by Dr. Wesley Carter
How do you add value to your company? What actions do you take to help your company grow and prosper? Every employee and every business owner should ask themselves the same question – - “Am I adding value?”
Globalization and competition challenge today’s work environment and stimulate an incredibly volatile and dynamic work environment. As the forces that drive labor shift, success becomes more and more dependent on the competence and execution of human capital, or individuals that comprise the workforce.
All successful companies have at least one thing in common – high-performing individuals contribute to their success. These individual are the single most valuable asset of any successful enterprise. As such, human capital has the greatest impact on organizational success. Every individual should ask themselves – - “Am I a high-performing individual?”
High-performing individuals are serious about professional development and take every opportunity to develop, grow, and master skills that contribute to operational excellence. These top performers have a genuine hunger for knowledge so great that they willingly use their personal time to develop themselves. In addition to taking advantage of learning opportunities at work, they can be found pouring over a book at lunch, attending night classes, and learning from their peers. High-performing individuals seek opportunities to demonstrate competence, such as certifications, degrees, and leadership.
Re-engineering is one of the favorite activities of high-performing individuals. So intent on driving success through efficiency, they constantly evaluate work flow and make changes as necessary. “Because we have always done it this way,” will never pass their lips. If the reason for executing a task cannot be tied back to the organizational success, the task is not valuable.
Further, technology does not confine high-performing individuals. Instead, these individuals harness technologies to create efficiency. A high-performing individual perceives technology as a means to an end. Inefficient technologies are scrapped if they cannot be modified to serve the organization.
Moreover, high-performing individuals positively contribute to organizational culture. They recognize the impact they have on individuals in the organization and make a conscious effort to create positive relationships and a positive work environment. Organizational culture refers to the shared assumptions, beliefs, and behaviors of company’s employees and volunteers. High-performing individuals take ownership of helping to shape organizational culture.
Lateral growth is as important as vertical growth to high-performing individuals. Lateral growth activities include, but are not limited to, engagement in industry and job policy, serving in professional organizations, peer-to-peer development, and mentoring. High-performing individuals do not wait to be designated as leaders. They take leadership seriously and execute leadership whenever and wherever necessary.
The work ethic of a high-performing individual is marked by a sincere commitment to being an extra set of hands wherever it is needed. They do not shy away from work proclaiming, “It is not my job.” They are constantly scanning the organization, looking for places to contribute to organizational success. These “plug-and-play” individuals are characterized by flexibility, critical thinking, and high levels of competence.
Most importantly, high-performing individuals understand the metrics of success for their specific industry and organization. They make it their business to know exactly what drives success in their organization and then they contribute positively. High-performing individuals possess the courage and commitment required to step in and redirect unproductive efforts. They are champions of change.
Today’s hypercompetitive business environment requires individuals to voluntarily deliver far beyond the traditional requirements outlined in their job description. Our country was built by courageous, committed, hard-working, high-performing individuals. Are you a high-performing individual?
WESLEY CARTER DM, authors an advice column that leverages leadership and management strategies to solve common business problems. Carter holds a Doctor of Management (DM) degree with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership, an MBA, and a B.A. in Management. Carter is a partner at KRS Consulting, LLC in Charlotte, NC. If you have a question, email wesley@krsconsult.com . All submissions become the property of Wesley Carter. Call (704) 992-1211 or email to book an engagement. This article orginally appeared in the Charlotte Post.