If you have ever hired anyone, you know that it is quite easy to find people with the right skills, but difficult to find people with the right attitude.
Will they show up and do their best, not just today, but on any Tuesday eight months after they are hired?
Are you highly sensitive? Take the test here.
5 talents of the highly sensitive employee
The employee you can count on
Many HSPs have this “right attitude” built in. Although everyone can have a bad day, their HSPs motivated by a legitimate desire to help others, especially those who rely on them. The idea of abandoning someone is painful for them, as is the idea of stirring up conflict.
While no personality trait can automatically make someone a model employee, HSPs are simply happier when they make others happy. They can have a powerful presence in any workplace.
Careful decision-makers
Many highly-sensitive employees combine attention to detail with the ‘bigger picture’ in mind and thus consider long-term consequences. Consequently, the decisions they make in the circumstances are the best possible - as long as they get a little time to think about it.
Instead of a “elephant in a china shop” model of moving forward, HSPs exemplify the image of the chess master, who carefully considers every move and then seizes victory. This consideration does not just take place in his head; he consults his intuition to arrive at the best decision.
Huge growth potential
One of the defining characteristics of a sensitive person is that their environment has a much greater impact on them. This can work for or against them - for example, highly sensitive children will do worse than other children in poor environments, but even better than others in supportive environments. As adults, this means they get an extra big boost of support, guidance and mentoring. This makes them extremely adaptable with the ability to master new skills.
Seeing what everyone is missing
One of the great advantages of sensitive workers is that they make connections where others do not. This can pay dividends with tremendous creativity and, in business, an ability to find solutions.
Of course, anyone can brainstorm. The advantage a highly sensitive person offers is not how many ideas they have, but the quality of those ideas. They really approach the problem from a different angle, partly because that busy ‘mind’ of theirs approaches it from every angle - unconsciously, automatically, in the background while they are working.
Especially when a highly sensitive person discovers the power of the subconscious, they gain tools that bring in creativity and originality. They are much better able to follow their ‘gut feeling’.
The kind of leaders people get behind
When you imagine a strong leader, you might think of someone who is loud, brash and aggressive. The truth is that those traits usually make for terrible leadership - what people actually respond to is someone with a vision who listens well and inspires others to do their best. That is exactly how sensitive people prefer to lead.
Typically, sensitive leaders will focus on team buy-in, taking time to learn from those on the front line, while keeping in mind the bigger picture that supports their work. Highly sensitive leaders tend to be humble and warm yet determined. These traits align closely with what Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, found in leaders who could take their companies through explosive periods of growth. Sensitive leaders, in other words, know how to enthuse people for growth and results.
At first glance, sensitive people may not seem like ideal employees, but dig a little deeper and you will quickly see the strengths they offer. Sure, the highly sensitive employee can sometimes get overexcited, but in the right environment, they also tend to be creative and the go-getter who inspires their colleagues. It is time the working world started to recognise this fact.
