Professionalism is defined as the behavior you exhibit while at work.
As a professional, there are certain traits people expect to see in you regularly.
Kindly find below few ways to be a professional at your place of work:
1) Punctuality:
One of the personality traits of a good professional is arriving at work early. It is better to arrive at work early so you can successfully plan your scedule early enough before your colleagues arrive or work begins. I take so much inspiration from my boss who would arrive at work around 4am and attend to all matters regarding the various subsidiaries under his control before the day begins. Working with him, if you even arrive at 6am you feel you are late. He is on top of every issue in all the group’s subsidiaries as he is always on time to check every subsidiary record. I love very much his style of work and no wonder he is a great success.
2) Positive Attitude at Work:
Every staff must come to work with a positive attitude. Be cheerful and look very bright with a smile. Don’t carry your house problems to work place. Your level of delivery largely depends on your state of mind. If you allow social issues to way you down, you will not be so productive at your desk which will affect your appraisal. Innovation and creativity does not thrive in a clustered mindset.
3) Dress Appropriately at all times:
Dressing is such an integral part of being a professional. Every staff must learn to dress properly at all times. Clean well ironed clothes, tidy hair, nice makeup, good perfume. Dressing professionally tells a lot about your person and will determine how people treat you. You dress the way you want to be addressed. Keep yourself professionally groomed and always pay attention to your personal hygiene.
4) Watch your Mouth:
It is extremely important that we watch what we say, where we work, even to our subordinates. As a professional, you must ensure the following: No Swearing , no vulgar language, no cursing, no fighting at work , no shouting and behaving unprofessionally. Complain less. Do engage in discussing personal issues at work but remain on what your company is about. Do not be found to be criticising company’s policies to your colleagues uneccessarily but find official and appropriate quarters to afdress them. Always be found to be in a suggestive state not to force your way into anything. Do not argue on any issue unecessarily. Listen more and talk less and do not divulge company secrets or outcomes of certain meetings with people it does not concern. Avoid gossip with your colleagues in the office.
5) Share Knowledge:
A true professional is always willing to lend a helping hand to his or her colleagues, shares knowledge and is always willing to assist fellow colleagues. Share knowledge also means you must be knowledgeable yourself this means that as a professional you need to also upgrade in knowledge educate yourself properly an impact in your working environment this also mean you have to be on top of your job you must understand the fine details that is involved in the work that you are doing and be answerable to your superiors when they call you must be able to explain yourself very well to subordinates as well. As a professional you must strive to be a reference point in your organisation, people must believe in you to have knowledge, unadulterated knowledge and it must be exhibited in your work ethics.
6) Respect for yourself and others:
Every staff must respect himself or herself in the place of work. It is also important to respect your colleagues at work. Be polite at all times to fellow colleagues, even when provoked. Do not use abusive languages or insult in your work setting even on your subordinates. Quickly learn to apologise if you offend anybody at your place. Respecting yourself also means don’t behave in a way that will let people talk to you any how. Your presence alone should carry respect in your office space. Do not shout on top of your voice and do not display outburst of laughter in a way that catches everyone’s attention. Learn to use polite words and keep your office space and desk very tidy all the time. Respecting yourself means respecting others. Jesus said do unto others as you would have them do to you. Even by virtue of qualification you are boss over an ederly fellow you must respect that fellow in your place of work. Act very matured and always wear a smile.
7) Control your anger:
The work space is an area where you must learn to curtail your anger. Do not lie. Dishonesty never makes anyone look good. Be honest and calm at all times. Never expose your dirty linen in public. Professionals must ensure they do not expose their dirty linen in public. Avoid giving out too much information. Keep confidential information confidential. Anger they say lies in the bossom of a fool.
8) Follow Company Policies:
Every true professional must obey all company policies. This goes to show that you are disciplined and respectful. Obeying work policies will be very advantageous to your career. At times we might have our own take and divergent views on company policies but one must have a suggestive posture instead of a resistive and rebellious posture. Depending on your position in the organisational hierarchy and how you can successfully push your suggestions. That said, a true professional must conduct himself at all times within the company policy.
9) Get your job done :
Ensure on a daily basis, you have prepared your TO DO LIST for the day and lesson plan for the week and strive to achieve them. At the end of every day and week, it’s important to go through your to do list for the week and see how much you have achieved. Every professional must be RESULT ORIENTED.
10) Look forward to each new day:
A true professional looks forward to the opportunities that each new day brings. You shouldn’t dread going to work, instead savour the opportunity to learn and grow on a daily basis. Be mentally prepared to face the challenge that comes your way every single day. Schedule your work in such a way to accommodate all the challenges that everyday brings.
Edited by Emmanuel Quayson
