The success of any business depends upon the satisfaction of its customers. It is the employees of the organization that interact with these customers on the organization’s behalf. These employees must believe in the policies and products of the business before they begin to convince the customers for the same. Thus, employees are also regarded as the internal customers of an organization. If an organization fails to satisfy the needs of its employees, then its successful run in the market is tentative. This blog will let you know HOW TO BE A ROLE MODEL EMPLOYEE?
It is of utmost importance to select the right employees for each particular job position. Each company should find employees who hold the right qualifications for the job. While qualifications are important criteria, it is not the only one that needs to be considered. From the company’s point of view, they need to find employees who have passion for their job. They look forward to selecting candidates who can effectively perform their job duties and make efficient use of the resources provided to them. On the other hand, from the perspective of a potential employee, it is important to develop into a candidate that exhibits the traits of an effective role model candidate for the job.
Who Is A Role Model Employee?
To begin with, an effective employee who can be perceived as a role model among their peers who showcases the performance of the assigned tasks in the most efficient manner. Someone who can set a good example is determined and compassionate about their job and possesses appropriate behavioral skills is considered a role model. Such employees set precedents with their performance that act as a goal for others around them or portray desirable characteristics and effective performance through their constructive actions that are accepted to be imitable.
As mentioned above, a business hires employees that meet the educational criteria that have been predetermined by the industry or company policies. They also need the candidate to possess the required technical skills necessary to perform the job duties effectively. These technical skill requirements differ from company to company and job to job. They may also vary according to geographical factors and other reasons. However, certain characteristics and personality traits are required to become an effective role model employee in all industries and job positions. These traits are desirable irrespective of geographical or any other barriers.
Traits Of An Effective Role Model Employee Are As Follows
- Prioritizing Customer Satisfaction
An effective role model employee successfully understands the importance of customers in any business environment. They try their level best to provide an excellent experience to the customer. The role model employee acknowledges the customer’s need and finds the best way to fulfill it. They aim to provide a one-stop solution to their customers. They realize the customer’s right to demand satisfaction from the product or service as they are paying for it. Thus they treat the customers with utmost respect and courtesy. The employees that serve as role models for others are familiar with common customer expectations such as consistency, flexibility, dependability, recovery, and safety. With a good understanding of these expectations, the role model employees try to meet with them, if not exceed them.
- Result Oriented
Role model employees focus on gaining positive results that can quantify their attainments. They use previous data to measure their performance. In addition to this, they use such data to set goals for themselves and stand out with their exemplary performances. These employees are organized and manage their tasks efficiently. They put in extra efforts to achieve these targets. They identify the gaps in their performance and implement corrective measures to accomplish set targets effectively.
- Hard Work
Even though it is considered a generic trait to excel in any job, yet it is important to signify this trait here as we live in times where people continuously try to substitute hard work with smart work and shortcuts. An effective role model finds the best possible combination of hard work and smart work. They never try to replace hard work with any shortcuts. To become an inspiration among your peers, you must disown the “it is not my job” mentality. A role model employee holds the company goals above all and is devoted to achieving them. Such an employee does not shy away from helping their peers, assisting the subordinates, or volunteering when required by their superiors.
- Accountability
Role model employees are also future leaders in a superior job position. Thus, they understand the importance of accountability in a work environment. They take responsibility for their actions irrespective of their success or failure and inspire their peers to do the same. Just like true and effective leaders, they admit their mistakes instead of playing the blame game. This also shows the honesty and integrity of their personalities. It takes great courage to admit to one’s mistakes and face their consequences, and such courage is an essential trait of an effective role model.
- Communication Skills
To understand the organization’s goals and to integrate personal goals with them, it is essential to be a good communicator. Communication skills not just include speaking skills but also listening skills. It is important to ask questions when a certain policy or procedure is not clear, as it helps perform the assigned tasks effectively. A role model employee would hold good communication with their peers, superiors, and subordinates. They allow a flexible flow of information and feedback. These employees hold an honest and informative dialogue with their customers as well as suppliers.
- Impartial Behaviour
Only a person with impartial behavior can exhibit a personality that is inspired to be imitated by others. Thus, an effective role model employee must be fair in nature. They are expected to offer the same treatment and policies to all suppliers. They must maintain professional consistency in their behavior with all their co-workers. This trait is of utmost importance for the role model employees at the managerial level or in a position of hiring. A role model manager must ensure impartial behavior with all the team members in terms of giving performance reviews, promotions, or hiring.
- Acceptance Of Change
An effective role model employee is more welcoming to changes than other employees, who are most probably resistant to change. These changes could be in policies, procedures, departmental or organizational changes. The reason behind this is that role model employees are always keen to learn. Thus, they gracefully accept these changes and assist their peers in becoming acquainted and gradually becoming comfortable with these changes. At times, role model employees look forward to changes as they present new challenges for them, which help them grow in their professional lives.
How To Be An Effective Role Model Employee?
To become an effective role model employee, one must focus on achieving the above-mentioned traits and the required qualifications and technical skills. In addition, the following tips should be kept in mind as they will help you in becoming a role model employee irrespective of your job roles and work industries:
- Be Self Motivated
One can say that they have successfully moved a step closer towards becoming an effective role model employee when they do not require any external sources of motivation. They are self-motivated to become a role model for others and excel in their performance. They manage to align their achievements along with the company’s goals. They continuously try to motivate others and remain motivated themselves.
- Have A Positive Attitude Towards Work
It is only human to have stressful days at work. However, it is the perspective that makes you stand out. To become a role model employee, you need to build strength and perseverance during tough situations. This positive attitude will help you keep a calm atmosphere and deal with the situation in a better manner. Your positive attitude is naturally projected onto your team members that help in overcoming adversity in the workplace.
- Build Trust
If you want to be perceived as a role model among your peers, the first step is to gain their trust. It is also equally important to gain the trust of your superiors and your subordinates. Trust cannot be established in a day. It is a process that requires time. To gain trust, one must put in the effort and come out of situations that can establish your integrity and loyalty towards the company and its staff. Trust can only be gained gradually by continuously putting in honest efforts.
- Lead and Inspire
A role model employee is expected to be perceived as a leader by their peers and as a future leader by their supervising officer. Their level of performance and behavioral characteristics are meant to inspire others to do the same. It is their duty as a leader to motivate their peers and encourage them to reach their full potential.
The role model employee will successfully manage to do so only when others share a view of that employee as someone who has reached their full potential or is constantly moving towards extracting their potential and showcasing their talent.
- Share A Good Relationship With Other Employees
To become an effective role model employee, it is necessary to ensure that you share a cordial and admirable equation with your peers and other employees in the organization. To build such a relationship, one has to make extra efforts to be available when other employees of the organization require your help. You must not shy away from sharing your knowledge and be modest about it.
Knowing your peers personally will serve as a big asset in becoming a role model for them. You must strike the correct balance between keeping it professional yet knowing your employees personally. You can do the same by interacting with them during lunch or your mutual free time. This shows that you are considerate and respect your employees and peers.
- Be A Source Of Information
When your employees and peers feel that they can approach you with their problems and will be able to receive a reliable solution for the same, that helps them in admiring your traits. To be a good role model, you need to be someone your co-workers can count upon. This requires you to possess accurate and latest knowledge about your work field and also about the work of your co-workers, as helping them is an important part of leadership. This definitely requires you to go out of your way and make efforts to become a role model because who said becoming a role model will be easy! If you do not have an accurate answer to someone’s query, do not try to give incorrect information. Instead, ask for time to get back to them.
To be a worthwhile candidate, one must make conscious efforts to become an effective role model employee irrespective of their job role and position in the organizational hierarchy. It is pertinent for an organization to have such effective role model employees on each of its levels of operation and management. Such employees assist in boosting morale by presenting an imitable behavior.
They inspire others to reach the same level of excellence in work performance. Thus, an atmosphere of healthy competition, as well as admiration, is built. An effective role model is not stiff about sharing ideas to assist their peers in increasing their respective performance levels. They also provide consistent feedback with pure honesty to increase the level of skills of their peers and become successful in each of their job roles. In addition to this, the effective role model employees are candidates for higher job positions and responsibilities.
These are leaders in making that everyone in the organization witness. Such effective role models are highly likely to be individuals with a constant desire to learn more and more. Such individuals become successful at every job that they undertake due to their personality attributes. Thus, acquiring the characteristics of an effective role model employee has become paramount in the dynamic work environment scenario that exists today.
