Editor’s note: This is the first of Jack Dunigan’s series about unsung heroes in the workplace, and the 16 traits they all share.

She was a hidden gem. Although she had a degree in business administration, she had taken a job as a server. She lived in a city where jobs weren’t easy to find. For several months she worked, showed up on time, handled her duties diligently, and said nothing while her superior bungled his.

Eventually top management gave up trying to train this manager who couldn’t handle even minimal job demands. When he was let go, the server was offered the manager position. She accepted and took to it from the first moment. Within hours it was clear that top management had made the right choice. Today her positive report holds up.

This is a true story, by the way.

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