Infographic Transcript
Advance Your Business Career
Explore DegreesHigh performers are the elite employees in organizations. Learn more about their values, what traits they have in common, and most importantly, how you can become one!
High performers comprise anywhere from 5 to 30% of the employee population.[1]
What High Performers Offer
- High performers are largely responsible for innovation and new ideas.[2]
- High performers help others improve by acting as mentors, trainers, and role models.[2]
- High performers are 400% more productive than average workers.[3]
- High performers are 800% more productive than average workers in more complex occupations.[4]
Top vs. Bottom 1% [4]
- Unskilled and semiskilled jobs: one person in top 1% equals three people in bottom 1%.
- Jobs of middling complexity (e.g., technicians and supervisors): one person in top 1% equals 12 people in bottom 1%
- High-complexity jobs: “. . . the differential is so big it can’t be quantified.” (McKinsey & Company)
- 10% of productivity comes from the top 1% of employees [3]
- 26% of productivity comes from the top 5% of employees [3]
“A small team of A+ players can run circles around a giant team of B and C players.” – Steve Jobs [5]
Key Attributes of Top Performers
One thousand employers were asked to think about the most impressive top performer they’ve ever worked with. They were asked:
“What is the #1 attribute this person exemplified?” [6]
- Problem solving (36%)
- Drive (33%)
- Self-direction (29%)
- Initiative (27%)
- Communication (24%)
How Can You Become a Top Performer?
Practice the 6 High-Performance Habits
Performance coach and best-selling author Brendon Burchard conducted original research into the most effective habits for long-term success.[7]
- Seek Clarity: Focus on what’s important. Consider four things: self, skills, social, and service.
- Generate Energy: Most people, but not all, lose energy throughout the day. Giving your mind and body a break at times can help you actually generate energy.
- Raise Necessity: What you do is not passion or preference, but necessity. Why are you doing what you’re doing? Remind yourself of your reason.
- Increase Productivity: Think and plan five moves ahead. Focus on increasing the outputs that matter.
- Develop Influence: Teach people how to think and challenge them to grow.
- Demonstrate Courage: Speak up. Don’t complain. Embrace the hard times.
Develop a Growth Mindset
A growth mindset rejects the idea that intelligence and success is stagnant. Instead, people have the power to influence success and intelligence through persistence, hard work, learning, and training.
Here are a few ways you can cultivate a growth mindset:
- Use challenges and failures as learning opportunities.
- Persist and persevere, and remember to keep negative thoughts in check.
- Look for feedback.
- Seek opportunities to build your skills and experience.
- Don’t stop learning.
High performers are extremely valuable workers. What’s stopping you from becoming one?
Earning an online MBA might be the fastest and most effective way to hone your skills and enhancing your career opportunities and salary potential. In a fully online learning environment, you can complete your MBA in as little as one year at Aurora University. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, you can earn an online bachelor’s in business administration to help you reach your career goals.
Sources
1. shrm.org
2. monster.com
3. Personnel Psychology
4. mckinsey.com
5. talentrust.com
6. indeed.com
7. inc.com