10 Ways to Be a Top Employee

There are many ways to be a key, influential employee at your company. Connecting well with your team, being an effective leader and influencer, taking the initiative to make change happen throughout your organization these things can definitely propel you to the top of an office hierarchy. The good news is that everyone has strengths in their own way, and all it takes is some self reflection and determination to align these talents with how you want to contribute as a professional. So what are you waiting for? Time doesn't stand still.

1. Involve Everyone in Decision Making

Everyone working in your office has great ideas. Effective but not inclusive leadership means leaving some people out of the decision making process, or worse, not even including them in the conversation at all. The top employee is not afraid to take in everyone's opinion and then go with the decision that makes sense for the company as a whole. This person knows how to gain support from teams and employees through their actions, rather than just sheer force of power.

2. Make a Difference

The top employee, or the one who is going to take the most strides toward being at the pinnacle of their company's office hierarchy , makes a difference. This means taking charge and helping her team succeed, even stepping outside of her own boundaries to help out co workers in need.

It also means that individual goes above and beyond when she is assigned work based on her strengths and interests whether it be improving internal processes or increasing case load to help analysts reach their goals. Top employees are crucial to effective teams because they are not afraid of change, and they inspire others to become better through their actions, not just words.

3. Be Honest and Forthcoming

Top employees are honest in their work, and they don't shy away from having difficult conversations about performance, conduct or behavior. If an individual is earning less than desired reviews from their team because of their communication skills, personal connections with co workers or leadership style, the top employee admits this and takes steps to address any issues.

This can be hard sometimes, especially if it's something an employee is not doing on purpose or if it's a situation that just can't be improved upon. Sometimes these situations are unavoidable, but they're handled well by someone who is trying to improve themselves and help others do the same.

4. Take Responsibility

Top employees also know that they have a responsibility to ensure that their team members' needs are met in a professional manner. If anyone on staff is not enjoying their job and wants to take time off, or they're showing less interest in the job, the top employee will be the one to ask them if anything is wrong. It's important not only that they understand what their needs are as individuals, but also what needs are needed by the whole team as a whole.

5 . Take Initiative

This means taking initiative to set personal goals for herself and her team, communicating these goals every now and then and then doing her best to achieve them as well. The top employee also realizes that not everything she touches will be a success, but she doesn't let this discourage her from taking the initiative to accomplish something with the power of her team. Top employees help their teams set goals and also work to set goals for themselves throughout the year.

6. Keep Your Team Focused on Results

This is a very important one. The top employee is keeping those who are working below them focused on the results and not on all of the small details. This can mean leaving some things up to team members, but it can also mean allowing people to contribute their own ideas. This helps the people working for them feel more ownership over the job and will lead to a better overall results.

7. Keep Your Team Focused on the Bigger Picture

Top employees also keep their team focused on what needs to get done, as well as why it needs to be done a certain way. They focus their teams on how much this achievement or project will help for the future of the business, and how it will help them grow professionally.

The top employee knows that these things are important because they are responsible for their personal growth and development, but they also understand that team members below them need motivation and guidance in ways that help them develop professionally while still achieving company goals.

8. Know When to Walk Away

The top employee knows that not every relationship is going to be beneficial for the company, or for herself personally. She knows when it's best to walk away from these relationships and move on, regardless of how much she may care about them from time to time. This person is professional, so she follows through with own their decisions in the workplace and never lets personal ties go in terms of work relationships.

9. Be a Good Communicator

Top employees are excellent communicators, from email to phone calls to inter office memos and everything in between. They thrive on communication and their leadership skills are clearly demonstrated through their ability to effectively utilize the many methods of communication that are available today.

10. Be Flexible for Change

Top employees tend to be highly flexible and adaptable, especially when it comes to change in the office climate or workplace demands. This doesn't mean they are afraid of change; rather, top employees embrace new challenges and changes when they make sense and help them grow as individuals while keeping their team members interested and motivated. This also means staying flexible in terms of the needs of their own team members and what they need to be successful.

Finally

Top employees are successful in the workplace because they are prepared, professional and good communicators. They also understand that their work is important to their team, as well as to themselves. Ultimately, these are qualities that will lead to a job well done, not just for the top employee but for the whole team.

They know what specifically needs to be done, and how best to do it so that the end result is a seamless operation with no complaints or problems. These are all qualities you can expect when you look for an individual who is recognized by her peers year after year as one of the top performers in her company.