Workplace

The Truth About What Makes Great Employees

Published Sep 22, 2024 Updated Sep 22, 2024 Society

3 min

CREATIVE ROOM

Workplace

Homepage

Love

Solidarity

Wow

0 comments

30 readings

reactions

On Panodyssey, you can read up to 30 publications per month without being logged in. Enjoy29 articles to discover this month.

To gain unlimited access, log in or create an account by clicking below. It's free! Log in

The Truth About What Makes Great Employees

Ed-It

Contribute

What defines Top Talent?

As a longtime manager, I used to firmly believe that the best employees were the smartest and hardest working ones. Give me top grades from Ivy League schools, and a resume full of 80-hour work weeks; that’s the ideal employee, right? While intelligence and drive are certainly important qualities, after over a decade in leadership roles, I’ve realized there is so much more that goes into what makes employees excel. The secret is focusing less on stats and credentials, and more on cultivating an environment where diverse talents can truly thrive.

I first started questioning my assumptions years ago when I hired Adam straight out of college.

On paper, he didn’t check all the typical boxes: his GPA was average and his previous work experience was limited. But in our interview, he showed a passion for our mission and a contagious enthusiasm. I took a chance on him, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.