As published in the Winnipeg Sun. It’s January, 2010, the year of the Olympics and the soon to be announced internationally recognized elite and super elite sports performers.  These sports heroes all have something in common; they have a positive frame of mind and are success driven. They understand their capabilities and limitations, but continually develop themselves and stretch their skills, raising the bar each and every time. They have a “jump to the pump” attitude and always come through in a crunch. While they have a high sense of self esteem and self confidence, they apply different strategies such as visualization and the use of a motivational coach to keep them moving forward. And finally, they have a “bulldog” mental toughness that enables them to persevere toward their goal.

Hopefully it will also be an “Olympic” year for Manitoba businesses. Everyone knows that people are your most important resource, so when you are looking for candidates it’s important that you look for top performers. It is these folks who will move you from “average” to “extraordinary”. But what does a top performing candidate look like? What are they doing? How can they contribute to your organization?  As an employer, what should you look for?’

As an executive search professional with over thirty years experience, I can tell you that while technology skills are critical in today’s world, there are a number of “top performing” employee traits and behaviours that have always stood the test of time - it is these selection criteria that you must concentrate on. Some of these traits include the following:

Attitude – there are many years of research on the subject of attitude. What has stood the test of time is this:  Nothing can stop someone with the right attitude. Look for signs of a positive attitude toward work, life and opportunity.

Value linkages - top performing employees will share the same values as your firm. Be sure to identify and confirm your own values and be able to describe the behaviour that accompanies them. Then, match your needs with candidate values.

Sense of Vision - candidates who focus on the big picture and have a long term vision won’t get tripped up by short term problems. They don’t get bogged down by details; they are creative and innovative in removing barriers to their goals.

Organizational affiliation – top performers balance their own needs with that of the organization but, in most cases, they exhibit a “we, we, we” approach rather than demonstrating a selfish, “woe is me” approach to business or a “pay me first” attitude.

Commitment – top performing candidates will be there when you need them. They are committed to excellence, working hard and working well. They persevere, show focus and personal discipline.

Continuous learning – while top performing candidates are aware of their capabilities, they are humble and open to learning new things. Instead of fuming over errors, they turn them into great opportunities.

Relationship builder – top performers not only have technical expertise but they are experts at social skills and building positive relationships with others. They are leaders who can build high performing, synergistic teams.

Innovator and risk taker – top performers are very strategic; they are able to quickly identify issues and challenges, explore options and make recommendations that will drive your organization forward. As a new employee, they will be able to evaluate your organization and make recommendations within three months.

Strong self knowledge – top performers know themselves well, they seek out advice from expert advisors when they need to and act on the advice in a timely manner; they are strong confident decision makers.

It is those top performing employees who are going to help your company reach excellence in your field. Yet, because they are so valuable, employers will do anything to keep them. This makes finding and recruiting these candidates a tough job. In most cases, these individuals are not seeking other employment because they are making such a significant contribution where they are. And that is where Executive Search professionals can help. Give the 2010 new year a good start - seek out professional help and find that top performing candidate.