5 Signs Your New Hire is Going to be a Rockstar
“What do I look for in an employee?” It is a question many business owners have asked themselves, but very few managed to answer concisely. The more employers think about it, the more answers it generates. An even better query to ask is: “What qualities does a candidate need to be a Rockstar employee – someone who will become indispensable to my organization?”
Here are a few traits that perfectly embody this description.
They Ask the Right Questions
Potentially good candidates make themselves known on the first encounter. An excellent way to make the difference is to see whether their questions transcend the simple “What’s in it for me.” A good candidate is someone who preferably brings a pen and paper to take notes about the company, their responsibilities, and other such similar queries.
They Have Integrity
Integrity is somewhat hard to define and is better exemplified if it is broken down into two separate meanings. First, there is the integrity of action. A person holding this type of integrity is someone who, in short, keeps promises. If they say they will do something, they will. If they agree to a specific deadline, they will deliver, no matter what.
Secondly, there is the integrity of thought. Here, an employee, even if he or she is just starting out at your company, will not shy away from bringing their unique perspective to the table when required or appropriate.
They Have a Low Emotional Expensiveness
In her book entitled, The Reality-Based Rule of the Workplace, Cy Wakeman, a public speaker, business consultant, author, and trainer, talks about a new Employee Value Metric. With it, employers can evaluate the real value that an employee brings to the organization.
Employee Value = Current Performance + Future Potential – (3x) Emotional Expensiveness
What becomes immediately apparent from this formula is that the Emotional Expensiveness (drama) factor is not only subtracted from the rest of the formula but also multiplied by three, showing just how important it really is. People that have a high emotional expensiveness can create an uneasy working environment, decreasing their overall value within the organization, as well as having a negative impact on the rest of the staff. They blame their circumstances on others, they resist change, and constantly complain without bringing any viable solutions to the table.
They Get Things Done on Time
There is a common misconception among many companies that there is a correlation between the number of hours worked and productivity. In a paper published on ScienceDirect, not only was this disproven but it showed the opposite. Productivity decreases when employees work more extended hours or work over the weekend. Now, even if this sort of commitment shouldn’t go unnoticed, when it comes to an employee’s actual value in the organization, the real progress made should be given center stage.
Luckily, however, there is a way to tell whether a job applicant is a hard worker or not, even during the interview stage. Instead of asking them yes or no questions, go for open-ended ones that make the interviewee go into detail about their past achievements. Also, look at the quality of their resume as this is also indicative of hard work. Last but not least, contact their former employers to verify whether their work ethic aligns with yours.
They are Passionate
Passion for one’s work dramatically increases the speed of learning, motivation to do better, and the willingness to align with the company’s corporate culture. An employee will need to have this trait in their arsenal to become indispensable within the organization. A passionate employee, even if he or she is at an entry-level, guarantees a high ROI.
Conclusion
While there are no guarantees in life, and sometimes even the shiniest of candidates in an interview can fall short after they are hired, these five signs can serve as a beacon for spotting the best talent among your pool of applicants.