The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (2023)

Making sure the right people are in the right seats on your time is the most important role for any leader.

As the CEO of a startup that's constantly growing and changing - Likeable Local, and the Chairman of a more-mature-but-still-fast-growing agency, this continues to be a key priority of mine. To understand more about the perfect employee, I thought I'd ask members of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) about their best employees.

The YEC is an invite-only organization comprised of the world's most promising young entrepreneurs. I asked these CEO's and entrepreneurs what they believed was the 1 most important word to describe their perfect employee. Here is what they shared:

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (1)

1. Motivated

A motivated employee is likely to possess other qualities that make them the perfect employee. They will want to advance within the company so they will want to stand out. This means that are much more likely to communicate which is a key trait. They likely will be a good listener who will take direction and wants to learn. They are more likely to think about the consequences of their actions.

- Scott Kacmarski, President/Founder, Reps Direct

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (2)

2. Humble

It's easy to find someone skilled, smart, talented and has a good resume, but a good attitude is gold. It's not easily found, and cannot be taught. For me, the perfect employee is someone who is really smart, but is also humble. They still follow rules, accept mistakes and respect others.

- Daisy Jing, Founder, Banish

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (3)

3. Dedicated

A dedicated employee is one who takes ownership of their role and the company as a whole. They are committed to the mission of the company, and really lives the values that have been created by the culture of the team. There is no blaming or ego. Dedicated employees really look at the overall good of the company, and understand what is best for everyone.

- Tom Alexander, Founder and CEO, PK4 Media

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The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (4)

4. Consistent

I think consistency is underrated in the modern business world. There's a premium that's put on intangibles like creativity or ingenuity, but there's a need for someone who shows up every day and really grinds it out. While you need people who are constantly pushing the envelope and churning out new ideas, innovation is backed by hard work — elbow grease shouldn't be a phrase from a bygone era!

- Bryce Welker, Founder & CEO, Crush Empire

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (5)

5. Accountable

Perfect employees are responsible for themselves and others. They ask for help when they need it, are dependable and reliable, will not need to be micromanaged, will inspire others to achieve excellence. They know they are the makers of their own success themselves, are introspective, and know that change for the better starts within.

- Radomir Basta, CEO, Four Dots

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (6)

6. Dependable

Talent only gets you so far. Being dependable means you complete tasks given on-time and on-budget, and can solve issues that will arise during a project.

- Peter Boyd, General Guru (aka President), PaperStreet Web Design

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (7)

7. Self-Manageable

I have found that the most powerful predictor of employee performance is the ability to self-manage. Self-management exists when the employee sets her own goals and has high personal standards for performance. Self-management doesn't mean the employee doesn't adhere to company goals; quite the opposite — the employee uses company goals as a guideline and tends to go above and beyond.

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- Kristopher Jones, Founder, LSEO.com

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (8)

8. Integrity

Entrepreneurs and startups require integrity. Integrity is founded on honesty, accountability and delivery. It takes mistakes to get to a point of perfection, so progress and commitment to the business is paramount, which requires honesty and accountability. Being accountable for a mistake and not placing blame is the delivery.

- Matthew Capala, Founder, Search Decoder

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (9)

9. Committed

I look for employees who are completely committed to their jobs, team members and customers. The best employees are strongly motivated to advance their own careers, but at the same time really care about the people they're working with and the customers they serve. This takes a genuine interest in the business and even the day-to-day details, which are sometimes monotonous.

- Kalin Kassabov, Founder, CEO, ProTexting

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (10)

10. Passionate

I am a firm believer that you can always train for skill, but not for talent and passion. When I am looking to bring on a new team member, I look for someone who is going to bring energy and passion to their role above all else. Without that, especially in a startup environment, the technical skills mean little.

- Suneera Madhani, Co-Founder and CEO, Fattmerchant

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (11)

11. Creative

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I consider those who are ‘lateral thinking’ and can develop creative solutions to bolster our current business initiatives to be the absolute perfect employee. This is because someone who is inherently innovative, and can be counted on for delivery of creative solutions when needed is invaluable for any type of company and its potential of future success.

- Luigi Wewege, CEO, Vivier & Co

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (12)

12. Optimistic

An optimistic employee looks for creative solutions before introducing an issue to the team. They approach each day as if it's an opportunity to do something extraordinary rather than nine hours spent behind a desk and monitor. They help drive the business forward through actions small and large.

- Thomas Doochin, CEO, Daymaker

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (13)

13. Hungry

Employees who are hungry for knowledge should have no problem taking on a task and running with it. This type of mindset is extremely important within a small business. Resources around training are scarce, so employees must be driven enough to solve problems on their own.

- Robert Lee, CEO of Circa Interactive, Circa Interactive Inc

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (14)

14. Loyal

There are a lot of great, motivated and talented employees out there. The ones who share your vision and are loyal to you and that vision are few and far between. People want to build their own dream and their loyalty is sometimes swayed by attractive offers at other companies. Let them in on building your dream with you, develop them as people and professionals, and loyalty will come with it.

- Tony Poston, Founder and CEO, College Hill Custom Threads

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (15)

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15. Character-driven

You can train an employee to learn your business, but character stems from experiences. I sleep well at night knowing I can trust my employees to do the right thing, treat the customer well, and be a righteous ambassador to our business. A character-driven employee does not need supervision to make decisions because they will act in the best interest of our business and customers.

- Robert De Los Santos, CEO, Sky High Party Rentals

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (16)

16. Achiever

Building a team of achievers is one sure-fire way to really get things done. Being smart and skilled is one thing, but a team member who can successfully plan and execute tasks to a high standard is extremely important. Having go-getters on your team helps to accelerate growth, fuels ideas and keeps things moving.

- Greg Mercer, Founder/CEO, Jungle Scout

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (17)

17. Persistent

These days, everybody is smart and talented. The problem is that in business, we have all become incredibly scared of failure. I love employees who take risks, albeit calculated, and then take responsibility for the ensuing success or failure. It is categorically impossible to succeed without failure, and the employees who are persistent are the real superstars.

- Ryan Bradley, Partner, Koester & Bradley, LLP

Now it's your turn! How about YOU? Who is your perfect employee? Why is he or she amazing? What's your formula for finding the perfect employee? And if YOU'RE the employee, which of these words best describes YOU? I'd love to hear from you in the Comments section below.

--

The Perfect Employee in 17 Simple Words (18)

Dave Kerpen is the CEO ofLikeable Local, the Chairman of Likeable Media, and the NY Times bestselling author of 4 books, including the recentThe Art of People: 11 Simple People Skills That Will Get You Everything You Want.

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FAQs

How would you describe a perfect employee? ›

Top qualities of a good employee
  1. Reliability. Look for employees on whom you can count to arrive on time and finish their tasks. ...
  2. Problem-solving skills. Valuable employees are driven to solve problems. ...
  3. Teamwork. ...
  4. Conflict resolution. ...
  5. Communication skills. ...
  6. Willing to learn and ask questions.

What are the 10 characteristics of good employee? ›

Common traits of a good employee
  • Dedication. Dedication includes a strong sense of support and loyalty to a business or career role. ...
  • Confidence. Confidence and productivity often work well together. ...
  • Reliability. ...
  • Teamwork. ...
  • Independence. ...
  • Leadership. ...
  • Interpersonal/communication skills. ...
  • Self-awareness.
Feb 3, 2023

What words to use to describe a great employee? ›

Likable: You're likable and easy to work with. Polite: You're always polite and remain calm, even under stressful circumstances. Considerate: You're always considerate of others' time when committing to project deadlines. Understanding: You're patient and understanding when projects don't go according to plan.

WHAT IS employees in simple words? ›

An employee is a worker hired by an employer to do a specific job. Employers control how employees are paid, when employees work, and how employees work. In exchange, employees get benefits that contractors don't.

How do you describe a good person? ›

Let's now have a look at these adjectives to describe people and their characters with positive vibes:
  • Adaptable.
  • Adventurous.
  • Amarous.
  • diligent.
  • Humble.
  • Courageous.
  • Efficient.
  • Enchanting.
Jun 10, 2019

What are 5 characteristics of a good employer? ›

Here are 6 characteristics of good employers:
  • They're open and honest communicators. Great employers let their employees know what's going on with the business. ...
  • They're flexible. ...
  • They're dedicated team builders. ...
  • They give feedback. ...
  • They know how to listen. ...
  • They foster a great employee experience.
May 2, 2022

What are three of my positive qualities? ›

Examples of personal positive qualities: kind, gentle, strong, resilient, caring, assertive, hard-working, reliable, honest, practical, responsible, loyal, mature, creative, consistent, appreciative, capable, quick, sensitive, perceptive, patient, thoughtful, fit, trustworthy, shows initiative, motivated, versatile, ...

How do you say someone's work is excellent? ›

That's great. I'm impressed. Keep working on it; you're improving. Congratulations, you got it right!

How do you say someone's work is amazing? ›

Here are 85 different ways to recognize your colleagues' good work:
  1. "Nice work!"
  2. "Excellent job on that project."
  3. "Thanks for helping out."
  4. "Wow, that's impressive work."
  5. "Congratulations on a job well done."
  6. "Outstanding work!"
  7. "You are a fast learner."
  8. "You're so good at what you do."
Feb 24, 2023

What 3 words describe you best as a professional? ›

“I would describe myself as RESOURCEFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and ENERGETIC. I am resourceful which means I will find quick and smart ways to overcome difficulties. Because I responsible I will take ownership of my ongoing development to ensure I am always valuable to the organization and my skills relevant.

Why employees are so important? ›

Employees are the base of a strong and long-running organization. Employees run the organization, no matter what level. This means their strength, commitment and dedication, and their emotional connection with the organization can't be judged as assets in monetary value.

What is the role of an employee? ›

Main Responsibilities of Employees

to personally do the work they were hired to do. to do their work carefully and seriously (In some cases, they could be fired or disciplined if they're often late for work, or if they're absent too often or for no good reason.) to avoid putting themselves or others in danger.

What are 5 positive words? ›

From simple words like “smile” to more complex terms like “unwavering,” these positive words will have you feeling good in no time!
  • absolutely. accepted. acclaimed. ...
  • beaming. beautiful. believe. ...
  • calm. celebrated. certain. ...
  • dazzling. delight. delightful. ...
  • earnest. easy. ecstatic. ...
  • fabulous. fair. familiar. ...
  • generous. genius. ...
  • handsome. happy.

What makes one special? ›

To be a unique person means that you are one of a kind and no other person is exactly like you. This uniqueness partly comes from within, shown through our actions and behaviors. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the meaning of unique is “being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.

What are positive strengths? ›

Personal strengths: These are your unique qualities (e.g., reliable, flexible, kind, hard working, creative, punctual, and positive).

What is key strength? ›

What are key strengths? Key strengths include knowledge-based skills, transferable skills and personal traits. Knowledge-based skills are technical skills that you learn from education and experience. Transferable skills are soft skills that are applicable in most situations, such as communication and problem-solving.

What are my core strengths? ›

Core strengths generally fall into the three key areas of play, personal and work. But of these, the personal area is fundamental. It might include optimism, generosity, energy, empathy, or honesty. These comprise the background of every activity you undertake.

How do you describe overall performance? ›

Here are some examples of phrases used in performance evaluations for various industries: Maintained good attendance throughout the year. Respectful of their co-workers' time by arriving at team meetings on time. Consistently arrived on time to company-wide meetings and training sessions.

What are the 8 qualities employers are looking for? ›

8 Skills Employees Look For
  • Initiative. Many hiring managers value personal initiative nearly as much as hard skills. ...
  • Technical Literacy. ...
  • Tech-savvy. ...
  • Data Skills. ...
  • Digital Marketing. ...
  • SEO. ...
  • UX Design. ...
  • Written Communication.

What are 3 qualities a employer is looking for? ›

A positive attitude to work, punctuality, flexibility, verbal communication skills, and the ability to make a professional introduction are all crucial when deciding whether to recruit a young person.

What are the three most important things in a workplace? ›

There are three key employer characteristics a job seeker should look for in an employment relationship: reputation, career advancement and work balance.

What is a positive quality? ›

Positive qualities are personal attributes, character traits, skills, or strengths that are considered good or help us in some way. It's important to know your positive attributes and keep them in mind to develop a healthy level of confidence and self-worth.

How do I know my best quality? ›

Here are some tips.
  1. Focus on the good things about yourself and your life. ...
  2. Try a variety of new experiences. ...
  3. Look back at your history. ...
  4. Ask someone you trust. ...
  5. Get professional help. ...
  6. Get to know your personality and the strengths that go with it. ...
  7. Use a profiling tool.
Oct 13, 2015

What are 100 characteristics? ›

Printable List of 100 Character Traits
creativeimaginativetolerant
cruelimmaturetrustworthy
curiousimpatientunkind
daringintelligentwild
demandingjealouswise
Jun 2, 2022

How do you praise a hardworking employee? ›

1 - Acknowledging top performance
  1. We are consistently amazed by your performance. ...
  2. Companies dream of hiring employees like you. ...
  3. It's incredible to see you consistently pushing the bar.
  4. You're an inspiration to us all! ...
  5. We'd like to congratulate and acknowledge the tremendous success you've achieved!

What is another word for really good? ›

Superb, outstanding, and terrific are synonyms for very good.

What are 5 words that describe you? ›

Positive Words to Describe Yourself
PersistentGenuinePatient
WarmheartedLoyalBright
EasygoingAdventurousEmotional
OptimisticAffectionateHonest
VersatileFlexibleLoving
17 more rows
Jan 30, 2023

What are two words that describe you best? ›

Best Words to Describe Yourself:
  • Tough.
  • Trustworthy.
  • Understanding.
  • Upbeat.
  • Versatile.
  • Vibrant.
  • Warmhearted.
  • Wise.
Feb 1, 2023

What three words best describe? ›

Example answers for "Describe yourself in 3 words"
  • "I'd describe myself as driven, communicative and reliable. ...
  • "I'm organized, patient and helpful. ...
  • "First, I'm passionate. ...
  • "The first word I'd use to describe myself is approachable. ...
  • "Enthusiastic, confident and friendly are three words I'd pick to describe myself.
Jun 24, 2022

What employees need to be successful? ›

7 Traits of Highly Successful Employees
  • They hold good boundaries. ...
  • They understand the importance of clear communication. ...
  • They are not afraid to ask questions and speak up. ...
  • They enjoy what they do — it's more than a paycheck. ...
  • They take the high road. ...
  • They are timely.

Why employees are the key to success? ›

Employees are important because they carry out your mission and have influence over your customers, among other reasons. They carry out your mission. One of the top reasons employees are important to an organization's success is that they are the ones who are directly responsible for carrying out your mission.

What does it mean to value an employee? ›

Valuing employees in the workplace means also valuing all the experience, insight, and expertise they've gained that helps them be their best in their current role and also helps your team. Celebrate their years of contributions throughout their career.

What is employee personality? ›

The Employee Personality Profile (EPP) is a general personality inventory that measures twelve personality traits that provide valuable insights into a person's work styles and how they are likely to interact with co-workers, management and customers.

What are the 7 types of employees? ›

Types of employees
  • Full-time.
  • Part-time.
  • Casual.
  • Fixed term.
  • Shiftworkers.
  • Daily hire and weekly hire.
  • Probation.
  • Apprentices and trainees.
Jul 12, 2022

What are the 7 types of work? ›

Seven common employee classification types
  • Full-time. Full-time employees work for a specified number of hours every week and are typically paid on a salary basis that does not change. ...
  • Part-time. ...
  • Contract. ...
  • Independent contractor. ...
  • Temporary. ...
  • On-call. ...
  • Volunteer.
Jun 24, 2022

What are 5 rights of an employee? ›

To be paid the agreed wage on the agreed date and at the agreed time. To be provided with appropriate resources and equipment to enable him/her to do the job. To have safe working conditions. To fair labour practices.

What are 4 responsibilities of a employee? ›

taking care to use equipment safely and for its intended purpose. reporting hazards and potential problems without delay. reporting all work-related injuries and incidents that you think could result in harm to health. co-operating with the employer on health and safety matters.

What is employee happiness called? ›

"text": "Employee satisfaction is a term that is used to describe if employees are happy and fulfilling their desires and needs at work. The crucial factor with employee satisfaction is that satisfied employees must do the job and make the contributions that the employer needs."

What are the top 3 strengths that employers look for? ›

The top 5 skills employers look for include:
  • Critical thinking and problem solving.
  • Teamwork and collaboration.
  • Professionalism and strong work ethic.
  • Oral and written communications skills.
  • Leadership.

What are 5 characteristics of an employee with a positive safety attitude? ›

Good workplace safety attitudes are represented by attentiveness, eagerness, alertness, carefulness, task focused, team-oriented and seriousness.

What are the 10 work ethics characteristics and explain each? ›

The ten work ethic traits: appearance, attendance, attitude, character, communication, cooperation, organizational skills, productivity, respect and teamwork are defined as essential for student success and are listed below.

What is the most important characteristic of a great workplace? ›

One of the most important characteristics of a great workplace is a culture of trust. This culture of trust is bidirectional – employees trusting managers and managers trusting employees.

What makes a happy workplace? ›

The happiest of workplaces are ones where employees feel appreciated, productive, and have a sense of control over their own work goals. A workplace where they feel well taken care of is one where most employees will happily thrive.

What is a strong work ethic? ›

A strong work ethic is an attitude an employee applies to their work that indicates a high level of passion for any work they do. A bad work ethic is an attitude that an employee demonstrates that shows a lack of ambition and professionalism in the workplace.

What are three strongest abilities? ›

Strong abilities like being hardworking, determined, a good communicator, a good leader and a team player as well as enjoying challenges can be mentioned during an interview, depending on your personality type and strengths.

What is a positive employee? ›

In interacting with others, an employee exhibiting positive energy is cheerful, respectful, and polite. They are also approachable and engaging as opposed to inaccessible and despondent. The attitude necessary for possessing positive energy is being grateful to be part of the team.

What is a good environment at work? ›

“Positive” work environments can be defined as those workplaces where there is trust, cooperation, safety, risk-taking support, accountability, and equity. There are some abstract concepts when thinking about a positive work environment. You want to strive for shared purpose, values, and trust.

What are the 10 appropriate workplace behaviors and attitudes? ›

10 ways to maintain professional behavior in the workplace
  • Arrive on time. Punctuality shows your coworkers that you are reliable, care about your work and value their time. ...
  • Follow your company's dress code. ...
  • Communicate respectfully. ...
  • Be honest. ...
  • Have a positive attitude. ...
  • Take responsibility. ...
  • Avoid social media. ...
  • Help others.
Jan 31, 2023

What are 7 work values? ›

Companies often operate according to their core values implicitly.
...
7 Core Values to Bolster Innovation
  • Quality. ...
  • Individuality. ...
  • Trust. ...
  • Creativity. ...
  • Leadership. ...
  • Accountability. ...
  • Measurement.

What are the 7 work ethics? ›

7 Key Elements of a Strong Work Ethic
  • Professionalism. Being professional involves everything from how you dress and present yourself in the business world to the way you treat others. ...
  • Accountability. ...
  • Respectfulness. ...
  • Dedication. ...
  • Determination. ...
  • Humility. ...
  • Dependability.

What are the 8 professional ethics? ›

Typically these include honesty, trustworthiness, transparency, accountability, confidentiality, objectivity, respect, obedience to the law, and loyalty.

What are the 3 most important things in a workplace? ›

There are three key employer characteristics a job seeker should look for in an employment relationship: reputation, career advancement and work balance.

What is a good work culture? ›

What is a positive work culture? Simply put, a positive work culture is one that prioritizes the well-being of employees, offers support at all levels within the organization, and has policies in place that encourage respect, trust, empathy, and support.

How do you identify a great quality of work? ›

Quality of work (accuracy, thoroughness, competence) Quantity of work (productivity level, time management, ability to meet deadlines) Job knowledge (skills and understanding of the work) Working relationships (ability to work with others, communication skills)

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