We can all agree that technology has revolutionized how organizations hire workers and how people work. Over a third (34 percent) of the U.S. workforce is comprised of remote workers, according to the most recent Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends report.
The gig economy and need for cloud workers is knocking down global barriers and helping both businesses and people around the globe maximize their own inherent potential. A report in CIO Magazine stated that 95 percent of businesses believe this new global workforce is a key element in growing and managing a successful company.
“Talent is equally distributed around the globe, but opportunity is not.” - Mark Sears, CloudFactory CEO.
If technology has shown us anything, it’s that talented people can come from anywhere, but technology helps us connect this untapped pool of talent to opportunity. At CloudFactory, we are on a mission to pair companies with millions of talented global workers whose skills and drive for opportunity can help them grow.
Through hiring, training and managing thousands of global workers we’ve found that there are 10 character traits that help us hire the best on-demand talent around the globe.
1. Drive
Because global workers are distributed, you can’t watch over their shoulder to make sure that they are doing the work. Finding people of high character is a must and the substance of that character is drive. Financial rewards only motivate individuals to a point. The real motivation comes when a person’s own talent aligns with the work that they do.
2. Humble Courage
Workers that aren’t afraid to dive into new projects or ask tough questions are incredibly valuable. We’ve found that those who balance the courage to speak their mind or offer new solutions with a spirit of humility make for some of our best workers. These are the people who ascend the ladder of leadership at CloudFactory.
3. Ownership
Many are attracted to freelance, independent work because it often provides more flexibility and more control over their time. But, the best workers understand that it also means that they are responsible for results. The best see each project or task that they complete as part of something bigger. Failure to complete projects on-time or poor quality work simply isn’t an option for them.
4. Cultural Intelligence
In a global workforce, cultural intelligence is crucial. There may be some global business culture differences to consider, but company culture is also a very important factor. A Forbes report claimed that 89 percent of new jobs fail because of cultural fit, compared to just 11 percent that were due to a lack of skills.
Leadership expert Simon Sinek says, “If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood, sweat, and tears.”
5. Growth Mindset
The most valuable workers are those that aren’t comfortable with the status quo. They are always looking for ways to improve and are focused on personal and company development.
Why is this especially important to global workers? One reason is that companies can benefit greatly from outsourcing routine work. Not only because it relieves their in-house workload, but because a pair of “outside eyes” may be able to identify weak points or areas where a company can make a process more efficient. Workers with a growth mindset tend to be innovators, looking for the most competitive and effective ways to work.
6. Independence and Collaboration
Global workers work independently but also thrive in collaborative environments. This means that individuals are capable of running with a project when given clear instructions. At the same time, they know the value of collaborating with a diverse team and are open to receiving and giving feedback, suggestions and advice. If they don’t understand something, they’ll look for and ask someone who does. At CloudFactory our unique, semi-distributed workforce model groups our workers in small teams who meet regularly for collaboration, community and knowledge sharing.
7. Problem-Solvers
Some view problems as negative. Problems are to be avoided at all costs. There’s another view though that most top performers hold.
Leadership expert John C. Maxwell explains that, “A problem is really an opportunity.” He adds, “Every time you face a problem, you will realize that you’re really faced with something potentially positive. At the least, it’s an opportunity to learn.”
Individuals are indispensable when they actively seek out problems as opportunities to improve themselves and the business they're working for.
8. Great Communicators
When a company outsources, there may be an underlying fear that it won’t work out. Many worry that distributed workers will miss deadlines or not maximize the time. They may have had a bad outsourcing experience before, and most likely, the problems began with poor communication and visibility.
According to renowned author and educator Peter Drucker, “The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said.” It is crucial to communicate with clients frequently in a clear and professional manner.
9. Insatiable Curiosity
Some professionals are satisfied with completing a simple task and getting paid. They’ll never wonder what the work will be used for, who will be using it or what it means for the success of their client. High-performers are the ones who are endlessly curious. They want to know what the “big picture” is and how their work helps achieve it. We make it a point to celebrate our customer’s successes with our workforce so they can see the impact that they’re making every day.
10. Horsepower
Technology has enabled the creation of this on-demand workforce that is just getting started. Technology has also changed the way that people think about time. People expect websites to load, mail to arrive and even food to be delivered faster than ever before. Part of this is because processes have been made more efficient. Horsepower or the ability to keep up with changing and evolving trends is crucial in the global workforce.
At CloudFactory we believe that the future of work is distributed and on-demand. We also believe that talent is equally distributed around the world, but opportunity is not. We are leveling the playing field with technology that effectively shrinks the distance between companies and the world’s massive untapped pool of talent. By harnessing the power of talented people throughout the globe, we are able to maximize the potential of people, companies and ideas — regardless of where they originate.
