If you struggle to arrive to work and/or meetings on time, set a quiet alarm reminder on your phone or computer at least 15 minutes prior to the time you are due. When it goes off, stop what you are doing to make the appointed time. If you are challenged with completing administrative on time, begin completing them 24 hours ahead of schedule. If you’ve solved a particularly challenging technical issue, proactively share your accomplishment with at least one other coworker in your field. Professional Growth Activities Identify an associate who possesses particularly strong technical skills, either in your field or in another field of interest to you. Ask this associate to lunch or on break and discuss a difficult problem you are trying to resolve. Observe people who consistently arrive at work and meetings on time. Ask them to discuss with you their ideas about how they are able to accomplish this. Watch a person who is most similar to you in style and approach. Observe his/her behaviors regarding their work habits as clues to how you may be perceived by others. Volunteer to on a cross-functional team outside of your area of technical comfort in order to learn new skills that could enhance what you already know, increase your confidence, and contribute more to your organization. Discuss with your manager or people ways in which you could improve your technical skills and polish your work habits. Identify an individual in your organization organizational skills you admire and ask him or her to share techniques. Ask a respected associate if you can shadow him or her for a day to learn different techniques. Specific Training Activities Enroll in further formal education to earn a higher degree in your skill area. Investigate coursework offered by your professional association to either enhance your skills and/or earn a professional certification. Participate in a workshop designed to build and enhance skills that lead to greater expertise. Seek an assignment to work with a or task force that includes people from diverse interest groups or departments within your organization.
Understanding all modes of communications, including written, verbal, non-verbal, and listening skills. Effective use in individual and group situations, and the ability to adjust the message to meet audience needs. The very best employees exhibit the ability to present themselves and their ideas by successfully transmitting to others. They do this through what they write, say or don’t say, and how well they listen. Effective communication helps one develop credibility and trust, express and inspire enthusiasm, solve problems, manage conflict, implement change, and develop others. It’s said that everything in life has at its core effective communication—or the lack of it. This is most certainly true of great employees. Key Elements of Communications Skills Demonstrates effective verbal, non-verbal, written, and listening skills and uses these to resolve issues objectively and effectively. Gathers and disseminates information in a timely manner to the appropriate audience using the most effective media. Accepts and provides constructive feedback and responds positively. Presents ideas in a clear, concise, organized, and persuasive manner. Behavioral Evidence of Communications Skills Understands the audience and customizes communications to meet their needs. Watches attentively for the reactions of others in discussions. Maintains good eye contact throughout the presentation or discussion. Varies speed, volume, tone, and pitch to keep the listener’s attention. Breaks down explanations of complex processes, rules, or situations into manageable bites of information. Uses appropriate non-verbal communications such as gestures, facial expressions, and mannerisms) to make the point. If emotions or tensions rise during a conversation, effectively defuses the situation by remaining calm and sticking to the facts. Uses visual materials effectively. Provides opportunities for audience questions, listens carefully, responds, and checks for understanding. Listens intently when others speak to fully understand the points being made.
success of the entire team. Measuring Teamwork Performance Consider the key elements and behavioral evidence of Teamwork when evaluating an individual’s performance in this job dimension. The following rubrics will help in determining an individual’s most consistent performance: Highly Effective Effective Improvement/Developing Unsatisfactory Consistently exceeds expectations in the key elements and behavioral evidence of this job dimension. Demonstrates strong performance in most key elements and behavioral evidence of this job dimension. Performs to minimum expectations in several of the key elements and behavioral evidence of this job dimension. Is Developing in the year in position. Fails to meet the minimum performance requirements in most key elements and behavioral evidence of this job dimension. *For the first year in a job assignment, performance at this level should be designated as Developing. Teamwork Skill Enhancers Send thank-you notes or e-mails to others who help you and copy appropriate management. Offer to help someone at least once a week. Invite a quiet associate, within or outside of your department, to coffee or lunch. Take responsibility for a task that no one really likes to do. Identify a person you least like to work with; find an attribute or behavior of that person and sincerely compliment him or her on it. Professional Growth Activities Identify an associate who is different from you in style and approach. Discuss with him or her how your strengths can complement each other. Ask your associates to tell you themselves—their goals and aspirations. Watch a person who is most similar to you in style and approach. Observe his or her cooperative behaviors as clues to how you may be perceived.