"That guy is a Pro!" - Very often we hear this remark about people and especially about sportsmen. What makes a person stand a cut above the rest and perform with such great precision and success? This article is an attempt at answering this question and realizing what makes a professional and what makes a winner. I consider being a professional to be synonymous with being a winner. The workplace professionalism tips that I give here, are garnered from my own (successful and at times failing) experiences of being a professional in my own sphere of work.
Professionalism Tips For A Successful & Satisfying Career
"Be a professional." I kept hearing that during my college years from my professors and later from my superiors at the workplace. Nobody really defined or elaborated what they meant by that! Never got a hang of what it meant to be a professional, until I began working. It was like a cryptic message to me, until my own personal experiences taught me what it really meant. These are professionalism tips in the workplace arena, where we spend a major part of our lives and strive to make ourselves useful and find ourselves. Though each one of these professionalism tips, I hope to paint the image of a thorough 'Professional'!
Excellence is Thy Goal
Excellence is the driving force of professionals. They live to excel at what they do and do it in the best possible way. They put in their maximum efforts in getting the task done, without holding back, as they do it for themselves! For them, a job is more than just a means of livelihood. It is something that overlaps with their passion.
Get Your Basics Right
This is the corollary of pursuit of excellence. To excel, a professional works hard on the basics, that are required to do his job well. They never forget their basics and keep polishing, as well as updating the basic skills that make them professionals!
Take Your Job Seriously
'Pros' take their job very seriously, follow disciplined routines and take pride in their work. The seriousness is reflected through their punctuality and sincerity at work. They believe in maintaining the quality of their work. I am not saying a professional must take everything too seriously and not have a laugh. Professionals are the kind of people who enjoy themselves when they want to enjoy and only work, when they are working! They do not mix business with pleasure. Nothing comes in the way of their workplace ethics. They know that nothing is owed to them and they must earn what they want.
Switch Off Personal Problems
To be a professional, one must master the art of switching off everything else, including personal problems, when one enters the workplace. I do not mean that you should stop caring but keep those thoughts aside for a while. Neither is worrying about personal problems going to solve them and nor is it going to help you get your work done! Why add incomplete work to your problems? In fact, when you have a lot of personal problems, losing yourself in work can be therapeutic. Read more on 'How to Deal With Stress At Work'.
When at the Workplace, Focus on Thy Work
Professionals do not waste time at the workplace, indulging in things which are unrelated to their work profile. You won't find them bitching, gossiping or engaging in unnecessary arguments. They understand that they are present at the 'workplace' to work first and socialize later. They do take breaks from work and chill out, but after their requisite daily jobs are done. I'm not saying you should be cold and uncommunicative, but let there be a balance!
Be Willing to Learn
Professionals learn to identify positive constructive criticism from their seniors and learn from it. They take negative criticism in their stride and let their work do the talking! For professionals, learning is a continuous process.
Earn your Salary & your Respect
First earn your respect and then call the shots! This is one rule which professionals follow. They like to earn and justify their salary completely and do not take the easy way out. They do not compromise when it comes to their work. Read more on 'Respect in the Workplace'.
Be a Team Player
Professionals gel in a team and are always willing to adapt according to what the team needs! They like to encourage people around them and create a positive atmosphere. They respect colleagues and encourage their subordinates, while taking them under their wings. They know how to handle difficult people at work. These are the kind of people, talking with whom helps in putting things in a perspective. They are resourceful and help colleagues out when they can.
Enjoy What You Do
The key to be a professional lies in enjoying and loving what you do for a job! A horse doesn't run a race and win it for the price money. Horses run because that is what they are made for and that is what they enjoy doing! We are built for a thing and that's what we are good at. Aligning your job with your passion and what you are good at doing, is the key to become a professional!
So, these were some professionalism tips, which identify the qualities that differentiate a 'Pro' from an amateur. I may be proved wrong and I'm open to criticism, but that's my version of what professionalism means!
By Gray Pilgrim
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