Being A Professional: Dale Atkins at TEDxYouth@EHS
Why is professionalism important?
Although every business may have its own standards of conduct, having a professional attitude makes you dependable and trustworthy. Employers and coworkers alike prefer to work with courteous and considerate individuals. This is why it’s crucial to conduct yourself in a manner that is consistent with the standards of your industry.
Being trusted increases your chances of receiving new responsibilities and employment opportunities.
What is professionalism?
Professional behavior is characterized by being considerate, formal and focused. Although professionalism levels vary from industry to industry and even from company to company, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of what your employer considers to be appropriate behavior.
Examples of professional traits
There are some universal characteristics that are regarded as professional, even though the specific behaviors that distinguish you as professional can vary from one company to the next. Top examples of professional traits include:
How to show professionalism
It’s crucial to make sure you are acting professionally in every business setting because professionalism is not always evident. Here is how to ensure that you are behaving professionally:
1. Meet your company’s standards of professional behavior
Although general principles like respecting others and meeting deadlines are generally applicable in any setting, some of what constitutes professional behavior depends on your place of employment. In some workplaces, what is deemed appropriate may be viewed as disrespectful in others.
The best way to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behavior is to observe how well-respected coworkers behave. For instance, you could look at what your supervisor wears or ask a member of human resources for advice if you’re unsure of the company’s casual Friday dress code.
2. Build a professional wardrobe
When someone meets you, one of the first things they will notice is what you are wearing, so it’s important to build your wardrobe so that you can look good every day.
When meeting with clients, it’s especially crucial to comprehend and be able to adhere to your company’s dress codes, so make sure you have this knowledge beforehand.
3. Be aware of your own behavior
Having a good work ethic is the most crucial aspect of developing a professional reputation. The actions that constitute professional conduct in the workplace can vary depending on the job, just like with your attire. But regardless of how structured or informal your workplace is, maintaining a professional demeanor is crucial. Some tips that are broadly applicable across most fields include:
4. Deliver on your promises
Developing a reputation as a person who keeps their word is crucial. People who depend on your work to be accurate and completed on time may suffer severe repercussions if you don’t keep your word or up with your commitments.
It will significantly aid your efforts to develop a reputation as a true professional once you have established yourself as a diligent worker who fulfills their commitments to the satisfaction of all parties. Your coworkers and superiors will hold you in higher regard if your track record of dependability is longer.
5. Take responsibility for your mistakes
While you should always give your best effort at work, it’s also crucial to accept responsibility when errors are made. Your coworkers and superiors will continue to trust you if you admit your mistakes and provide solutions to correct them and stop them from happening again.
6. Adapt and adjust as needed
Throughout your career, you might find yourself changing jobs or even careers. Other times, even if you continue to work for the same company, changes to the industry you work in may have an impact on the culture there. It’s important to take some time to consider your current behaviors when you find yourself in a new situation to see if they still make sense.
Adjust your behavior if necessary to ensure that you are adhering to the organization’s standards for professional conduct if you discover that the workplace culture has changed and certain behaviors are no longer accepted.
FAQ
What does it mean to be a professional?
- portray a professional image through reliability, consistency and honesty.
- dress and act appropriately.
- deliver work outcomes to agreed quality standards and timescales.
- be accountable for their actions.
What are the 5 qualities of a professional?
- Limiting Creativity. Creativity is a work quality that is frequently seen as conflicting with high standards of professional conduct.
- High Costs. …
- Open Interpretation. …
- Increased Stress.
What does it mean to be professional in a workplace?
Professional Costs refers to all TARGET costs and expenses for the transactions envisioned by this Agreement, including those for financial advisors, attorneys, and accountants.
