What Makes a Quality Employee?

It's time to grow your team.

Finding the right employees feels like an uphill battle. You need help at that moment, but you understand that not just anyone will do. You need a quality employee that's really going to add to the success of your team and your business. Beyond the direct skills you'll likely need, like the ability to communicate and work in a team, you'll also want to consider the general aspects that make up a good employee. Take some time to discover if your candidate is the right fit, and you'll be on your way to not just hiring employees, but hiring quality employees.

Here are the 4 key aspects to look for in a candidate:

1. Embrace Change

Look for employees that welcome better processes, improvements for the business and are willing to try new things. If you bring in an employee that can't handle the change and instead complains, you're shooting your culture. That type of employee will hurt the morale of your other employees. 

2. Use Their Voice

You need employees that are not only capable but will speak up. Even better if they will speak when others won't or don't. Are they able to hear others, and speak to their needs?
Employees that also share the praise are an asset to your team. Taking a moment to be grateful to fellow emplolyees and acknowledging how others help and support the success of your organization is a sign of a solid addition to your team. 
It's important to the success of your company, that you have employees that feel empowered to speak up. When their opinion matters and is treated respectfully no matter the issue, they will speak and take action on the most important issues. Empowered employees are more likely to speak up when a fellow employee is providing poor service, and take immediate actions to improve the situation.

3. Able to Work on Their Own

No manager or owner wants to follow their employees around to ensure quality work, or even completed work. Look for an employee who has the capability to not only focus on the task at hand, but who can do so on their own. You should be able to hold them accountable for projects, activities or processes. They've got to establish trust with you, so you know you can count on them to do the work, and do it well. 

4. Initiative

You need an employee that will take the extra step. Not only should you be able to expect them to get their own work done, they need to be willing to help others. When I bring on a new staff member we talk about not being 'that person'. As in 'that person' that won't pick up the trash as they walk through the store. Or 'that person' that walks away when someone needs help. 

They do exist.

Some days your candidate pool may test your optimism. Trust us, keep with it. We've all been there. Just keep going through your candidates. There are plenty of high quality employees out there, you just need to uncover them. Look for signals in their resume or cover letters for the 4 qualities listed. Ask your high quality employees for referrals. 

Once you've got that quality employee, make sure to keep them engaged. Check out 7 Ways to Incentivize Your Staff for help with ideas.