People Who Are Naturally Good At Basically Whatever They Do Almost Always Have 12 Traits In Common
Miljan Zivkovic | Shutterstock Ever wondered why some people seem to get a million great jobs and opportunities at work, while others are overlooked? Vincent Sanderson might have some insight. He is a management coach, and while this sounds a little out-there for the rest of us who are just plugging along in life, the advice he shares is actually pretty useful, especially if you're looking for a job.
He recently shared the various traits that managers should look for during the hiring process in order to build a successful team. You don't have to be a workaholic or high-profile leader to learn from these and use them in your daily life, and especially at work.
People who are naturally good at whatever they do usually have these 12 traits in common:
1. They get things done
DimaBerlin | Shutterstock
Someone who’s a high performer will tackle any task, even if it’s challenging. Will they always succeed? Not necessarily, at least not on the first try.
They’re not afraid to ask for extra support or guidance when they need it, but they’ll never leave their work unfinished, no matter how hard a project is.
2. They’re self-aware
Self-awareness as a leader (or even just in life) means they know what their strengths are and what their weaknesses are. They play up their strengths and highlight what works best for them. They don’t use their weaknesses as excuses, but rather to understand where their growth points are.
3. They can work through any challenge
Anderson referred to this trait as having “ruthless grit.” While I hope it's not actually ruthless (meaning harsh, cruel and without consideration of others), I appreciate that it really means unstoppably gritty.
These employees push through challenges with confidence, knowing that they’ll get to the other side, and when they do, they’ll have numerous wins under their belt.
4. They want to grow
High performers want to develop their skills continuously. They don't believe they're perfect or that they've reached the highest peak. There's always more to learn, personally and professionally, and always more to explore.
They’re not satisfied with just skating by with the successes they already have. They want to build their way up to even more success, so they’re always open to learning new things.
5. They show empathy
PeopleImages | Shutterstock
They have respect and compassion for other people, which gives them a unique perspective in the corporate world, or pretty much any workplace.
They put people first and work from a place of kindness. They seek to truly understand people and center other people’s emotional needs, so that the other members of their team feel cared for, and in turn, work well together.
6. They don’t complain
Sanderson was quick to note that just because high performers don’t complain, doesn’t mean they don’t challenge ideas that they disagree with. They're confident enough to work toward changing and challenging what's not working rather than just talking about the issue.
It’s not that they keep quiet during conflict, it’s more that they choose not to frame grievances in a negative light. They think about what can be fixed and improved, but they don’t complain about those things, either.
7. They’re strong communicators
They’re skilled at understanding what’s told to them and at conveying ideas on their own. They have solid listening skills and they use those skills to their advantage.
They know when to speak up and voice their opinion and when to let someone else take the stage.
8. They’re great at simplifying ideas
They can take complex ideas and distill them into clear, concise concepts. This part of their talent lies in hearing what’s not being explicitly stated, taking what’s important, and running with it.
9. They can emotionally regulate
fizkes | Shutterstock
High performers are bound to feel frustrated in the workplace, yet they know how to control their emotions in a way that projects an even-keeled personality. They may even get angry or feel depressed about what's happening around them, but they know how to pause and take some distance so they can maintain objectivity.
Having strong emotional reactions to things is part of being human, yet knowing how to regulate those emotions is a key part of being successful.
10. They speak up
When faced with inequity or an idea they disagree with, high performers voice their opinions. They don’t keep quiet just for the sake of doing so. They advocate for what they believe is right, fairly and compassionately.
This sounds simple, but in the workplace (especially for men!) it's often hard to go against leadership. But the people who are naturally good at whatever they do aren't afraid to challenge authority.
11. They manage their time well
Time management is a difficult concept for a lot of people, yet high performers know how to allocate their time in ways that bring them the most success. They make schedules and stick to them, making them reliable and consistent workers.
12. They enjoy being wrong when it matters most
High performers can accept that they won’t always be right, yet they’re always ready to learn from their mistakes and grow as employees. No, it's not fun, but they see it as an opportunity.
This is the essence of growth mindset. It's not that they get real pleasure from failing or making mistakes, but rather that they see it as an opportunity to do better and create a better product, service or other outcome.
While high performers aren’t perfect, they do have a deep understanding of themselves.
That deep understanding and sense of self create an intense drive that they harness to help their team grow and find continuous success in their work.
They also understand that with everything, including work, there is balance. Overworking is not the same as being a high performer. Instead, it's about knowing your strengths, embracing your weaknesses and always trying to improve and learn.
Alexandra Blogier is a writer on YourTango's news and entertainment team. She covers social issues, pop culture analysis and all things to do with the entertainment industry.
