10 Virtues of a Valued Employee

The biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else. Job security is gone. The driving force of a career must come from the individual. Remember: Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career! ~Earl Nightingale


What an employer wants from an employee is not asking for too much. In fact, it is expected of a normal worker. Let’s check out the list:

1. Punctuality: There are promises given to customers about the timely delivery of goods and employees are expected to report for work on time to do the necessary. However, there are workers who do not go to work on time. This seriously disrupts the flow of work for the day and the promises made to customers are broken. Punctuality should be observed by all workers like clockwork.

2. Attendance: Like punctuality, certain workers fail to report for work regularly. He or she may not come to work on certain days and worse still the employer is not notified in advance. Again, it affects adversely the normal running of a business. It is necessary to inform the employer in advance when you are not coming to work so that alternative arrangements can be made. In the case of an emergency, it is still necessary to keep your boss posted at the earliest possible moment by SMS or a phone call.

3. Commitment: When you are committed, you devote your time and energy fully while you are on the job. You work in the best interest of your employer and their business.

4. Attitude: Do not adopt a couldn’t- care-less attitude at work because when you do not care, the boss will also not think too kindly of you. The most important thing is that your reputation and brand are at stake. When you work, you also work for yourself because you are what you do. Deliver quality work and build the trust of others in you. What do you want others to say about you in your absence?

5. Ask: Another negative aspect of some employees is that they do not ask when they are in doubt; they just guess and do things wrongly. When they are in doubt they should seek clarification before starting work.

6. Cheerfulness: It is important for you to project a cheerful disposition especially when you are serving customers. When your attitude is hostile you will drive customers away. People are not interested to deal with someone who is not friendly.

7. Responsibility: The employer wants an employee to take ownership of his or her work and not to blame others when a job is not done right. It is also in the interest of the worker to identify problems at work so that they can be ironed out and work smoothly.

8. Be interested: It is expected that you show an interest in the work you do and stay interested. To develop and like what you do is to find out more about the nitty-gritty of the job. The more you know, the better you will be able to perform.

9. Do it now: When you work, do not dilly-dally, carry out instructions immediately and get things done. Show engagement and enthusiasm while you are working to motivate yourself and inspire others.

10. Honesty: When an employer employs you, he or she has placed trust in you. Be honest in all your dealings. The worst thing to happen to you, as an employee, is when you are no longer trusted. You will have no place in the company anymore.

Have you got what it takes to be a valued employee?

10 Virtues to bring you Success in Life

Virtue is about a particular good quality or habit. What are the virtues to acquire and bring you success in life? I can think of the following:

1. Honesty: Today the bywords are openness and transparency. It is about truthfulness. As in auditing, the only accepted standard has to be able to reflect a true and view of the affairs of the company. Honesty creates trust. Honesty gives you a clear conscience.

2. Self-control: Knowing and managing your emotions is the way to manage yourself well. Avoid outburst of anger and resentment. Be cheerful and happy while dealing with others. Project a pleasant image so that you are likable.

3. Patience: We all want to get things done instantly and we all want instant gratification. However, success in life does not come easy; it involves hard work for a long period of time. Be cool, calm and collected.

4. Resilience: Life is not smooth sailing all the way. It is paved with defeats, setbacks and problems. The most important thing is not to be disheartened when you do not meet success. You may fall, but you bounce back and go on but wiser.

5. Empathetic: The ability to consider the feelings of others will be very much appreciated by those around you. You can get things done easily with the cooperation of others.

6. Cheerfulness: You feel good about yourself and you go about your day in a delightful way. A smiling face is a welcome sign by others and people are willing to approach you because you make others happy too.

7. Concentration: The only way to get things done is to be mindful working on one task at a time. It is less stressful than doing too many things at the same time.

8. Persistence: It is about not giving up easily. You carry on until you get what you want. You have to go all the way and leave no stones unturned to achieve your long-term goals.

9. Hard working: It is the opposite of laziness. It is about taking action to get things done. You may know what to do, but if you don’t act, nothing will happen.

10. Positive mental attitude: It is your positive thoughts that make things happen. When you are confident of yourself, you are not discouraged by obstacles. You will be resourceful and creative to solve problems.


It is a long and winding road in the journey of life. These personal traits will complement your determination to get what you want in life successfully.