Professionalism at Work is ALL that Matters!

Ian Welsh 2 days ago | Comments (2) inShare10 2 There has been so much discussion over the past few weeks about what we most need from employees. A great deal of the discussion has been about selection processes used to find our ideal candidates to find the people who will fit best in our workplace. !rom these discussions" # have con$ured up images of workforces filled with people of %passion& in constant conflict 'in the most e(cited way) and great %attitude& people 'like Monty Python characters) in awful working environments continuing to look %on the bright side of life&.

Work is not a picnic. #t is a contract" providing work in e(change for money. We cannot e(pect the average employer to care too much about employees" or employees to be so impressed and e(cited about their employer. With e(pectations set somewhat low" we can sometimes be pleasantly surprised and we can find satisfaction in many different ways. We may actually like the work we perform and like our boss and other employees we work alongside.

#f we do not particularly like our employer or our $ob" our emotionally charged %passion& and reactive %attitude& will not make it seem any better. Passion and attitude can be good weather friends" but in bad weather be reason for disillusion" outrage and" sometimes" personal rebellion.

*ur strength in good times and bad is our professionalism. The value we bring to our employer is our professionalism. The key attribute recruiters should be looking for in candidates is professionalism. Professionalism is a strength that belongs to each one of us and is sustainable regardless of the circumstances and different environments we may find ourselves in. We may be happy or not so happy" well treated by our employer or not regardless we will honor our contract and our professionalism will fuel our continuing commitment and contribution. We may not have passion or attitude that glows in the dark" but we have integrity and our professionalism and our solemn word.

Professionalism

What +oes it Mean,

Professionalism can influence and drive any employee in any $ob" from the most basic entry-level position to the most senior. An e(ecutive may be seen as the cause of a problem" but may e.ually be a victim and personally" face comple( professional challenges on matters that can affect the entire workforce and reputation of the organi/ation.

What does professionalism mean, The following points are primarily applicable to how we perform our work and meet our commitment to our employer0

1aving or developing the necessary skills to perform our $ob Meeting the re.uirements of the $ob and if there is any problem" letting the appropriate person know and seeking help or advice. This may happen" for e(ample" if there is confusion about a $ob aspect or if there are too many demands at a particular point in time 2(cellent $udgment in knowing when you should let your boss know about something and at what point you should communicate. !or e(ample" before talking to your boss" should you e(plore the issue3sub$ect further and develop ideas about how the matter could be handled, Thinking through issues from the perspective of your own $ob and also how" whatever it is" affects other $obs and the organi/ation in general. 1olistically understanding where your $ob fits in! 1aving a clear and balanced understanding about working as a member of a team and" in particular" knowing when it is appropriate to seek help from others and when it is appropriate to offer help to others 4espect for the role of your supervisor and the rules of the organi/ation" but recogni/ing that compliance with rules 'e.g. timekeeping) is not the same as meeting $ob re.uirements #f aware of unethical or illegal activity" on the part of the company or individual issues" reporting as appropriate or if failing to report" recogni/ing your accountability by implication i.e. becoming part of the problem 5nderstanding that professionalism is contributing to the full e(tent of your capability" in your specific work environment" and not being unduly restricted by a $ob description

A similar list would apply to the professional conduct of an organi/ation. An organi/ation that is not %employee friendly&" may still be considered professional based on %their& standards. We may think they are misguided and not like their style" but if we accept

employment with such a company" our professional standards should not be compromised. Although we may work for change 'e.g. 14)" we must" in the interim" still meet our professional commitment to the organi/ation .uite a dilemma" particularly for managers.

As stated before" our strength in good times and bad is our professionalism. The value we bring to our employer is our professionalism. We may be happy or not so happy" well treated by our employer or not regardless we will honor our contract and our professionalism will fuel our continuing commitment and contribution. We may not have passion or attitude that glows in the dark" but we have integrity and our professionalism and our solemn word.

What do you think, +o you agree that professionalism is of utmost importance and that the e(amples # have included" could be structured" as applicable" into a defensible recruiting process, #s there anything more important than the professionalism of an employee,

Thank you for your interest. # look forward to any thoughts and comments you may have.

#an