The message didn't get through and the wrong person was sent to do the installation. As a result, Qwest, not the cable company, got my business. Not only did the commissioned salesman lose his sale, he and his company both looked unprofessional in my eyes. Resist the urge to blame the customer when communication goes awry. Effective communication is ultimately your responsibility -- not your customer's.
Whether verbal or written, professionals communicate clearly, concisely, thoroughly, and accurately. Appreciate and support those you work with. Practice good manners and proper etiquette. Have high ethical and moral standards. Be honest and fair in all of your dealings with others.
Obey the law. These may sound like the attributes of a Boy Scout, but they are basic values that all professionals should follow. Many companies have a document that outlines their operating principles. Have you read yours? Respect and acknowledge the talents of your peers. There is nothing more unprofessional and self-serving than telling others how wonderful you are. When I was hired at Hughes Aircraft, a second person with similar skills was hired with me.
It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that one of us wasn't going to survive. The competitive nature of the situation was palpable. I am no stranger to the belief that it is not in your best interest to share your knowledge with your associates, AKA the competition.
It is easy to find yourself in that comfortable place with "unique" knowledge. If you are a hoarder of information and are of the opinion that all of the nuts you have squirreled away grant you immutable job security, think again. The harsh reality is that nobody is irreplaceable. Information isn't a limited resource. Contrary to what some might think, your mind won't be emptied by giving away kernels of wisdom or experience. Think of knowledge as an ocean of facts and not a stream of data.
It is possible to share what you know and still keep one step ahead of the competition -- simply apply yourself and learn something new daily. I always tried to find a way to thank others for their help. When their help was above and beyond the call of duty, I would buy them a Coke - a testament to the marketing power of Madison Avenue and Mean Joe Greene.
The AVOs thanked me for the support I provided that helped them do their job better. Silly me -- what was I thinking? I was sharing a Coke when I should have been sharing my thanks in a printed internal document to the employee's manager. This has been the hardest item for me to do consistently over my working years.
Qualities like honesty, punctuality, a spirit of service, the ability to meet deadlines and many others are also essential. Without them, a professional, no matter how talented, will find it difficult to work with others, and in the end, his technical skills will be largely wasted.
To be a good professional, then, a person needs to acquire both the technical expertise required by his field as well as a good number of virtues. Orientation Toward Service. Mode of Working. Advancing One's Profession. Integration of Professional and Personal Life. Qualities of a Good Professional.
What makes a good professional? In what follows we describe a number of the key qualities that characterize a good professional. Technical Expertise A good professional is technically competent. He has normally received a systematic, formal training in his field. This usually takes the form of a multi-year program at the undergraduate or graduate level as in engineering or medical school.
A good professional seeks to continue learning while practicing the profession by doing the necessary research to handle new situations and problems as they arise. He tries to follow advances in the field. Over time he greatly expands his theoretical and experiential knowledge of the field.
He never stops learning. A good professional seeks advice as needed from other professionals both in his field and in other fields especially early on. He is interested in learning from anyone who can help him to expand his knowledge of his field. He does not act when he knows that he lacks some needed expertise, but either gains the expertise or brings in another person who has it.
A good professional gives advice only when he thinks he is qualified to do so. And even when he is qualified, he will not give his professional opinion without having first obtained and studied all the relevant information even when asked informally. I agree with them all but struggle with looking like a professional. I am older , heavier and have deformed feet so finding appropriate work shoes are a problem all the time.
I think I have gone as far as I can go. Which is middle management which is fine with me but wonder if I was younger, thinner and could wear high heels would it help? It makes me pause and think harder about the appearance aspect. It depends on how open-minded those around us are. So, whether or not wearing high heels, being thinner and younger would help is an interesting question.
And recognize as well that people who are seen as extremely attractive can have difficulty being taken seriously. Knowing and keeping boundaries between personal and work life are an important part of being professional for me.
Thanks for sharing your views, Jana. Interesting to see how each work culture defines the acceptable boundary line between work and personal life. And indeed, how each person perceives this. Professionalism is integrity displayed through knowledge, appearance,respect for others and self confidence as you make choices or decisions that impact the lives of people in your career choice. Even though I am not working now, I think this is an excellent article!!! It has points that I can use in daily life, and in all aspects of interactions — it really is helpful!
Thank you for compiling a strong list of qualities of a professional. I agree with every one! I would like to emphasize that integrity and consistency are very important for me in identifying professionals. Those who are consistent with their demeanor and speak honestly and treat every employee or colleague in a consistent manner have my trust. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts, Tonya.
I agree that integrity and consistency deserve greater emphasis — these are crucial for building trust, which indeed is the basis for strong relationships. Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments via email. You can always opt out by clicking the unsubscribe link within those emails.
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