ANJU THOMAS – Lifology & Leadership

Professionalism at work is a Skill – Check it

People come in front of your office door to get their works done, not to develop and maintain a personal relationship for your well being. It is also true that when an office employs a worker is paying you for their work to be done on time and with perfection. Their priority is not your welfare, but their own corporate objectives. So both ways, acting smart can help be behave and become a professional. No one learns professionalism in one day or a week. I am sharing few insights from my own experience. Hope you will be able to relate yourself with words herein:

If you are an independent professional or a freelancer, take into consideration the following key notes and you will see how professionalism pays:

1. Never initiate or entertain a personal talk with your client/customer unless and until you are fairly acquainted with the person.
2. Never reveal your personal identity and your whereabouts unless and until it is a necessity.
3. Never bargain on your charges as if you are pleading for a work. If you are capable, your price tags need to be at your finger tips. There is no need for a haggle.
4. Stand firm on your policies, no matter what criticism arises and , no matter who provokes.
5. Never lose your temper. Be polite as well as affirmative. If you are comfortable with a deal, in modest words, convey that you are not interested to proceed for the reason of inconvenience. No more explanations are required in this regard.
6. Never take works that would clash with your schedules. Never fall for emotional bargains of friends and former customers. You are the one who knows your capacity and limits. So take up work accordingly. Or else you will be ruining your own work quality and ending in messing up with deadlines.
7. You don’t have to explain your personal shortcoming to your client. If you need an extension of work deadline, convey it straight away. Avoid falling onto pressure given by clients before the deadline time.
8. Try to finish up works before-hand so that for a review time is left at hand.  
9. Get you payment in full at hand before you give your work done in complete.
10. Always compete with oneself and not with others who are known to be in same field of work.

If you are employed by a small or a big organisation, then follow the guidelines below to be a professional at work:

1. Never reach office late and never sit after office hours- Be sharp on timings. The office you work at, isn’t your home (supposing that you aren’t the entrepreneur of the establishment). So, do your duty and get back to your personal space after the office time.
2. Never Cry or Exhibit your weakness- It gives a negative impression and exposes your secret self.
3. Never breakdown under pressure- Vent your caving in your private space.
4. Be professional in your dressing, words, acts and interactions. They reflect your mannerism at work place.
5. Be open to feedback from superiors. But don’t take words of colleagues blindly. Listen with patience, revert with politeness and use your discretion.
6. If you are being distracted by something or someone, face it and clear it off from your surroundings. Be smart and dedicated to what you are doing.
7. Never over-exert yourself into anything at work place.  Never indulge yourself in mess created by others. Stay away from controversies at workplace. It helps in maintaining the balance.
8. Never try to build up a personal relationship within office. It will affect your work life and your work balance. It will increase dependability and distraction. Stay away from people who are inquisitive about personal details.
9. Never neglect your food timings at work place. Take care of your dietary requirements and remember that you work to maintain yourself and not to maintain the office.
10. If you are not comfortable with any settings at office that causes inconvenience to you, then be open to discuss it with concerned persons at workplace and get it rectified. It is your right at work.

Most importantly, in a professional tie up don’t entertain people/clients/customers/colleagues with personal talks unless and until you are that close to the person and shares a time tested bond of trust, compatibility and known identity. Or else, people will simply step in, drain your energy, strain you with work and heartaches, gain the most out of you and will vanish in the crowd. Stay alert, be professional and hold your head high!