5 ways to professionalism.

Having an attitude of professionalism will help you advance in your career and better enjoy your job. People who act professionally are chosen first for promotions, and they gain the trust of clients and co-workers. Showing professionalism requires five key components. By learning these well, you will position yourself for better success at your job.

 Approach to Work

·         True professionals learn everything they can about their job and the role they need to perform. When you are showing professionalism, you learn exactly what is expected of you and then perform that to your best ability. You will also continue working as hard as you can until the objective is reached. Professionalism demands a good work ethic.

Positive Attitude

·         Professionalism demands an attitude of optimism, even in difficult times. You must speak encouragingly about the company to clients and co-workers. You need to have a positive attitude about the work assigned to you and the people you work with, remaining level headed and attacking problems by looking at the facts without unnecessary emotion.

Working Well with Others

·         Professionalism in the workplace requires a cooperative spirit. To do well, you must work as a team player. If you have personal interests with other co-workers, you will handle these affairs outside of work. A professional will not use inappropriate language with others in the workplace, whether clients or co-workers. If co-workers share personal information, a professional will keep it private and not discuss it with others. You also must show those you work with that you are trustworthy by following through with what you say you will do.

Personal Responsibility

·         People who exude professionalism take personal responsibility for their own work. They take care of the workspace, keeping it clean and orderly. They know what is expected of them, and they do it, knowing that the results rest on their shoulders and not the shoulders of others. If something goes wrong, a professional shoulders the blame rather than passing it to someone else. Professional people also know their boundaries or limits and stay within them.

Body Language

·         Your demeanour, the way you carry your body, affects the way people view you as a professional. Someone practising professionalism will have a confident demeanour and will show interest in what others are saying by leaning toward them when they speak and engaging in eye contact. Your hands should be relaxed and calm so that you do not give the impression of being nervous, and your shoulders should be square with your weight balanced evenly on both feet. The people you meet at work make their first impression based almost entirely on body language, so this is an important factor in professionalism.