People are told act with professionalism at work. What does that really mean?
If you look up the definition of the word, this is what you find:
- Specialized Knowledge. First and foremost, professionals are known for their specialized knowledge. …
- Professionals get the job done. …
- Honesty and Integrity. …
- …
- Self-Regulation. …
- …
- Build Expertise. …
- Develop Your Emotional Intelligence.
It takes the fifth bullet to get to the place where acting without emotion appears through the use the term, “self-regulation.” Again, the definition is in order.
In the most basic sense, it involves controlling one’s behavior, emotions, and thoughts in the pursuit of long-term goals. More specifically, emotional self–regulation refers to the ability to manage disruptive emotions and impulses.
So, first and foremost you need to have knowledge, competence, honesty and integrity, be accountable and hold your tongue without “flipping the bird.”
It doesn’t say you can’t have fun at work or turn difficult tasks into team activities where everyone has some fun doing them… As long as they get the job done., As long as they build their expertise, as long as they learn and develop their emotional intelligence, as long as they look a certain way.
We know about dressing the part but I think the term “professional” has been weapon I far beyond its meaning.
So many people fear automation yet turn into robots, both the staff people and as managers..
In my first business, when I still did recruiting, I had a team of 30 some odd people (and often they were odd people) and understood my job was to help them be better as recruiters.
Sometimes, the energy in the office felt morose to me. I felt the need help change it. On one occasion, in a way that my partner even judged “worked like a charm,” I stood up on a desk doing what, in the therapy field would be called “a pattern interrupt,” and did a flamenco on a desk and finished it by putting my head through the acoustic tile in the ceiling of the office.
The office broke into laughter, spent 10 minutes wondering about the WTF moment they just witnessed, and then would have a spectacular day.
All because I did something silly.
I’m not suggesting you do a flamenco on a desk, but sometimes doing something silly makes all the difference in the world and helps energize in office.
Don’t forget bringing out “the silly.”
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2019
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1600 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice” and is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Please click here to see my schedule to book a free discovery call.
If you have questions for me, call me through the Magnifi app for iOS (video) or PrestoExperts.com (phone)
Connect with me on LinkedIn. Like me on Facebook.
Join Career Angles on Facebook and receive support, ideas and advice in your current career and job.
