The Most Important Characteristics of a Successful Employee

by John Kibilko, Demand Media

The characteristics that employers look for in employees are the same traits that make for successful workers.
Good employees obviously are important in any business, but small businesses often feel the impact of
employee behavior --- both good and bad --- more acutely than larger companies. One bad apple can have a
much greater impact on morale in a small organization than in a large one and, conversely, a good employee's
attitude and work ethic can be infectious.

Dependability/Discipline
Reliability is a trait that is --- or should be --- instilled at an early age, and employees often can overcome
deficiencies such as lack of experience simply by showing up on time and performing their assigned duties.
Being able to work without a supervisor hovering over your shoulder is a sign of discipline. So is not having to be
told not to make personal phone calls, surf the Internet or constantly text and tweet. Closely related traits are
work ethic, honesty and integrity. It boils down to an employer being able to count on you to show up, do your
job, stay focused, be prepared and not steal --- either physically or by stealing company time. A 1999 survey by
Northern Virginia Community College revealed that work ethic ranked as the No. 1 employee characteristic
sought by employers.

Taking Initiative/Responsibility
Offering solutions to problems in a constructive manner, as well as standing up and taking responsibility for
mistakes you've made, goes a long way in catching an employer's attention. The State University of New York
College at Oneonta, in "The Characteristics of a Good Employee," adapted an article for sixth-graders. In it,
students were directed to ask themselves, "Do I look around to see what needs to be done and do it, or do I wait
for duties to be assigned to me?" and "Do I ask questions to try to learn more, or do I stick to what I already know
and have been told?" Whether a sixth-grader or an employee, these questions are fundamental to becoming
successful.

Attitude
Even dependable and responsible employees may not have the most cheerful dispositions. A smile alone won't
get the job done, but a positive outlook and a pleasant disposition --- combined with fundamentals such as work
ethic and discipline --- make for a well-rounded employee. Flexibility and enthusiasm also are components of
possessing a good attitude. Being a team player, which is another attribute of a successful employee, is difficult if
you're not approachable and if you don't play well with others. The website "Career Success for Newbies" lists
two related necessary characteristics. The site lists "be nice to people" and "stay positive" as indispensable
qualities of a successful employee. Being nice is a simple social skill that, unfortunately, many people lack. And
staying above the fray of office politics also helps.

Communication Skills
Whether writing, speaking or using computers, communication skills are essential in virtually any job. These skills
often are the result of upbringing and education but are fundamental to most businesses. Improving these skills is
vital to becoming a successful employee. It's especially important when trying to communicate ideas to improve
your company's performance. As the website "Speed Up Career" reports, "A good idea is of no worth if you
cannot explain it properly to both your team and the manager."

Work ethic and integrity

Employers would love it if every job applicant loved what they did, because people who do will work diligently and
keep at the task until they succeed. The fact is, you may not love everything you have to do on a job, but having
what is called "the old-fashioned work ethic" means that you consider every job important, and work hard in every
area, whether it's your "favorite thing" or not. The work ethic is closely related to principles of honesty, and
studies consistently show that honesty and integrity are valued more than most anything else by employers. It is
clear that many other capacities and capabilities issue from this one character trait, and both leadership and
relationship building are correlated with it. In this era of serial corporate scandal, this quality is once again rising
in prominence.