It’s ‘a total green flag’

The ability to keep one’s word is a quality many seek out in their friendships and significant others.

Walmart chief people officer Donna Morris looks for this quality in her employees, too. Morris, 57, oversees 2.1 million employees, and also holds the title of executive vice president. She says that employees who do exactly what they say they’re going to are a major green flag in her book.

“They deliver what you are expecting at the time that you’re expecting,” she says, adding that the best employees tend to get things done ahead of schedule. “So what I would say is you’re better to deliver early than to deliver late, and you’re better to deliver more than less, if that makes sense.”

Integrity and trustworthiness are both highly sought after character traits in hiring, as bosses want to know their employees can get the job done and will go above and beyond at work, Morris says. They also help you gain status and more respect among your peers, leadership expert and author Scott Mautz wrote for CNBC Make It.

Along with reliability, Morris appreciates an employee who’s open to new opportunities. “They put their hand up to take on more. They don’t push back,” she says.  “People who are like, ‘I’m willing to do it,’ even if they’ve got a lot on their plate — that’s a total green flag.”

It’s worth noting that taking on more than you can handle could backfire, LinkedIn career expert Drew McCaskill told CNBC Make It in April. Your mental health and productivity could take a huge hit — so only volunteer for projects you actually have the time for, he warned. 

“You do not get extra credit for doing things the hard way,” he said. “When you get to a point where [work] is costing you sleep or sanity … or you feel overwhelmed, it’s time to speak up.”

Overpromising and underdelivering could erode trust between you and your boss, adds Morris, especially if you’re always bringing up “all the reasons why you can’t do things.” 

If you want to focus and get more done at work without overdoing it, or falling victim to burnout, try acting as your own assistant. Ask yourself how you’d want a task to get done if you were your boss, Laura Mae Martin, Google’s executive productivity advisor, told CNBC Make It in December. 

Being your own assistant also includes clearing out distractions that could keep you from doing your job effectively, like responding to text messages while you work or getting carried away with office chatter. Constant interruptions don’t only lead to procrastination, but they inhibit focus and can make your tasks feel unmanageable, Martin said. 

When you’ve made progress but find yourself feeling a bit tired or restless, that’s the time to take a short break, she added. 

“If you can take a moment to recover and re-visit the task, whether it’s in 10 minutes or the morning, that’s going to energize you and  make a big difference in your output,” said Martin.

Want to stand out, grow your network, and get more job opportunities? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course, How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In Person, and At Work. Learn from three expert instructors how to showcase your skills, build a stellar reputation, and create a digital presence that AI can’t replicate. Sign up today with coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off the regular course price of $67 (plus tax). Offer valid July 22, 2025, through September 2, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.