can qualify you for managerial positions early in your career.

They can help you start your business

Many of the qualities you need to be a great entrepreneur are also those which employers value. Leadership and strategic thinking are crucial for entrepreneurs to help them direct their employees and plan their company's future. Entrepreneurs also need teamwork skills to collaborate with their management team, peers, and clients or customers. Integrity and honesty are essential traits for an entrepreneur who wants to build a loyal customer base and gain their colleagues' respect. If you plan to start your business, building good employee qualities makes you a better entrepreneur.

The best employee qualities to develop

While the good employee qualities that you need depend on your industry or field, here are some general ones that are relevant in every industry:

1. Good communication

Good communication includes the ability to write, speak, listen, and interpret non-verbal communication like body language and tone. Communication skills are important for every profession because they affect how you share information and receive instructions.As an excellent communicator, you can communicate ideas and feedback to your colleagues and supervisors in a respectable manner. These skills can also equip you to understand feedback or criticism and apply them to improve yourself. Communication skills are also essential when dealing with customers or clients. Employees with good communication skills are great at understanding customer needs and delivering suitable solutions.

2. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills refer to how you relate, influence, and interact with people. Interpersonal skills comprise all the social elements of building and maintaining relationships. Employees with good interpersonal skills typically contribute to a healthy corporate culture. With good interpersonal skills, you're likely to collaborate more effectively with your colleagues.Interpersonal skills help you understand the boundaries, strengths, and weaknesses of your colleagues. This ensures you have a more productive working relationship and fewer conflicts. It also helps you connect with and inspire your colleagues or team members.Related: Transferable Skills: Definition and Examples

3. Strategic thinking

Strategic thinking refers to the ability to make actionable plans toward a long-term goal. Strategic thinking comprises developing a plan, analyzing potential threats and opportunities, evaluating existing methods, and modifying or developing new ones. Strategic thinking helps you understand company goals and how your role relates to them. It also helps you divide your primary duties into smaller tasks and prioritize them effectively. Additionally, strategic thinking makes it easier for you to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and solve problems.

4. Integrity

Integrity refers to your ability to maintain strong moral principles and remain honest, regardless of circumstances. Employees who have integrity are trustworthy and unlikely to violate company rules or professional ethics. Integrity also includes being reliable and accountable. An employee with a strong sense of integrity is likely to meet deadlines and complete tasks thoroughly. Integrity also helps you build a stronger relationship with your colleagues as they can trust you. Finally, integrity can expose you to leadership positions, as most employers need a management team they can trust.

5. Leadership

Leadership comprises initiative, the ability to organize people to achieve a task and inspire people. Employees with excellent leadership qualities make effective team leaders. With good leadership skills, you can solve unforeseen problems without the guidance of your employer or supervisor. This makes you a more effective and reliable employee. Leadership skills can also help you inspire your colleagues to be better employees. This makes you more preferable for promotions into managerial or leadership capacities.Read more: 10 Common Leadership Styles

6. Teamwork

Teamwork refers to the ability to collaborate effectively with others on a joint task. Teamwork skills are essential in any workplace where there are multiple employees. With teamwork and collaboration, you can complete tasks faster and boost your productivity. Teamwork also allows you to share ideas with your colleagues, leading to a better quality of ideas. Teamwork comprises emotional intelligence, accountability to the team, positive criticism, and effective communication. If you have good teamwork skills, you're teachable and open to criticism. You're also able to acknowledge the skills of others and realize the extent of your strengths.Related: 5 Common Teamwork Interview Questions With Sample Answers

7. Confidence

Confidence is your ability to believe in yourself and your abilities. Confident employees are crucial to a productive workplace. When you're confident, you become a better team player because you can appreciate your coworkers' talents. You're also more likely to contribute to brainstorming sessions as you believe in the quality of your ideas. Confidence can also help employees respectfully challenge problematic decisions. This ensures that the company makes more effective decisions. By developing confidence, you can also relate to customers better and be a great company representative.

8. Problem-solving skills

Problem-solving skills help you understand the source and nature of problems and develop an effective solution. Having problem-solving skills makes you a valuable asset to your employer. Problem-solving skills include analyzing variables, applying creativity to unique issues, and making confident decisions. An essential part of problem-solving is also revising your decisions when you learn new information. You can develop problem-solving skills by understanding the fundamentals of your field and starting with small tasks and working your way up to more complex ones.

9. Conflict management skills

Conflict management skills refer to your ability to handle disputes with your colleagues productively. Conflict is inevitable in the workplace, but conflict management skills help you minimize their negative impact. With good conflict management skills, you can learn from disputes and become more sensitive to the need of your colleagues. This can help you avoid more conflict in the future and mediate conflicts between other team members objectively. Conflict management is also essential when dealing with customers and ensuring they have a pleasant experience. Finally, effective conflict management helps develop a healthy corporate culture and allows for more effective collaboration.

10. Dedication

Dedication refers to the level of commitment you have toward something. Dedicated employees understand that they're responsible for contributing to achieving company goals. When you're dedicated, you display a passion for your work. This leads to a positive work attitude and a willingness to engage in company affairs. Dedication also helps you commit time to learn and improve your skills. You're more likely to develop dedication when you work in a field and workplace you enjoy and with employers who value you.

Employment & Career

Which trait do you believe is most the important one to make for a good employee?