Everyone is looking for the skills of top performers, and we all want to know what they have that makes them so successful.
If you’re reading this article, then I’m assuming you are one of those people. You’ve probably seen lists in your social media feed or on other blogs with things like “good communication skills” or “strong work ethic.” Those definitely matter when it comes to being a top performer and achieving success in the workplace. But there’s more than just those skill sets, as any top performer will tell you.
So here are some not-so-obvious qualities that many high achievers possess!
You will learn about:
High performers have a competitive edge. They are not satisfied with just getting the job done, and they strive for more. They push boundaries and take their ideas further, trying harder until it’s perfect.
People with this mindset enjoy conquering challenges. They are the people other top performers admire, and they embrace opportunities to stretch their abilities.
These high achievers know that taking on a project beyond their reach means new learning and growth. Growth is important because it makes us more valuable in our careers, affecting how we are compensated.
High performers also embrace these challenges because it helps them stand out from their peers. It shows that they are leaders and creative thinkers who aren’t afraid to take on something new or risky.
They know that doing the same job as everyone else makes them replaceable and hardens their skill set. Taking on a new project makes you better at what you do.
Top performers know how to spot when their company needs them the most.
They know who is important and relevant in the organization and understand what opportunities are available for advancement.
High performers take Advantage of these opportunities by offering their assistance or coaching a colleague on a project that could use an extra set of hands.
Once they identify a project that would benefit from their skills, high performers start brushing up on those new areas of expertise.
They may spend the afternoon exploring a new coding language online, or they might spend an hour on the weekend reading through an industry blog.
High performers are willing to learn and put in the time to gain new skills.
When you look at what top-performing professionals have achieved, it is clear that their willingness to go above and beyond has played a huge role in their successes.
Now that we know what high performers are doing to stand out, let’s look at the not-so-obvious skills you need to be a top performer.
Long-term goals help us prioritize tasks and get on the same page as our managers, who may have priorities for the year.
High performers write down their personal and professional goals and share them with their managers so that everyone agrees about what needs to happen.
Goals also help us create a path and make decisions. Instead of stumbling around looking for the next step, we know where to go and what pitfalls to avoid on our way there.
With these in mind, they can make the best use of their time to take advantage of opportunities and avoid wasting energy.
How can we learn from them?
Write down your goals and share them with others! This is a great way to keep yourself accountable and transparent about what you want out of life.
Create clear action plans that will help you achieve your goals. If there’s no clear path, you’re not likely to get very far at all.
Top employees focus on building positive relationships with their colleagues. Building trust and becoming a “go-to” person in your group is important for top employees.
It would be best if you had support from others to take on a challenging project.
They don’t wait for help. Instead, they go out of their way to be friendly and helpful so that people feel comfortable reaching out and asking what they need when they’re stuck.
How can we learn from them?
Acknowledge and respect your colleagues and team members. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, but don’t wait until you’re stuck to reach out.
Help others feel comfortable reaching out when they need it – you might experience a huge payoff when someone else helps you in return!
Self-awareness is the ability to recognize your strengths and weaknesses. High performers know their capabilities, and they know what they can and cannot do well.
They don’t expect themselves to be perfect; it’s more important to strive for progress than excellence.
Sometimes high performers struggle with this concept because they love a challenge, but they also know that it’s important to ask for help when you need it.
How can we learn from them?
Have confidence in your abilities, and remain open to feedback. At the same time, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it!
Be realistic about what you can achieve within a certain timeframe. You’ll be happier with your results if you set your expectations realistically rather than making yourself miserable trying to reach an unrealistic goal.
Best performers take time out to recharge their batteries, so they can come back refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges.
This might mean closing your laptop an hour earlier or spending a Sunday afternoon with your family.
Top employees know that it’s important to take care of yourself before demanding that others do the same for you.
Why is time important?
Without spending time on ourselves, we lose our creativity and ability to problem-solve.
Once we deplete our energy reserves, it is almost impossible to perform at a high level. So taking the time to recharge allows us to push past barriers, think more clearly, and make better decisions.
A growth mindset is a belief that your abilities can be learned and developed over time, rather than being purely based on talent or genetics.
Top employees realize they don’t always have the answers, but they drive to keep learning and improving.
They use their mistakes as a way of building knowledge. Instead of allowing disappointments to stop them in their tracks, top employees see these challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
Why is growth important?
Without the willingness to learn and improve, we get stuck doing things the same way forever.
We stop growing as professionals, which means we’re not fulfilling our potential to contribute something unique and exciting to this world.
At some point down the road, this becomes a liability that limits what you can achieve in your career and stunts your personal development.
Everyone has a different way of learning, and high performers develop habits that work best for them. This could mean reading to learn something new or participating in lectures online.
There are many ways to acquire the knowledge and skills you need to be successful—it comes down to personal preference.
High performers know their learning style and use it to their advantage to get ahead.
What can we learn from them?
Apply these habits consistently, so you become a better person each day.
Top employees inspire those around them to push themselves continually and do their best, too. This doesn’t necessarily mean telling others what to do or how to do it.
Instead, they share their vision of success through storytelling and by setting an example for others.
They create a growth culture where people constantly learn new things and ask for help when they need it.
How can we learn from them?
Never lose your authenticity. Keep your values in line with your actions, and inspire others by living what you preach.
Be self-aware about how you’re influencing others, and provide feedback to those who deserve it. This helps earn the respect of those around you.
Best employees are constantly reflecting on their actions, noting what they did well and where they can improve next time. However, instead of dwelling on past mistakes, they use these experiences as lessons that help them grow over time.
They understand that becoming an expert at one thing doesn’t mean they know everything. So instead of feeling threatened by the success of others, they celebrate it and think about how they can apply their strengths to help those around them succeed.
Why should we learn from them?
Be open to feedback and criticism. You don’t know everything, nor do you need to! However, people will respect you more when you can take an honest look at yourself and acknowledge areas for growth.
Express gratitude toward those who help you, whether it’s a mentor or colleague. Not only is this a great way to strengthen your relationships with others, but it also teaches people that they’re important to your success and happiness.
We all make mistakes, and top-performing people are no exception. The difference is that they don’t see their mistakes as failures but as opportunities to learn from what went wrong and improve next time.
They understand that failing doesn’t mean you should give up on your goals or passions. Instead, it’s another step toward achieving success.
How can we learn from them?
Every experience contains the seeds of growth and wealth. It’s up to you to recognize these lessons, distilling out what matters most and making it a part of you.
What makes one person successful is different from what will make another successful. So instead of following the same path as everyone else, identify your strengths and focus on doing what you love.
It’s hard to work toward your goals when the surrounding people aren’t supportive. Top-performing people know this all too well. So they choose their friends wisely, making sure that they share a positive outlook for the future.
How can we learn from them?
Don’t settle for negativity. Instead, surround yourself with people who have a positive outlook on life and take advantage of opportunities to grow personally and professionally.
Help others stay motivated, even when times get tough. You never know what impact you may have on someone’s life until you try!
The word “top” is subjective, and there’s no one-size-fits-all definition. Maybe you consider a top performer the most successful person in your field, or maybe it just means that someone is better than you!
In general, though, a top performer has achieved wealth by working hard at what they’re passionate about, trying out different strategies to see what works best for them, and setting their own goals rather than following a well-tread path.
Top employees are often recognized as the best in a particular field or role. Some things to look for include:
Successful professionals who go above and beyond to help their team, colleagues, and community. They’re frequently asked for advice because others recognize them as an expert!
The question of why good workers have these advantages is a tricky one to answer.
One explanation may be that they spend more time focusing on their work and less worrying about trivial things like what others are thinking or how successful they appear to the outside world.
Whatever the case, it’s clear that these advantages can be helpful for career progression in any industry – especially if you’re looking for new projects!
We hope you found this article useful. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know in the comment section below!
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