More than 500 human resources professionals and business leaders responding to a survey conducted by York College of Pennsylvania's Center for Professional Excellence (source InsideHigherEd) , defined professionalism roughly as follows:
"as being related to a person rather than the position. The traits or behaviors mentioned most by the respondents as being characteristic of professional employees were personal interaction skills, including courtesy and respect; the ability to communicate, which includes listening skills; a work ethic which includes being motivated and working on a task until it is complete; and appearance.”
Given this definition, do you think that you display professionalism to your organization, co-workers, in the community? Now remember, this question will require you to be honest with yourself, however, whether you are aware of it or not, your actions always define you. If you find that you have areas for improvement, and we all do, ask a trusted friend or mentor to help you identify areas in which you can improve and develop an action plan for obtaining professional development.
Once you have identified what you need, and have developed a plan, the only thing left to do is TO DO IT! Often this is the most difficult part of the process, getting started. We look for excuses and call them reasons why we aren't where we want to be, we haven't started or achieved a goal, the bottom line is what are we waiting for? It is not necessary to have the right conditions or to know the outcome before we start this journey in order to start, we cannot wait to be motivated before we start, because motivation comes from doing something successfully. You must first try something, before you will be motivated to continue.
So the next time you wonder why you aren't being chosen for a particular job, or to work on a new project ask yourself or a trusted mentor- am I perceived as a professional individual? If not, work hard on your job, but work harder on yourself.
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