Kate BachmanWomen of Excellence Qualifications a Handbook for Stellar Staff
November 28, 2023Comments
It was not so long ago that the only place I didn’t have to wait in line for the women’s bathroom was a manufacturing trade show or event. Times have changed.
I was delighted for the opportunity to review this year’s Women of Excellence entries, and take part in editing the selections for publication. I felt an overwhelming sense of admiration, awe even, while reading the accomplishments and qualities of the women being nominated. (I also had to ask myself, “What the heck have I been doing with my time?”)
Common Threads
I could not help but notice some striking similarities in the nominators’ appreciative applications: willingness to help wherever needed; initiative; profound knowhow and capabilities; dependability; and compassion for others.
Willing Flexibility. In small or medium-sized companies, employees who are willing to take on multiple roles and help wherever needed are crucial, especially as companies grow and with continually changing customers and needs. Some of the remarks explaining why the woman they nominated is valuable to the company include: “She never has a ‘That’s-not-my-job’ attitude;” “She will jump in to assist without any hesitation;” and “She is always willing to help wherever she is needed.”
Strong Initiative. An extension of helpfulness is recognizing what needs to be done and acting before having to be asked. Initiative was pointed to as a key leadership indicator. “She takes the time to find root causes and solve problems;” and “She always exhibits a proactive approach to task execution, often taking the initiative without the need for explicit direction,” the nominators wrote.
Knowledgeability, Capability. Nominators also noted how important it is that the women they recognized have made it their business to be deeply knowledgeable about their product or field, and to excel at their jobs. “Her unyielding work ethic has set a standard for excellence;” “She consistently exhibited excellence in her work;” and “Her expertise and unwavering commitment to quality contributes to our company’s success,” some wrote.
