It’s no secret executives value employees who are smart, driven and lifelong learners.
However, sometimes organizations can get bogged down with too many key performance indicators (KPIs), copious desirable employee traits and overly complex review processes, so it’s nice to have a quick, “back-of-the-napkin” measure of employee value.
According to businessman Mark Cuban, the secret to career longevity in his billion-dollar empire is the ability to lower his stress level.
In a recent interview with Money magazine, Cuban shared, ‘’Anybody who reduces my stress becomes invaluable to me. I never want to get rid of them.’”
Cuban’s approach really resonated with me. It’s a seemingly simple litmus test that easily encapsulates so many desirable workplace traits:
- Reliability
- Accountability
- Resourcefulness
- Team Player
- Skilled Communicator
- Solution-Oriented
- Conflict Resolver
As any manager can attest, leading teams and organizational functions is often stressful. With so many responsibilities to juggle, it makes perfect sense that an employee who minimizes disruption and spares you headaches is an invaluable asset.
So, the next time I’m considering an employee for a promotion, conducting a review or assessing performance coaching opportunities, I’ll be keeping Cuban’s insight in mind. Asking myself, “Does this person reduce my stress?” is a wise way to gauge an employee’s current worth and potential coaching needs.
