When hiring, evaluating staff or talking to people about their careers I talk about High Performance traits. Here is a short list, in no particular order, of what I believe are traits that high performers have that makes them successful, no matter what industry they are in,

Great Communication

High performers are great communicators. They articulate their ideas clearly so others can understand them. They also sell themselves and their ideas effectively. They work well in groups, collaborate naturally, and know when to speak and when to listen. Their strong emotional intelligence helps them interpret conversations correctly, ensuring alignment.

Discipline

High performers understand that consistency is key, they stay focused on long term goals, even when faced with distractions or difficulties. They are great at prioritising tasks and managing time effectively, always focusing on initiatives that have the highest impact.

Growth Mindset

High performers are always looking to improve themselves, they are aware of their strengths and weaknesses and they are always looking for feedback. They are generally curious and are always looking to grow whether that be through formal education, mentoring or self-study they constantly upgrade their skills

Accountability & Ownership

People who are high-performers take responsibility for their actions, decisions and outcomes. They don’t blame external factors for their failures and actively seek to resolve issues.

They have grit and determination to keep going, even when things get tough. They don’t give up easily and push through challenges until they achieve their goals

What about other factors?

The factors I have put above I think are my non-negotiables, for me they form the core of what high performance is. Some people may say always looking for feedback is a high-performing trait but I would say this is part of being a great communicator. Some may argue for say adaptability but I think that would be rooted in having a growth mindset and being accountable.

How to use high performing traits – as a recruiter

Hiring is one of the most impactful processes you can perform as an organisation, so when you are hiring, agreeing with your hiring panel, what high performing traits are as a group and how they are manifested is key.

Work out what your high performance traits are as a group, you may have to break these between negotiables and non-negotiables (so basically things you are looking for that are must haves vs. like to haves) then capture this about each candidate during the interview process.

How to use high performing traits – as a candidate

You need to take a subjective and honest view of what high-performing traits are and how well you perform on them. Once you have that nailed down, make sure the stories you tell in interviews highlight these key traits, so you can convey to the interviewer ‘Hey! I am a high performer’. Making sure you are careful of the language you use, for example ‘We created a strategy….’ is a lot different story to ‘I created a strategy……’.

Conclusion

Ultimately, understanding and embodying high-performance traits isn’t just about hiring or interviewing well—it’s about consistently demonstrating these behaviours in everyday work.