IF you finish your assignments in time, generate multiple solutions where one would suffice, put in that extra effort for perfection, and are popular with your friends, then you are not just a model student – you will be a great employee as well!
Most top executives evaluate job applicants on some basic qualities. how they think, act, and interact with others. If you wonder I am a degree holder, so why don’t companies just evaluate me upon my course subjects,then try to understand how companies function.Companies operate under a very dynamic, unpredictable environment.They solve new problems at every step, manage racing deadlines and interact with several stakeholders.Operating in such an environment requires skills beyond the knowledge of a subject.Let’s understand what these skills are & how they help employees succeed at work.
THINK
In business, there are problems at every step. Problems can be small or large, complex or simple, easy or difficult to fix. No matter what the problems are, a key part of every employee’s role is to find ways to solve them. And organisations are interested in knowing whether you have the ability to solve such problems or not.People who are not good at solving problems tend to do one of three things when faced with them:They curse the problem, wish that it would go away and keep sitting on it.
In business, there are problems at every step. Problems can be small or large, complex or simple, easy or difficult to fix. No matter what the problems are, a key part of every employee’s role is to find ways to solve them. And organisations are interested in knowing whether you have the ability to solve such problems or not.People who are not good at solving problems tend to do one of three things when faced with them:They curse the problem, wish that it would go away and keep sitting on it.
They look for someone on whom to pin the blame for the problem. They feel they should know the answer to the problem and not necessarily solve the problem.
For such people, being faced with a problem becomes a problem. And that surely is a problem! Needless to say, companies will always have difficult situations that have to be overcome. Hence avoid hiring such problematic employees!
The thinking process behind solving problems is a complex one and involves various skills such as comprehension and creativity and critical thinking. While all of us possess these skills to some degree, one may need to upgrade considerably to match the corporate expectation. The good news is one can improve through structured skilling programmes.
ACT
Some people call it attitude or behavioural traits, others call it mindset. Call it what you will, this is the single factor that differentiates successful people from the rest. People with the right attitude get tasks accomplished no matter what the circumstances are. And it is so very important for an organisation that it wants to make sure you have that right attitude. The three most important factors behind a good attitude at the workplace are:
Ownership: Successful people take personal responsibility for the work.You know what needs to be done, and can be counted on to do it right and on time, without constant reminders or supervision. Such employees always find ways to reduce costs or generate extra revenue for their employer.
Strive for Constant Improvement: Good employees always strive for constant improvement. In the words of Alvin Toffler, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn”.One needs to learn new skills to replace less effective work methods on an ongoing basis.
Passion: Employees who are passionate about their work are always an asset. So, companies need to figure out whether you are enthusiastic about the job you are applying for. Successful companies always put the right people in the right seat.
INTERACT
Businesses are complex interaction systems. One has to interact across functional teams. Businesses have to ensure that its employees have the ability to work with people. There are two important facets of interaction:
Communication The way you communicate is a reflection of how you perceive and perform your job. Just speaking up is not necessarily contributing. Listening and getting an instruction right contributes more than speaking.
Managing interpersonal relationships Your output will often have some critical inputs from people around you. How well you get along with people of different temperaments and personalities largely determines how effective you are. Get out of your comfort zone to figure out your gaps against the key attributes that matter and put a plan in place to get yourself ready.
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