What is the most important behavior an employee should have to be successful in his position?

There are many elements at play when it comes to making a company successful. These factors include effectively managing budgets and projects, understanding customers and identifying key resources. However, one of the main drivers of success in business is behavior. When employees, human resources and leaders practice certain behaviors and translate values into actions, companies become well-oiled machines.

Behaviors that make an organization successful include doing more than is expected or necessary and being honest in all communications. To really make a difference in the company, these behaviors must be promoted by management and employees. Over time, consistent practice makes for a positive and enriching company culture that fuels success. Below you will find key behavioral habits that are found in the most successful companies, what makes them important in building effective company culture and how they promote success. However, depending on the nature of the industry, companies may have to adapt or modify core behaviors to suit their needs.

1.     Teamwork and Collaboration

Promoting teamwork and collaboration aids in fostering a sense of community. Establishing teams for projects and embracing the act of sharing helps to build camaraderie as individuals work toward the same goals. Collaboration opens individual employees to other strengths and can encourage learning and growth because of it. Working on it a team gives participants the opportunity to improve their problem solving skills. Overall, companies who frequently implement teamwork and encourage collaboration benefit from the increased creativity and learning that occurs in group environments.

2.     Candor

Candor, in its simplest form, is complete transparency. It is synonymous with directness and sincerity. Demonstrating and rewarding candor in business builds trust between employees, management and customers. Candor invites open, honest and healthy communication to effectively solve problems and provide feedback. Companies that practice candor in all of their communications between employees and the public are more likely to improve business performance. Open discussion and feedback is essential to identifying and solving problems and exercising appropriate oversight.

3.     Thinking Outside the Box

Encouraging creativity and thinking that goes beyond the tasks at hand paves the way for innovation and problem solving. Thinking outside the box often leads to new insights that were previously unclear. Creative thinking is beneficial to employees in all departments and at all levels because issues and hiccups do not discriminate between industry, skill or company position. Businesses that encourage problem solving outside of what is normal for the industry or department can correct issues sooner and offer benefits from innovative solutions.

4.     Employee Development

One of the most important investments that a company can make is in the development of its employees. Development involves consistently training, coaching, mentoring and communicating with each employee to make sure he or she is growing within the company. This action proves to employees that they and their skills, talents and ideas matter to the organization. Developing employees helps them feel more connected and integrated into company values and goals, thus encouraging them to work better. Development also helps to point out talents and opportunities for growth. Discovering these qualities enables management to better direct teams because they will know which skills employees possess to drive results.

5.     Accountability

Keeping yourself and others accountable for decisions and actions helps to promote transparency. Accountability involves doing what you say you will do and communicating openly about why you could not keep that promise. It involves following up, admitting to mistakes and correcting unsatisfactory behavior and outcomes. Leaders who do what they say they will and expect the same from employees strengthen the company culture and promote responsibility. Accountability is important to maintaining integrity and customers and clients are more likely to buy from or work with a company that they trust to do the right thing.

6.     Willingness to Learn

The world moves quickly. One day’s communication can disrupt an entire weeks-worth of plans. It is essential for company leaders to support and actively practice constant learning. Willingness to learn is an advantage in any field because nothing remains stagnant. Learning involves being open to new techniques and methods of operating and organizing. Being open to learning new things in business helps to keep the business up to date on trends and grounded in reality. A willingness to learn can also promote innovation as employees and management are open to utilizing new knowledge to create their own original methods, tools and techniques.

7.     Recognition of Contributions

One of the biggest motivators for employees is recognition. Positive reinforcement for accomplishments and actions that help promote company objectives and values encourages workers to keep doing them.  Fostering a company culture that frequently provides positive feedback and recognizes the efforts of employees helps infuse the organization with positivity and motivation. While it is important for employees to receive recognition from management, it is just as important to receive it from their peers. Doing this builds strong relationships between coworkers and reduces the stress from management of making sure they are giving enough praise.