Here are the Most Common Characteristics of Top Employees, According to Cuban

Advisor July 5, 2018

Mark Cuban, financial partner to several start-ups, owner of Dallas Mavericks NBA team and a long time investor on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” has expressed how much value he places on employees who can relieve the stress put on him by his different ventures.

Recently speaking to a media outlet, Cuban stated that those who worked with him the longest were people who were not just smart, driven and fast learners, but also understood that the most important value an employee could offer is to reduce the employer’s stress. Cuban noted that the importance of having employees who made things easier for him and lowered his daily tensions could not be overemphasized.

He added that he placed a premium value on the services of such employees and he always wanted them on his team. Cuban expressed his observation about the employees who considered themselves invaluable being the ones who caused more stress by bringing up drama and increasing pressure at work.

Cuban mentioned that those who worked with him the longest were usually those who were smart, driven and also reduced his stress

The serial entrepreneur also suggested that an employee who wanted to win over a boss and establish himself/herself as an indispensable employee should practice the three Ws. The three Ws according to him included communicating what you are doing, why you are doing that particular thing and when you intend to complete the task. Cuban stated that he learned the importance of having a work environment with little stress early in his career.

He admitted on a podcast that he used to be a yeller early in his career and that created a workplace which was stressful and had negative impacts on the success and growth of his business. He noted that he would yell at Martin Woodall, who was his partner at that time because they often had divergent opinions as to how the business should be managed.

Cuban added that when stress increased, partners and employees, competitiveness, productivity and the profitability of the business would begin to go on a downward spiral. He concluded by advising employees to become stress reducer and not drama creators because those who fall in the latter category wouldn’t particularly thrive in business.

Importance Of Taking Initiatives

In supporting Cuban’s pattern of thought, James Caan, who is regarded as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the U.K., also stated some ways employees could impress their bosses. Caan noted that the employee must be willing at all times to go the extra mile beyond their job descriptions while also continually demonstrating the ability to take reasonable initiatives.

His suggestion that employees should willingly go the extra mile is in line with a universal consensus that managers were always searching for employees who demonstrated enthusiasm and put in additional efforts in their given endeavors as this boosts productivity.

James Caan said that employees must be willing to go the extra mile beyond their job descriptions and also regularly demonstrate the ability to take reasonable initiatives

In addition, Caan stated that there was nothing more terrible than when a manager had to do all the thinking for his employees. It has been stated that being unable to take initiatives is an exhibition of laziness and employers naturally want people who can make valuable decisions by themselves on their teams.

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hamilton Bradshaw, a UK-Based private equity firm, further stated that it was important for an employee to hold valid opinions and give constructive feedback when the opportunity to do so arises. He noted that raising good ideas was essential especially because great managers would want to listen to their employees who were the ones in charge of the business operations. He added that voicing out valuable opinions and contributions was an excellent way to get the attention of employers.

Impact Of Stress On Job Performance

Mark Cuban’s rationale for keeping employees who relieved him of stress longer in his employment is in line with research that revealed that stress has a severe adverse effect on job performance and productivity as a whole. The research also indicated that stress costs businesses in the U.S. approximately $300 billion annually. It also showed that workers who were stressed were more prone to arriving work late, inclined to make errors, missed deadlines and their stress could also affect the productivity of their co-workers.