What transforms a group of employees into a truly high-achieving team? Beyond skills and strategy, it often hinges on the consistent practice of specific, powerful behaviors. We call these the six essential ‘watch words’: urgency, foresight, ownership, initiative, follow-through, and accuracy.
These aren’t just abstract ideals; they are the active ingredients driving productivity, embedding accountability, and enabling the kind of collaboration that delivers real results. This article breaks down why these particular watchwords are so critical and explores practical ways to cultivate them within individuals and teams for sustained success.
1. Urgency: Acting with Purpose and Speed
Urgency in the workplace goes beyond simply working faster; it’s about recognizing what needs to be prioritized and taking action without unnecessary delay. Employees who demonstrate a sense of urgency understand the importance of time in achieving business goals. They act swiftly to seek opportunities, respond to client/customer needs, and keep projects moving forward.
Organizations that encourage urgency benefit from quicker decision-making, enhanced responsiveness, and an improved approach to problem-solving. However, urgency must be balanced with a focus on quality to avoid the pitfall of rushing through tasks without sufficient thought or care.
Cultivating Urgency:
- Encourage clear communication on deadlines and goals.
- Reward proactive decision-making and fast responses.
- Provide tools and resources that streamline workflows.
2. Foresight and Awareness: Anticipating the Future
Foresight is the ability to anticipate potential developments, challenges, and opportunities. Employees with strong foresight are able to look beyond the immediate tasks at hand and consider the long-term impact on company growth. This trait is crucial in a rapidly changing business environment, where being ahead of the curve can lead to significant competitive advantages.
Awareness, on the other hand, involves being attuned to the current dynamics within the organization and the wider industry. Employees who possess awareness can read the room, detect potential risks, and spot emerging opportunities before they become critical.
Cultivating Foresight and Awareness:
- Conduct regular training and development to build industry knowledge.
- Encourage a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability.
- Promote collaboration and cross-training to share insights and ideas.
3. Ownership: Taking Responsibility for Success
Ownership is a key ingredient in fostering a sense of accountability. Employees who take ownership of their tasks and projects are more likely to go above and beyond to ensure success. They don’t just wait for instructions or pass off responsibility when things go wrong. Instead, they take pride in their work and are committed to seeing it through to completion, regardless of obstacles.
This approach helps in creating a culture where employees feel responsible not only for their own performance but also for contributing to the success of the organization. Ownership often leads to greater engagement, as employees feel a sense of pride and investment in their work.
Cultivating Ownership:
- Set clear expectations and empower employees to make decisions.
- Recognize and reward employees who demonstrate accountability.
- Foster an environment where taking responsibility is valued over placing blame.
4. Initiative: Taking Action Without Being Told
Initiative is the drive to take action without waiting for directions or being prompted. Employees who show initiative are often self-starters who identify problems and propose solutions, or they take on tasks proactively to move the organization forward. Their ability to act independently can be a game-changer for business efficiency.
When initiative is widespread across an organization, it leads to continuous improvement, faster problem-solving, and a culture of innovation.
Cultivating Initiative:
- Encourage a culture of experimentation and risk-taking.
- Give employees the freedom to pursue ideas they believe will improve outcomes.
- Support and mentor individuals who demonstrate leadership potential.
5. Follow-through: Commitment to Completion
Follow-through is the ability to stay committed to a task or project until it is completed successfully. It is a measure of persistence and dedication, ensuring that promises made are kept. Without follow-through, even the best ideas or intentions can fall short, leading to incomplete projects, missed opportunities, and lackluster results.
Employees who demonstrate strong follow-through help to build trust within teams and organizations. They’re known for delivering results consistently, which is a key factor in building a strong organizational reputation.
Cultivating Follow-through:
- Set realistic expectations and deadlines to ensure tasks are completed on time.
- Provide ongoing support and resources to help employees stay focused and motivated.
- Hold employees accountable for delivering on their commitments.
6. Accuracy: Precision in Every Task
Accuracy is essential in any professional setting. Whether it’s data entry, customer service, or complex project management, accuracy ensures that tasks are performed correctly, reducing the need for revisions and minimizing errors that could have costly consequences.
Employees who focus on accuracy bring a high level of reliability to the workplace. Their attention to detail ensures that output is consistently high quality, and their work is often free of costly mistakes that could otherwise impact the organization’s success.
Cultivating Accuracy:
- Provide training on attention to detail and best practices for error-free work.
- Implement quality control processes to catch mistakes early.
- Foster a work environment where precision is celebrated and valued.
Building a High-Performing Workforce
Each of these watchwords – urgency, foresight, ownership, initiative, follow-through, and accuracy – plays a vital role in creating a highly effective and efficient workforce. While individually crucial, these traits often reinforce one another; for example, foresight can guide initiative, while ownership strongly supports follow-through. When employees consistently exhibit these qualities, they contribute not only to their own success but also to the overall success of their teams and organizations.
Employers can cultivate these qualities by creating an environment that values and encourages these traits, providing training and feedback, and recognizing the efforts of employees who demonstrate these skills. Ultimately, a workforce that embodies urgency, foresight, ownership, initiative, follow-through, and accuracy is well-equipped to meet the demands of an ever-evolving marketplace and drive sustained success.
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Alonzo Hankerson, Director of Human Resource for Abel Personnel with over 20 years of HR management experience. Mr. Hankerson is knowledgeable in employment practices and workforce challenges. He works with staff and clients to craft solid employment practices wellness plans tailored to address an organization’s needs and concerns.