Funny, friendly, outgoing — it’s easy to think of the personal traits that make you stand out. But what about professional qualities? The assets and traits that help you when starting a new job or when trying to work your way into your boss’s good books?
Multiple professional assets will make you favorable among managers and offer value to their business. From being reliable to having ambition, here are 20 assets that will not only serve you well throughout your career, but also benefit the company you work for.
1. Collaboration
Being a good team player can benefit the workplace as it fosters creativity, communication and amicable relationships. It may sound cliché, but teamwork really does make the dream work. It produces greater results as employees contribute individual ideas, solve problems together and work efficiently and productively to get things done. If you can work comfortably and confidently within a team, as well as create unity in the workplace, chances are your boss will love you.
2. Passion
Showing enthusiasm and being invested in your role will always be a treasured asset in any workplace. Having a genuine passion for your job can boost personal growth and career advancement. But while it benefits you, it can also heighten the success of the company you work for. When you enjoy your work, you perform better, and are thus more likely to produce greater results for the company and your boss.
3. Confidence
Bosses benefit from confident employees in numerous ways. They make for good role models in the company and can even contribute to positive brand perception. While confidence at work ultimately leads to heightened productivity, it also helps you communicate better, make easier decisions and lead tasks with assurance. Having a confident and positive attitude can also help eliminate conflict in the workplace and maintain friendly professional relationships.
4. Ambition
Regardless the industry you work in, the desire to acquire new knowledge and develop your skills will always be a strength in your manager’s eyes. As Ajay Serohi, staff product manager at TESLA Inc says, employees who “are enthusiastic about leading their careers upwards to the next step are a great resource, because their journey upwards goes hand in hand with organizational progress.”
5. Reliability
Those who possess reliability “contribute to the efficiency of any project and, consequently, the success of the organization,” asserts Serohi. Employees who are ready at hand, able to carry off the workload, and follow instructions can be extremely beneficial in accelerating the flow of productive work, he continues. Whether you demonstrate reliability by taking initiative, or by simply being on time, managers and fellow employees will always see your dependability as a valued trait.
6. Self-awareness
Being confident is one thing, but being self-aware is another, much stronger, asset to bring to a company. It means you can conduct a task or manage a project by being level-headed, rather than reckless. Josh Pelletier, the chief marketing officer at BarBend, says: “Employees who naturally ask themselves ‘How am I doing at this task? Where am I succeeding? Where can I improve?’ continuously produce work that gets better over time.” Therefore, they are also more valuable to a company, as they use self-assessment to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
7. Grit
Having grit in your personal life can get you far, but having it in the workplace can probably get you further. This asset helps you work under pressure and manage stress while “allowing it to motivate you to do a good job,” says Pelletier. If you’re one to handle the heavy workload, champion through strict deadlines or multitask multiple projects at once, your grit will surely help you and the company get far in challenging times.
8. Communication
This is an obvious but incredibly crucial asset to bring to a company. Being able to communicate clearly, cohesively and constructively with colleagues and managers will help maintain harmony in the workplace. It’s also a valued trait if your position involves talking with clients, as you can be friendly and persuasive, as well as understanding, during a conflict.
9. Experience
Most job positions require some form of experience, but if your knowledge and background are particularly remarkable, then consider it a valued asset. Managers prize employees who have a demonstrated track record of success, as it means you can bring the same knowledge and practice to their companies. Even something as small as an internship or apprenticeship can be valuable, as it proves that you have invested the time to develop job-specific skills.
10. Problem-solving skills
Problem-solving is a vital skill for your professional life. No manager wants an employee who dislikes challenges and comes running every time something goes wrong. There will always be situations at work that require resolution, and bosses want employees who can execute effective solutions. If you can assess difficult situations and provide reasonable answers, you’re bound to win your way to your boss’s heart.
11. Decision-making skills
Being an effective decision-maker in the workplace can benefit you and your organization. When you’re able to make mindful choices that lead to positive outcomes, work productivity and satisfaction increases. Owning this trait can also help prevent mistakes and risks, save time, and avoid clashing, which ultimately affects the growth potential of the company you work for.
12. Dedication
Managers want someone who is committed to their job so that they can help their company grow and develop. They cherish employees who give everything they have to a task instead of those who are not bothered at all about it. Whether you willingly work overtime, assist colleagues, or put in that extra effort in a project, being dedicated at work is an asset for any company you work for.
13. Flexibility
Most of the time, you’re at work to fulfill one role and one role only. But occasionally, you may have to take on new responsibilities and adapt to different workloads. If you’re one who can easily adjust to changes in the workplace and your job role, it’s guaranteed that managers will appreciate you.
14. Innovative thinking
Creativity in the workplace is now a must-have in any industry. In fact, 82% of executives surveyed by Forrester (PDF) agree that companies benefit from creativity. If you can think outside the box and produce unique ideas and results for your company (especially in today’s highly competitive landscape), you’ve already established your job security. Innovative thinking can enhance teamwork, increase problem-solving and improve the ability to attract and retain clients.
15. Networking skills
While networking benefits your career advancement, it can also be a valuable tool for the company you work for. If you have the knack of communicating and building contacts, make sure to apply this skill within your organization. Networking can help you improve your skills, stay updated on industry trends, build relationships with prospective partners and clients, and give you access to other resources that will foster your career and company growth.
16. Attention-to-detail skills
Being detail-oriented can make you a great asset to any company, as it means that your supervisor — and team — can focus their attention elsewhere. The more attentive you are to the details, the fewer mistakes you’re bound to make — and, ultimately, you make other people’s jobs easier, as they don’t have to take time out of their own schedules to redo your own work.
17. Punctuality
Employers value employees who are punctual, as it shows that they care about not only their jobs but also the company. When you regularly arrive to work late, though, or you take too many breaks and deliver projects past their deadlines, you risk missing out on promotions or, worse, losing your job.
18. Self-motivation
Although there will certainly be a little handholding during the first weeks of starting a new job, employers want employees who are self-motivated. This means taking some initiative, doing things before they’re even asked of you, and volunteering to take on new responsibilities. Essentially, this makes you a valuable employee, and one that will be rewarded accordingly.
19. Positive attitude
A bad attitude won’t get you anywhere. It makes you unlikable, and it can destroy office morale which, in turn, can ruin a company through the creation of a toxic environment and the acceleration of employee turnover. A positive attitude, on the other hand, increases resiliency, boosts productivity, and improves workplace relationships — effectively making you a great asset.
20. Professional ethics
Being ethical at work not only benefits you but also your employer, and this is why companies value this trait in their employees. Being honest and following policies and procedures (even when no one’s watching) shows employers that you’re trustworthy and that you have integrity and a strong work ethic. This, ultimately, benefits your overall career trajectory.
Final thoughts
Whether you’re confident, creative or dedicated to your job, there are clearly several traits that are considered as the strongest assets for the company you work for as well as for your career success. Make sure you're fully aware of your top assets and employability skills, and focus on improving these areas as they are factors which your boss and potential hiring managers are frequently monitoring.
What other strong assets can you bring to a company? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
Originally published on 22 September 2015.