By Veronica Craker

While working at Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest, I’ve had the opportunity to hear from various types of business owners. I’ve chatted with leaders of large establishments like Expedia to smaller productions like the 1899 House Bed & Breakfast in Spokane. Despite their difference in size or service, almost all business leaders agree that having resourceful and qualified employees is what helps their business to succeed.

Veronica Craker,

Better Business Bureau knows that identifying and recruiting exceptional employees is vital for an organization. These are the people who help businesses thrive and expand. Unfortunately, employees often become dissatisfied in their work when their talents go under-utilized or unappreciated. This is why spotting an extraordinary team member is so important for a manager.

Standard interview questions and performance reviews do little to single out an exceptional employee from the rest of the herd. It is best to monitor daily attitudes and motivations of employees. Keep an eye out for these five distinctive behavioral and performance indicators to spot a great employee.

1. Views job description as starting point

A great employee considers their job description as a starting point when it comes to taking on the daily challenges that any company might face on a day-to-day basis. Their primary goal is to get the job done when they see that their assistance will help get the project to completion. Once this behavioral pattern begins to assert itself, you know you have a dedicated team member placing the organization’s goals above the petty complaints of employees who jealously guard their time behind the safety of their job description.

2. Quirky, independent personalities 

A quirky and independent personality is not only refreshing in the confines of the typical business environment, but also signals the confidence of the owner because unusual personalities have a knack for pushing the status quo, while shaking up the “group think” that can fester around the boardroom table. Their altered perception helps fuel constructive attitudes throughout every office in the building. Conversely, the excellent employee knows when to minimize their quirky traits when the job at hand calls for professionalism. In short, they know when it is time to play and when it is time to work.

3. Exhibits diplomacy, tact 

These thoughtful employees understand that social interaction goes a long way. Free with praise, they offer congratulations to co-workers who have earned it, and are supportive to those in need of bolstering to complete their tasks. Identifying exceptional employees who practice these socially interactive skills is important because these actions serve to elevate the entire work staff and act as a marker of managerial talent.

4. Understands how to read ‘the room’

The savvy employee is capable of “reading the room” and thinking quickly on their feet regardless of the situation at hand. Team members who exhibit the ability to roll with the punches show they can respond to a wide array of circumstances, which will prove an advantage for the entire organization. Utilizing their education, experience, intelligence and talents, the exceptional employee stands out from the crowd on a daily basis.

5. Asks questions, willing to explore

Good employees are not afraid to ask questions and explore options. Unfortunately, many team members are afraid to express themselves to the group as a whole and even in private. Similarly, exceptional employees look at company policies and procedures with an eye toward improving the system in an effort to make all aspects of the company more efficient.

Identifying and cultivating superior talent should be your first job in the managerial role, so look beyond the pencil and paper evaluations of the human resource department, and keep your eye on the day-to-day behavior that shows the true potential of your employees.

Veronica Craker is the managing editor and writer for the Better Business Bureau Northwest.