Being a Professional by Tash Hughes of
Word
Constructions
It doesn’t
matter if you work for yourself or a boss, there are
expectations that you will be professional in the course
of business.
But what is
professional behaviour?
Most people
would probably find it easier to tell you what being
unprofessional is, giving examples of unprofessional
people they have dealt with in the past. However, it is
much easier and more positive to know what to do than
not to do.
Thus, some major
aspects of professional behaviour are listed below:
Respect for
Others
Showing others
respect is the basis of all professional behaviour. It
includes:
- Being
courteous and having good manners
- Being
punctual
- Keeping
confidential details confidential
- Being fair
in all dealings
- Keeping
personal opinions of people private
- Doing what
needs to be done, not leaving it for others to do
- Acceptance of
constructive criticism
- Being fair
and gentle when giving feedback
- Dealing
with sensitive issues privately
- Make
allowances for other’s mistakes
- Listen to
others
- Apologise for
any errors or misunderstandings
- Speak clearly
and in language others can easily understand
Responsibility
and Integrity
This is where
you must take care of yourself and present yourself in
order to gain others’ trust and respect.
All
professionals need to take responsibility for themselves
and their work. They need to consider consequences
and the impact on others.
- Honesty is
crucial – avoid even the smallest of lies at all costs
- If you commit
to something, then follow through with it
- If you are
delayed, let the other person know as soon as possible
- Always be
respectful about competing businesses/people –
point out your benefits rather than their faults
- Be prepared
before meetings and when presenting reports and the
like
- Ensure you
have made yourself clear to avoid any miscommunication
- Avoid
conflicts of interest
- Be
impartial – keep personal bias and intolerances out of
the business world
- Be reliable
and dependable
- Take
appropriate actions, rather than trying to hurt
someone or their business when you feel wronged
- Ensure you
present yourself pleasantly with good hygiene and
appropriate dress codes.
- Pay for
services and products promptly, whatever the cost to
yourself
- Demonstrate
self-control and avoid public arguments and
disagreements
Commitment to
Quality
A
professional always aims to give the best they can.
Whether it is putting together a product that will last
and be safe to use or providing a service of value, you
need to do give the customer more than they expect.
Never give out
work you are not proud to have your name on and always
do your best work, and the results will reflect these
attitudes.
Commitment
beyond yourself
A
professional can see beyond him or herself and is
willing to share.
Some ways to
give to others in a professional capacity are as
follows:
- Take on an
apprentice or student
- Participate
in professional organizations you belong to
- Volunteer
services to a worthy community or charity group
- Encourage
conservation within your work place
- Join
networking groups and help the members
- Have referral
systems in place with competitors for busy periods and
complementary services
Essentially,
being professional is about seeing beyond the immediate
needs. By thinking about
the long term perceptions of you and your business,
rather than a quick dollar or score, you are likely to
behave professionally.
Tash Hughes is
the owner of
Word Constructions and is available to solve all
your business writing problems! From letters to
policies, newsletters to web content, Word Constructions
writes all business documents to your style and
satisfaction.
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