Professionalism does not mean just wearing a suit, leading a team, or obtaining an advanced academic degree.
It entails expressing the values of responsibility, integrity, excellence, and accountability, at all times, because all jobs across different industries will always require one thing for you to advance and move ahead in your career: a high degree of professionalism and ethical behavior.
We asked Dr. Lia Bernardo, one of the country’s leading experts in personal growth and development, to share here her thoughts on the importance of professionalism.
Professionalism in the workplace is about respect and service. I think that in today’s workplace, the attitude of professionalism is becoming increasingly less present. We must create respect, trust, service, consideration, objectivity within, so that the attitude conveys this naturally and effortlessly.
When there is respect, employees are able to honor their commitments.
As simple as coming to work on time is a sign of respect.
People generally just want to be happy. So if we create the right environment, everything else will follow.
Stress, burnout, and long work hours are not going to make a business flourish. These will turn those that work for you into robotic and frustrated people, leading to a negative attitude toward work.
I would put indifference, lack of respect for boundaries and personal space and gossiping as the most common negative attitudes at work. All these lead to low productivity, consequently affecting the bottom line.
Bernardo will facilitate a course titled “Developing an Attitude of Professionalism: Values and Skills for Success” on July 13.
This highly interactive and hands-on program is designed to develop participants from the “inside out,” by establishing and creating a secure inner being, so that the outer projection becomes a natural reflection of his or her personal development, values and attitudes.
The Inquirer Academy is at 4168 Don Chino Roces Ave. corner Ponte St., Makati City. For more information about the workshops or if you would like to add your input on the article, you may email ask@inquireracademy.com, call (632) 834-1557 or 771-2715 and look for Jerald Miguel or Judy Bondoc, or visit the website at www.inquireracademy.com.
The author is the Executive Director of Inquirer Academy.