By  Monica Sampson

Top employees bring five qualities to a job. Oddly, it’s these qualities that employers overlook. The outcome of overlooking these five qualities leads to future layoffs, low employee morale, frustration and stagnation.

Don’t look to be impressed by clothes and conversation

Instead of probing to see if prospective employees possess these five qualities, employers zone in on attire and communication. Unless new hires work in sales, attire may have minimal impact on a job, especially at organizations that implement dress down policies. As much a fact as this is, let a lapel pin be out of place or a button be missing from a prospects shirt and, on that single event alone,hiring managers may turn away from talent.

It comes down to charisma.

Charisma has hoodwinked many hiring managers. Try as you may, it’s hard to turn away from a smooth talker. The downside is that charisma, sharp dress and the gift of gab could hide the fact that a man doesn’t possess the soft and hard skills needed to succeed at a job. Save yourself the costs of taking on the wrong hire. Look for the following five qualities in top employees.

Five qualities top employees embody

Confidence is an ever present quality that top employees have. The best employees may have experienced challenges. These workers may have gone through a layoff, overcome an illness or made it through a tough family shift. Key is that they “soar thru” whatever comes their way. Hanging on or just getting by is not on their agenda. They aim for the top. They are confident because they trust wisely. These top employees won’t bring your organization down with gossip, slander or complaints. That way of thinking is not part of their DNA.

Inspiration fuels top employees to keep advancing. After reaching a milestone, top employees create another step to reach. It comes from inner drive and inner vision.

Quality employees take personal responsibility for their lives. They own their lives. Whether times are good or in need of improvement, these workers hold themselves accountable for what they think, feel and how they behave. If they’re unhappy, they hold themselves responsible for making changes that lead them into better life experiences. This personal responsibility transfers to their work, empowering them to accept responsibility for mistakes that they make and empowering them to take actions to correct those mistakes.

Respect for others comes naturally to top employees. As much as they hold themselves personally responsible for their own success, they know that success does not come in a vacuum. Instead of competing with colleagues, they focus on colleagues’ strengths and successes, even if they don’t manage other employees. Successful employees listen when others speak. These workers pay attention to others’ comments, questions and concerns. They are natural team builders. They make others feel good about themselves.

Doing a good job or meeting standard performance levels isn’t enough for top employees. Why? Top employees set high standards. In fact, performance standards that they set for themselves surpass what employers expect of them. It doesn’t matter who top employees work for, their confidence,inspiration, personality responsibility and respect for others sends them over the bar.