How To Spot A High Performer And Why They Make Great Employees

“ High performers” are generally very smart people with an above average IQ. However, IQ is not enough on its own to be a high performer, there are 4 types of intelligence that contribute to high performance.

• Innate intelligence [IQ] – How smart you are – is fixed. Set in your DNA
• Acquired intelligence [AQ] – How much you know – makes IQ relevant
• Technological Intelligence [TQ] – How fast you integrate and leverage technology for low value tasks – gives more time for building human relationships
• Emotional Intelligence [EQ] – Your agility for dealing with emotions – amplifies the impact of the other 3 because it allows you to relate, respond to, influence and persuade other human beings

People with high IQ tend to be curious, quick to learn and utilise new information, are strategic and can see the bigger picture, hold themselves to account, and have better reasoning skills. They also perceive relationships in seemingly unrelated objects, ideas, or facts and can develop unique and original ideas and solutions to problems. These are great competencies for discovery and challenging status quos as well as developing unique solutions.

High IQ alone in sales can also have a negative side. Because high IQ people tend to think, talk and connect ideas faster than some other people they may damage relationships through:

• Impulsiveness
• Impatience
• Talking down to people
• Talking over people
• Failure to listen and hear people out
• Failure to empathise with others
• Overwhelming people with elaborate solutions to basic problems or issues

Many extremely intelligent people have failed in sales because they are unable to influence the behaviour of other people!

Acquired intelligence opportunities are all too often faced by average performers with comments such as “I’ve been doing this for xx years – I don’t need/want training!”. High performers have a thirst for knowledge and ideas. They:

• Seek out every opportunity to learn
• Are coachable and open minded
• Welcome feedback and review
• See adversity as a learning experience
• Will share ideas and successes

High “Q” people will always be successful in goals they set themselves!

There are so many ways to invest in self-development today. Look into the internet for podcasts and videos. A good place to start is  with Jeb Blount’s Sales Gravy with links to many others like Mike Weinberg.

We have no time for salespeople who limit their own capabilities by never investing in themselves!!

We are looking for more high performers to join our candidate list – please send your CV to info@thcrecruitment.co.uk

Image from www.cognology.com.au

Looking for a new job is never an easy path to take for many people; however the path is blocked by a massive door which many struggle to breakdown. The door represents the question “should I look for a new job?” and for some this is simply never answered. The result being you dither about the subject for some time, before eventually deciding that it’s “better the devil you know” and stay where you are.

For a large number of potential job seekers the fact that they haven’t looked for a job for a while and are unsure of the process ,is what stops them from actually looking. If only there were a few self-critical questions we could ask ourselves to discover if the time to move jobs is in fact now……

• Do you feel passionate about the industry you are currently in?
• Can you picture yourself willingly working in the same industry in 5 years’ time ?
• Can you picture yourself doing the same role in 12 months’ time?
• Do you start counting the hours left on a Sunday before you have to return to work?
• Do you like more than two thirds of the people you work with?
• Has your employer provided a clear understanding of how you and your role can develop over the next 12 months?
• Does the company culture let you develop your own skills and reach your full potential?
• Are you in a situation where financially you can keep earning the same level in 12 months’ time?
• Can you continue to commit to the same commuting hours per week or are they becoming excessive?

If you can’t honestly answer these questions with a positive attitude,  then quite simply why are you still reading this and not reaching for your CV to start giving it a polish?! Yes we all have bills to pay and financial commitments we must honour, but that shouldn’t be your motivation. Staying in a job that is not giving you the satisfaction and happiness levels you need to be the type of person you want to be, is only going to cost you something that no amount of money can repair – your sense of well –being. Self-respect, self-esteem and personal development are worth investing in.

If you are near the start or the end of your career then you can still ask yourself the same overriding question which will soon help you realize what is required of you. “Can I see myself willingly doing this role or work in this industry for the next X number of years before I can retire?”

If you can’t then why put off for tomorrow steps you can take today to secure your long term happiness and self-respect? Remember if you hate Mondays and the thought of getting up after Sunday is over and done with then this is a subconscious sign that changes are needed.

Contact us at THC Recruitment for advice on career paths, CV writing and if you are looking to progress in the asset finance industry. 01279 713900 info@thcrecruitment.co.uk