World Class Employees~What They Are and Are Not
Do you really know what your managers are thinking?
I know a Western stock held company in North China whose Western GM told me he has three World Class Employees who can get work anywhere in the world.
Picture of a World Class Employee?
His HR Manager is one he names. For the last 8 years she has worked with impressive professionalism. In the hardest of conflicts she will keep her cool and appear to represent her company to the utmost. She has a 28 year old supervisor under her who does not care about the work at all, however, and the GM does not see it. The supervisor is faithful to the party line, but it is clear under brief observation that she has left her heart at the door as is badly treted by the HR Manager. Floor workers loath the HR Manager.
The HR manager treats all training companies and recruiters like dirt under her feet just like she treats her supervisor and other workers.
She treats candidates very cavalierly. They count for nothing. They arrive and she leaves them at the door for 30-50 minutes regularly without any explanation. If her boss decides he wants one she mistreated, then she turns on the charm and makes excuses if necessary. The GM never knows how she mistreats these people. People learn not to cross her. This is a world class employee?
Puzzled?
Unfortunately, neither she nor her Western GM understand why her training suppliers get worse and worse year by year. Likely, it is because she withholds money due to them. When they pester her for payment, she says they will get paid that day and do not. Five days later, they call. She says the Finance Manager is on holiday. They call the Finance Manager’s office phone, and he picks up. He pays them on the spot. She was just playing the supplier. She bitterly and ever so professionally blames trainers for any problems. Her ability to weave a lie to cover her gaps is impressive. Professionalism is her covering for her deviousness.
She does not know why it is getting harder to bring in top talent from other companies in her industry. She does not realize that the rejected candidates go back to these competing companies and tell very graphic stories of being treated bad. Best employees shy away. She blames her recruiters. Best recruiters fall away as their employer branding is in the toilet. Further, these recruiters do not like being treated like dirt, so they walk away from this customer. The worst recruiters must stay and do her bidding. See also Interview Process, Hard for Candidates to Be Real.
Who are the Best Employees?
People who appear to tow the party line well? Managers who show deference to the boss in his presence?
People who are faultlessly professional?
This HR manager has that. What is the real cost of not seeing how she hurts the company inside and out?
Description of World Class Employees
World Class Employees
- Speak the truth consistently with caring and tact.
- Treat even bathroom cleaners with high respect.
- Are smarter because everyone shares with them as they are caring team players.
- Learn from everyone including the guy sweeping the floor.
- Know they are smarter in some ways, but others in other ways.
- Take responsibility and not blame others.
- Simply are learning more every day and increasing their lead in understanding.
- Understand and value each stakeholder.
- Are force multipliers as make everyone more valuable.
- Open to admit their mistakes and weaknesses.
- No matter what they do. They do their best.
- Company priorities above personal priorities
What else would you add? I see these people are rare but worth finding. Unfortunately, it is the HR Manager above who is praised by the unknowing GM. This story and ones very much like it are common all over Western Companies in China. It makes me sad. We work to create a better day.