Ways to Show Professionalism
The need for professional behavior crosses industries. Experts advise recent graduates to follow the pointers below to prove to their new colleagues that they understand what it means to be professional.
- Arrive on time. That means being ready to work before the workday or meeting begins.
- Prepare. Whenever you are part of a meeting, review the agenda and read any related materials you’ve been provided.
- Show good etiquette on video calls. Be engaged, keep the mute button on except when speaking, and do not multitask.
- Don’t swear. It’s never appropriate.
- Dress for success. Show respect by wearing well-fitting clothing that isn’t too short, too tight, too sloppy, or messy. Lose the baseball cap and torn band T-shirts.
- Bring positivity. Coming to work with a bad attitude spreads negativity. If you are unhappy, do something about it, but don’t bring others down.
- Avoid the urge to overshare. Tone down what you reveal about your personal life.
- Own your mistakes. It shows maturity to accept responsibility when you make a mistake. Tell your supervisor how you plan to fix the error and that it won’t happen again.
You may not be born knowing how to be professional, but you can learn!
Johanns, K. (2023, December 17). Eight ways to show your professionalism. The Washington Post. https://jobs.washingtonpost.com
Phone Calls at the Office May Require a Text First
Once the telephone was a basic tool on each worker’s desk. Today, however, phones play a far more limited, yet integral, role in the workplace. While texting and e-mailing are appropriate communication channels for quick exchanges and documentation, phone calls are still the gold standard for important situations. These typically include complicated discussions and sensitive situations—or simply when a real-time conversation makes more sense.
If workers are nervous about picking up the phone to initiate these types of conversations, etiquette gurus say that sending a text message asking for a good time to speak is acceptable.
Hart, J. (2023, September 28). Phone calls might be dying—but they’re still alive at work. Business Insider. https://businessinsider.com
Three Pointers for Introverted Networkers
For introverted people who typically feel more comfortable in small groups rather than large ones, the idea of networking can be off-putting. Here are three tips that can help introverts make the most of networking situations.
- Conduct prior research. If you are meeting someone one-on-one, visit their LinkedIn and other social media accounts to determine their interests and background and to discover if you share commonalities. In groups, use these same strategy to initiate conversations. The point is to find areas of shared interest.
- Become involved. In the office, show interest by getting involved in committees where you work in a small group setting. Outside the office, join industry associations or nonprofits to make different connections.
- Push yourself. When you force yourself out of your comfort zone and say yes to opportunities you ordinarily would avoid, doors open. And don’t forget that no is just as valuable a word as yes. Choose your networking opportunities wisely.
Bryant, A. (2024, January 29). How to network—for people who don’t like the idea of networking. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com