Are you a great employee?

“Of course I am!” you shout.  You see yourself as a terrific worker.  You have years of business experience, the education required to do your job, product knowledge, and good client relationships.  That may be enough to make you a good employee, but not a great one.

Employers are asking and expecting a lot more of associates today.  Here are some areas where employees can better serve both themselves and their employers – and become great.

Improve what you do.  This could be as simple as making your to-do list at the end of the work day instead of first thing in the morning, getting to work fifteen minutes earlier to get a jump on the day, or asking all customers at the end of a conversation, “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

Select one way you can improve your work, then commit to doing it for three weeks.  After three weeks, you’ll find this change will become a new, positive work habit.

Go above and beyond customer expectations.  Most companies work hard to deliver consistent, high-level customer service.  Workers are expected to adhere to specific office standards such as returning phone calls, responding to voice mail and e-mail messages, and quality of work.  Go above and beyond traditional customer service expectations by being proactive in building personal relationships and customer loyalty. Make “I’m thinking about you” phone calls and write personal note cards to acknowledge customers’ meaningful life events.  These actions grow the business, retain customers, and increase job satisfaction.

Learn something new.  Every business has evolving technology, products, and customers.  On your own, choose to learn something more in each of these three categories.  Enhance your use of one of your computer programs, learn more about how a product you sell can benefit your customer, and do a “Google” search of one of your customers to learn more about their business world.  Continual learning benefits both the individual and company.

Educate a coworker in an area where you excel.  Each person has an area of strength in his or her work.  You may be a master of handling challenging customers, a wiz at database management, or an expert in product knowledge.  Consider your strengths that might be of value to others.  Ask your supervisor if you can hold a training session for those interested in learning more about your area of expertise.  Perhaps others may be interested in making a similar contribution.  By sharing knowledge, you get back much more than you give.

Most people have to work.  So why not make the extra effort and be great on the job?

Emily Huling  Selling Strategies, Inc.  P.O. Box 200  Terrell, NC 28682
Phone: 888-309-8802   Fax: 888-309-7355