How do you define a great employee? The answer is most likely dependent on who is attempting to respond, the employee or the employer. I will concede that I have told previous employers that I would be the best employee they have ever had. And I actually meant it when I said it. Did it happen? I like to think so; at least once or twice, but it’s not for me to say. Andrew and I have been both employee and employer, and this is a topic that I think deserves a little time in the spotlight … Welcome to Ep 125: A Great Employee

[Note: If you are reading this via email, click here to access the on-site audio player]








A Great Employee - Definitions  jump to 2:10

As a primer to the conversation, I thought it would be useful to get an understanding of what other people think makes a great employee. To do this, I sought out the input of people from different age brackets, different stages of experience, architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and owners - just to see if there was a pattern in place that presented itself regardless of the baggage people were bringing with them. Turns out that people generally have the same idea of what makes for a great employee.

Miranda Davis – Architect at BOKA Powell:
"A great employee first takes care of all the tasks they are assigned in the time that they were given/gave themselves. This includes taking notes/mental notes to facilitate that in the capacity that they know they will need to not forget/miss steps (self-awareness). They communicate well, giving notice as soon as they realize they might not finish something on time, giving their team a chance to pivot if needed. They cannot go above and beyond without first fulfilling the original assignment thoroughly and on time, otherwise the extras cannot be appreciated. They listen actively and ask good questions after first troubleshooting on their own, acknowledging that everyone’s time and brain-space is important. They present a willingness to take on other tasks to learn and grow with a good attitude, bonus points for visible enthusiasm."

Brannon Heake:
"What makes “a great employee” is not only willing to go the extra distance, but also know when it is necessary to do so. A great employee creates healthy boundaries with work, instilling a sense of pace, forecast, and rigor with a project. Lastly, having the self-awareness to remain cool and collected and check your ego at the door is critical. Although hierarchy is important, a great employee looks at their team as a collective rather than who oversees whom."

Paul Freeland - Landscape Architect Kimley-Horn:
"A great employee thinks critically about their task and the deliverables at hand.  They are proactive, checking quality in their work, holding themselves to a high standard. They solve problems on their own and are great at follow-up internally and externally. They are self-motivated and collaborative, with a positive attitude and a willingness to help their team in times of need.  They are easy going, open to feedback, and don’t take themselves too seriously."

Melanie Hanna - Interior Designer BOKA Powell:
"A great employee is subjective and can only be defined by closely dissecting a company’s leadership style, culture, and most importantly values. For me personally, a great employee can be defined as a motivated individual who has excellent transparent communication, embraces a growth mindset, and is aligned with the company’s mission, vision, and values. These individual respects both themself and others, celebrate successes, and learns from failures. A great employee models the “rising tide lifts all ships” philosophy."

Nick Thorn – Architect at Marlon Blackwell Architects:
"A great employee has many positive traits and attributes, but first and foremost, they are effective communicators because this leads to positive engagement with others. They also possess a duality of other important traits; confidence in their abilities while remaining humble,