The Three Qualities of Great People

Robby

Whether you have a job, you’re looking for a job, or if you’re hiring people for a job, there are three qualities you should seek out. Some people have just one of them. Some have two. The very best have all three.

But those folks are rare—which is why you should become one.

© Flickr User z287marc

On Being Clever

We’ve all met individuals who are smart. Clever people are innovative, creative, and often use their laziness to help them figure out ways to save time. A clever person is often quick-witted, but not always. You’ll see them tinkering with an idea, sometimes when no one else is watching.

What’s great about being clever is thinking differently. Instead of just doing what has always been done, a sharp person will come up with something new that no one ever thought to try before. It might change your business, or it might crash and burn, but it will absolutely be creative.

On Being Determined

Determined people are like a dog with a bone. They will come in earlier, stay later, and keep trying trying trying trying trying long after everyone else would have quit. Even if there’s a better way, it’s probably easiest for them to just keep plodding along.

The benefit to those who are determined is that they won’t stop until the task is finished. It doesn’t matter if it’s hard or boring, they get a sense of satisfaction out of the grind and the completion.

On Being Certified

Certified people have been vouched for by a third-party or some authority. They won the election. They got the degree. They have the license. You usually know someone is certified because there are letters after their name, or because they have the explicit approval of someone (or some organization) you’re required to respect.

The benefit of being certified is liability. If someone has an official title, errors are reflective of their training. But not everyone who is certified has practical experience. They may have book knowledge, but not much else.

Clever and Determined

If someone is smart and get things done, you’ll be pleased with their results. But they may not follow industry best practices. They may not be able to sign off on something. They may end up doing it their own way. And you may not be able to sell it to their customer.

Clever and Certified

It’s good to be smart and have the technical expertise to back up what you’re doing, but if you can’t finish what you start it doesn’t really matter, does it?

Determined and Certified

This seems to be the common path for many people. They will go by the book and will make progress, but will rarely find a creative solution to a difficult problem. If there’s not a standard answer in their training, they don’t know what to do.

All Three

Isn’t that what we want from everyone? That they are clever, determined, and certified?

So where do you fall short? Maybe it’s time to make a change.