What High-Performers Do Differently [Sally Hogshead]
9 attributes of high performers
Here are nine characteristics and traits of individuals who perform well at work:
1. Focuses on their goals
Top-performing employees focus their time and energy on their goals. They evaluate their personal and professional goals and expectations at the beginning of each week and day, and then they align their behavior at work accordingly. They base their decision-making when faced with a sales- or task-related choice on whether it will enable them to achieve their objectives. People can better prepare for performance reviews and evaluations by basing their daily decisions and actions on this concept.
2. Keeps a positive demeanor
Top performers are positive when interacting with others. This holds true whenever they are conversing with a superior, a member of their team, or a subordinate. High performers know that a persons attitude affects their environment. This is why they don’t complain when given a difficult task to complete. Instead, they maintain their optimism and concentrate on what must be done to overcome a challenge. Additionally, they radiate positivity when working with teammates or coworkers and try to persuade others to do the same.
3. Shows consistent effort
Top performers are trustworthy and consistently give their all. They have positive work habits and a well-established work routine. They will always be dependable to finish their work and accomplish their objectives for other people. They act and work professionally and consistently, setting an example for other staff members.
4. Has a strong skill set
The term “workplace skills” refers to both a person’s interpersonal and relational skills as well as their technical knowledge or subject matter expertise. Top performers are extremely capable and have both technical and soft skills. They are good team players and strong problem solvers, and their flexibility and industry knowledge help them perform well under pressure.
5. Accepts constructive criticism
Constructive criticism is designed to help people improve. Top performers excel at taking constructive criticism and feedback in the workplace. They concentrate their efforts on recalling the advantages of receiving feedback. They consider the source of the suggestions or opinions and make an effort to learn from them.
Top performers try not to take criticism personally when they receive it. Instead, they probe meaningfully to make sure they comprehend how to improve. Additionally, they prepare and take proactive measures to implement the recommended changes. Finally, a top performer understands that investing in their own success by listening to constructive criticism from superiors. They always express their gratitude for the feedback because of this.
6. Looks for professional growth opportunities
Opportunities for professional development include research, additional responsibilities, and skill-based training. Top performers are constantly looking for these kinds of opportunities. They are aware that attending workshops or seminars can give them the knowledge, expertise, and self-assurance they need to perform better at work.
They actively pursue their own growth and invest time in learning and researching. A top performer appreciates the opportunities for professional growth that their employers provide. They look for new challenges at work, try to find learning opportunities on their own time, and try to broaden their range of knowledge and experience. Seven actions that one can take to advance professionally are listed below:
7. Offers respect to all people
This kind of worker is aware of the value of treating everyone with respect, regardless of their position or title. They are courteous to people and considerate. They say hello to other employees and smile. When people speak to them, top performers at work listen intently and are encouraging and kind. They try to uplift others by being courteous and helpful, and they demonstrate their respect for others by using inclusive and accepting language.
8. Acts like a leader
A workplace leader is a person who employs their knowledge and expertise to direct or manage others. Even when they don’t hold formal leadership positions, top performers always act in a leadership capacity. This demonstrates that they lead by example and care about the success of others.
A top performer is happy to help when a coworker or colleague asks for assistance. They graciously provide advice or assistance and keep their promises. Additionally, they are more likely to volunteer for the position when a superior needs someone to lead a team or manage a project.
9. Finds healthy work life balance
A person who prioritizes their personal goals and aspirations over their professional goals and objectives has a healthy work-life balance. Top performers understand that creating a work-life balance and making time for themselves are essential for developing dependable routines and performance results. Although they consistently put forth their best efforts at work, they schedule vacation time and sick days to allow themselves to recenter or reset.
What does it mean to be a high performer?
A high performer goes above and beyond to accomplish their goals and leaves tasks or assignments at work unfinished. This individual takes the initiative and focuses on enhancing their routines and behaviors at work so that the organization or team benefits from their actions. They are thoughtful team players who their superiors and coworkers can depend on.
Tips for becoming a high performer at work
Here are seven useful pointers you can use to excel in your career:
Give yourself a performance review
Your employer will typically conduct a performance review to gauge your abilities at work. These are typically formal reviews that take place once a month, once every three months, or once a year. When striving to perform at a high level, evaluate your performance in the same way that your superior or reporting manager would. Consider your actions and behaviors and consider whether they are assisting you in achieving your productivity and workplace performance goals.
Set personal performance goals
The majority of job roles include professional objectives and benchmarks that gauge a person’s output or influence at work. The first step to being recognized as a top performer is achieving those objectives and standards. The following step is to set a few more personal performance objectives.
Your personal performance review will give you insight that can be used to help you pinpoint areas where you can improve. Select one or two areas to work on at once, and hold yourself accountable by outlining concrete steps you can take to accomplish these individual objectives. For instance, if you decide that your email correspondence could be more timely, schedule three specific times each day to check and respond to emails.
Organize your workplace
Spend some time cleaning and organizing the physical location where you perform the majority of your work. People are better able to focus and keep track of their tasks when their workspace is neat and organized. Here are four steps for getting organized at work:
Align personal and professional behaviors
Think about your personal behaviors and actions outside of work. Spend some time thinking honestly about whether your personal behaviors are beneficial to or detrimental to your career. Making a few small adjustments to your daily routine can improve your success and output at work.
For instance, you might think about altering your morning routine if it frequently causes you to be late for work. You may be more on time if you prepare your work attire the night before or set your alarm 15 minutes earlier. The following list of admirable character traits can help you in your career:
Practice better communication
A person’s capacity to express their thoughts, ideas, or instructions verbally or in writing is referred to as workplace communication. You must lead with efficiency and collaborate well with others if you want to be a top performer. You can learn to communicate better by practicing active listening and reviewing your emails before you send them. Additionally, you can request formal or informal criticism from others regarding your communication skills. Sincere criticism from a dependable friend or coworker can assist you in identifying areas that require improvement.
Limit your distractions
An individual’s performance and productivity at work can be hampered by excessive distractions. Avoiding pointless web searches or scrolling, putting your personal phone in silent or do not disturb mode, and cutting back on lengthy meetings and phone calls are all effective ways to reduce distractions. Planning brief breaks throughout the day will help you cut down on the amount of time you spend engaging in pointless distractions.
Reward yourself for a job well done
Most people respond well to incentives and rewards. To become a top performer. You must fulfill all of your obligations and be dependable. A personal incentive program can be used to keep you motivated.
Consider the little things that make you happy when creating your reward system; the rewards you select don’t have to be expensive. For instance, you might decide to aim for three days a week of arriving early for work. If you succeed in that, you can have a movie night with some friends or order something from your favorite bakery.
FAQ
What are 5 characteristics of a high performer?
- They Put In The Work, Day After Day. …
- They Work At Learning Their Craft From Others. …
- They Get Feedback On Their Performance. …
- With each assignment, they seek out opportunities to learn and advance.
- They Demand Top Compensation For Top Performance. …
- They Direct Their Own Learning.
What is a high performer employee?
- Stress flexibility, not micromanagement. …
- Give consistent, constructive feedback. …
- Give them what they need to succeed. …
- Tell them how they can contribute and benefit. …
- Provide opportunities for personal and professional growth. …
- Group your top performers with like-minded employees.
How do you identify high performers low performers?
- Quality as job one. Top performers prioritize quality over just getting things done.
- Skills development. …
- Fearless decision-making. …
- Desire for input. …
- Self-direction. …
- Cool under pressure. …
- Good people skills.
What do high performers want?
- Clear common goal. Everyone is aware of the objective, shares its conviction, and comprehends the strategy for achieving it.
- Clear roles. …
- Clear deadlines. …
- Trust + Respect. …
- Fun.
