What makes a professional a professional?
You can be a professional AND wear shorts. D. White & Company: Staffed by total pros like Darren, Derek, and Shelly.
We normally write about strategy and research, but this week I’d like to discuss a different topic: Professionalism.
Professionalism is important if you’re an executive vice president or a new, entry-level hire. It is often the difference between people who receive more opportunity and those who do not. So, what is a professional?
[NOTE: I sat down and wrote these using good, old-fashioned experience and original thought. Some of them are classics. If you feel I should have attributed you or someone else, let me know and I will append.]
A professional is always on time.
A professional values the time of others.
A professional measures efforts by their effectiveness before their efficiency.
A professional apologizes for mistakes and is willing to admit when they are wrong.
A professional measures their efforts in real numbers.
A professional runs a marathon, not a sprint. Professionals know when to rest.
A professional seeks the advice of peers and colleagues.
A professional builds coalitions.
A professional is not biased and judges every person by their character and ability.
A professional reads.
A professional listens.
A professional is not afraid to show up early or stay late.
A professional helps team members and receives help from team members.
A professional always tells the truth.
A professional always seeks to be useful and kind.
A professional does not seek to be the smartest person in the room.
A professional has good writing skills in any profession.
A professional is detail-oriented, but never loses sight of the big picture.
A professional searches their own biases and blind spots mercilessly.
A professional seeks to communicate in clear, simple language that doesn’t confuse.
A professional is always learning about their own expertise as well as the expertise of others.
A professional embraces creative solutions and enjoys solving difficult problems.
A professional asks follow-up questions instead of making guesses.
A professional dresses slightly better than the position requires.
A professional looks for ways to help others and is never too busy to be a team member.
A professional is not afraid to make mistakes and fixes them quickly.
A professional teaches others and learns from others.
A professional does not choose sides and avoids office gossip.
A professional applies ideas both modern and traditional to get the best result.
A professional leaves a paper trail documenting what was done and how to do it.
A professional keeps up on research.
A professional considers the present, the short-term and the long-term.
A professional finishes projects on time.
A professional starts with an ambitious vision instead of maintaining the status quo.
A professional gives every meeting, every email and every interaction a clear purpose.
A professional creates an agenda and sticks to it.
A professional mentors others.
A professional builds friendships by learning about colleagues and their worlds.
A professional manages their own emotions, even while others are angry or juvenile.
A professional treats every team member, regardless of rank, with the utmost respect.
A professional is wise with the institution’s money and is a good steward of it.
A professional seeks to contribute and focuses on the big picture.
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