Five ways to turn any employee into a top performer

Top performing employees can make a huge difference in the productivity of a work team. What is the difference between an average employee and a top performing employee?

According to a new study by leadership training firm VitalSmarts, employees rated by their managers as nines and tens on a ten-point performance scale are not only three times  more valuable than the average exmployee, but are also responsible for 61% of the total work done in their departments.

One might think that high productivity means haggard workers. But the study found that 83% of managers and 77% of peers say these top performers’ are less stressed than their coworkers. Respondents found that the top performers didn’t necessarily work harder – they worked smarter.
Asked to describe the work habits of these workers, respondents used these phrases most commonly:

Communication Practices:

• Top Performers: "Ask for help," "Not afraid to ask questions," "Know who to go to," "Know when to ask"
• Average Performers: "Lack of communication," "Slow to respond," "Don't listen," "Complain"

Productivity Practices:

• Top Performers: "Organized," "Good time management," "Attention to detail," "To do lists," "Keep track of," "Block time on their calendar," "Prioritize," "Stay on top of their work"
• Average Performers: "Not enough time," "Lack of attention," "No follow through," "Too busy," "Late," "Disorganized," "Don't meet deadlines," "Not on task"

"The message in this research is that a very small number of self-management practices literally change a person's life and are also beneficial to the organization," said David Maxfield, a lead researcher at VitalSmarts. "They dramatically improve performance while also reducing stress."

By helping employees engender a few productivity practices, employers can ensure all their workers are their best workers. These are the five things every top performer practices: