10 Good Employee Traits: Be a Superstar at Work

How to Be Brilliant at Your Job with Good Employee Traits

Yogi Berra will always be remembered for his humorous, and often very wise, quotes. And you don’t have to love baseball to learn from Yogi. His advice is great for everyone.

Yogi famously said “You have to give 100% in the first half of the game. If that isn’t enough, in the second half you have to give what’s left”. In other words always give your best effort as a team player. Berra even wrote a book about teamwork entitled “You Can Observe A Lot By Watching”.

If you feel a bit stuck in your job, cheer up. You can boost your job satisfaction and your career at the same time by following good employee traits.

If you want to accelerate your career and/or earn higher wages, there are a number of attributes that will elevate your standing in your firm.

I will list for you ten super employee traits to help you get you that raise or promotion.

The way I see it, there are three important reasons to follow these steps for being great at your job.

• Advancement and/or higher earnings
• You will assist your co-workers which will make their lives easier and magnify/strengthen your professional image.
• You will form positive habits that will upgrade your career and personal life.

Of course some jobs do not have an advanced position that you can aspire to, and not all companies will have budgets that include high pay raises. Also, workplaces vary. Your efforts may not be appreciated or your management may lack in professionalism. In these cases you may have to switch to a company with more opportunity, or earn money in other independent ways.

However, developing good work traits in any endeavor always benefits you, your future, and others.

Trait #1: Have Great Expectations

“You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.” –Yogi Berra

Know where you are going day-to-day at your job. Do you know exactly what your boss expects of you? Make it a point to know just what results your boss is looking for.

If these expectations are not clear, make your own list and have a chat with your boss so you can make any necessary changes. Keep this list handy and review it at least once a month to be sure you are covering all your duties.

Does your company hold regular performance evaluations? If so, the evaluation meeting will be a good time to discuss your responsibilities.

If not – no worries! Ask to schedule a meeting with your boss occasionally to make sure you are both on the same page.  Find out what your boss considers good employee traits. You can use this meeting to ask for more challenging duties as well.

Get out your notepad! It’s also a good idea to document these discussions and any other feedback from your boss and colleagues to keep track of your progress.

Trait #2: Acknowledge Your Mistakes

     “We made too many wrong mistakes” –Yogi Berra

You will have successes in your job but you’ll also make mistakes from time to time. Accept responsibility for your own flub-ups and don’t blame others.

Just own up to your error and view it as a learning experience. Remedy the mistake as best you can and keep improving. That is the best way to handle it.

Trait #3: Communicate Often and Well

     “Never answer an anonymous letter: -Yogi Berra

Are you or someone you know an email glancer? I don’t know how many times I’ve written a detailed email message to a co-worker with several questions, and only the first question is acknowledged. That’s because the reader glanced at the message instead of reading it through.

This kind of inattention leads to frustration. And wastes time. The same holds true for in-person communication. Listen carefully and take notes when appropriate.

A boss once told me that most problems in the workplace are the result of poor communications, and I agree. Keep this in mind as you go through your workday. Read all work-related emails thoroughly.

Communicating often with your supervisor will benefit you as he/she will be more inclined to let you know about current events in your office.

If appropriate, send your boss an email detailing your progress on a project, and also ask about any issue that is not clear to you. Don’t assume you know the answers but get verification, and if it is important, get the answer in an email or in writing so that you have a record.

Trait #4: Accept New Projects

     “When you come to a fork in the road, take it” –Yogi Berra

Anticipate the next step in your job. There will likely be changes in your company, whether in technology, policy, or culture. Be on top of these changes.

Think about ways to facilitate any new system, and then implement them. These actions will showcase your leadership qualities and brand you as a go-to employee.

It’s great to perform the tasks outlined in your job description, but occasionally take the road less traveled as well. Try new projects. You may find that you have expertise that was just waiting to be discovered!

Also try to find out the news about your industry and how it is changing. Play ‘team captain’ and share this news with your co-workers so that your company can grow with the times.

By spotting new trends in your field you will indicate to your boss that you care about your company and are invested in its future success.

Trait #5: Shine the Light

     “I’m lucky. Usually you’re dead to get your own museum, but I’m still alive to see mine” –Yogi Berra

Remember when you were hired? What stellar qualities and abilities did you highlight to your employer in your job interview? What unique qualities and achievements are you most proud of? What monuments would appear in your museum?

Take a look at your resume. Review your skills and think of new ways to use them to move your company forward. Use your awesome qualities to enhance your firm’s products, services, or team projects.

Put your thinking cap on and you will find lots of ways to improve your work, your company, and your chances of promotion.

While you’re at it, sincerely shine the light on your co-workers as well. You will lift the morale of your teammates, and the praise will reflect well on you, too.

Trait #6: Get a College Degree

.“I’m not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to
school like I did” –Yogi Berra

Go back to school. If you have a college degree your employer is more likely to promote you.

It is well worth your money and time to further your knowledge by obtaining that degree or certificate. When your boss sees that you are serous about learning he or she will be more serious about advancing your career.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, consider a master’s degree.

Many companies also offer free courses that correlate with your job. Or they might reimburse you for courses you take at a local school. Learn the skills that will improve your performance.

Trait #7: Solve Problems

“It ain’t the heat, it’s the humility” –Yogi Berra

Solving your work problems yourself will gain you greater esteem and value. If you have a significant problem, work on ways to resolve the issue, then suggest your solutions to your boss. He/she is likely to be impressed with your resourcefulness.

Your solutions can also help others in your group, thereby uplifting your whole department.

Coming up with solutions or new methods will give you an opportunity to use your creativity. Being creative on the job is immensely important to your overall happiness, so find ways to craft new proposals and processes for your department. They may not always be accepted but keep trying.

And if your firm repeatedly squelches new ideas, then it is time to start looking for a more enlightened workplace. My opinion is that no one should work in a creative straightjacket.

While you are going out of your way to be helpful, positive and creative, stay humble as well. In my office I notice some associates who are so helpful that they actually step on toes and venture on the edges of being obnoxious.

If you hear one worker ask another worker a question, or for help with a problem, don’t shout out your own solution – let the person who was asked give their answer.

If you think someone needs your particular solution, politely and quietly ask if you can be of any help. In other words, keep a perspective on your positive energy!

Trait #8: Be a Professional

“If you’re a good teammate, be responsible for what you say”
-Yogi Berra in You Can Observe a Lot by Watching

Have the confidence to be your best self. Behavior speaks loudly about your personal view of your role in the workplace.

If you act and dress in a careless manner, your colleagues and supervisors will care less about your career path. On the other hand, if you make it a point to come to the office well groomed, wearing clean, appropriate clothes, and also wearing a positive and can-do attitude, you will stand out, believe me.

I have worked in several different industries and have encountered workers who actually needed to take more showers, who needed some wardrobe guidance, and also who needed to speak without uttering off-color language.

People tend to copy each other and often they are not copying the best traits.

You don’t have to emulate these individuals. Have the confidence to go against the stream if it means advancing your career.

Don’t worry about not fitting in with super casual colleagues. You can be as friendly as ever with everyone in your workplace, and also have professional habits.

Trait #9: Be a Team Player

“You have to give 100% in the first half of the game. If that isn’t enough, in the second half you have to give what’s left” –Yogi Berra

As I mentioned before, ‘being a team player’ is one of the highest-valued worker qualities. A team player is one who accepts changes and challenges without complaining. He or she understands that changes in an industry are bound to happen and can have a significant effect on the company.

Be ready to adapt to changes and be flexible; find effective solutions to any problems associated with the change.

A good teammate helps out when he/she is able, and radiates a positive attitude.

You won’t catch a team player gossiping about a colleague, boss, or anyone else. Gossip not only dampens the office atmosphere, it also is hurtful to the object of the talk, and can also hurt the gossiper in the end.

Trait #10: Be a Leader

“The future ain’t what it used to be” –Yogi Berra

If you can help your co-workers, inspire them, and support them, you will be exhibiting real leadership qualities and your future will be bright.

Soon you will be seen as a leader, you will have the confidence of a leader, and the next thing you know you will be ready for the next step in your career.

Go for the Win with Good Employee Traits

In closing, be a team player like Yogi. Make a point of putting these 10 good employee traits into action. You will soon see that performing this way will make you brilliant at your job!

So go for the win and, as Yogi wisely said in one of his popular books,

“I couldn’t achieve what I wanted to without the trust and help of my teammates. And vice versa…..being a trusted co-worker or a good teammate should never go out of style.” –Yogi Berra in You Can Observe a Lot by Watching