NARRATOR: Today's presentation will focus on what professionalism is and how to establish yourself as a professional. First, let's take a look at what professionalism means. It can mean many different things to different people. Some people focus on the importance of knowing how to do the work you've been hired to do. People don't see a doctor unless they've been properly trained and are ready to perform that profession. It's also important to note that professionalism goes beyond your ability to do your job.

Some people may focus mainly on a professional outward appearance. For example, how you dress and put yourself together. Some may be more focused on the way one behaves with coworkers and customers. All of these aspects of professionalism are important to know and understand.

In today's presentation, we will be discussing all of that. This is a great quote. "Professionalism, It's NOT the job you DO, It's HOW you DO the job." So what exactly does this mean? Well, you can be a doctor or a janitor. And while the role and tasks in these professions differ, demonstrating professionalism can set you apart.

For example, while a doctor may be good at his job, he may show up late to work on a regular basis, he can be rude with patients and talks down to his coworkers. You could also be a janitor who shows up on time and sometimes stays late to make sure all his work is done. He's also respectful to his coworkers and the employees that work in the buildings he cleans. Of these two, who do you think represent themselves as more of a professional?

Why is professionalism important. It's important to remember professionalism is not dependent on the type of job you have or what education level you've completed. Whether you work in the food industry, in an office setting, or within the service industry, the value of professionalism is similar across the board.

Let's explore some of the reasons professionalism is valued no matter what type of job you have. Career success. Professionalism affects every aspect of how you do your job. A lack of professionalism can cost you a promotion, a job, and may even get you fired. Professionalism is one of the biggest aspects of furthering your career.

Relationships. Being professional allows you to build trustworthy relationships not only with coworkers, but supervisors and customers as well. This can help you when you need a reference for another job, or an application for housing, or even school. When you exhibit professional traits, people often trust you more and will come to you because they know they will receive the respect and courtesy they are looking for.

Building and maintaining professional relationships is a key aspect to building your network. So a network is a variety of professional individuals who can help connect you with other jobs, introduce you to important people, or even offer to be a reference for future jobs you may be interested in.

Promotes respect. When you show respect to yourself by dressing appropriately, behaving in a manner that is kind, considerate, and respectful, you'll more than likely receive the same respect in return. There may be times that others are rude to you whether it is a coworker or a customer. The way you handle those situations is in your control.

It can be easy to resort to reacting in the same manner. However, this puts your reputation, as well as the company you work for at risk. Allow yourself the space to be frustrated, while also continuing to be respectful even if others are not providing the same in return. Now that we know the value professionalism offers, let's explore what exactly professionalism means.

Specialized knowledge. Professionals are known for their specialized knowledge. For example, a mechanic has specialized knowledge in how cars work and how to repair and maintain different parts of a vehicle. This person had to dedicate time and energy into learning and practicing working on cars, whether that's through an educational program, learning on their own, or as an apprentice in a repair shop.

It's important to note that specialized training doesn't always mean you need a specific educational background or degree, such as a mechanic or even doctor. For example, maybe you've never been a grocery cashier but you decide to apply for the position. You may not have experience in the profession.

However, one of the most important aspects or specialized areas of knowledge of a cashiers job is working a computer system. If you've worked on computers or understand how to use computer systems, this is a specialized area of knowledge that could help you land the job as a grocery cashier. Some jobs do require you to have a specific type of education in order to work in that field.

Let's use the doctor as an example. In order to practice as a physician, you need to complete a graduate program at the doctorate level and then you can apply to become a medical doctor. It's important to do research on the field of work you're interested in so you know what requirements are expected in order to qualify for a position in that line of work.

Honesty and integrity. Being honest with yourself and those you work with will help you build the respect we discussed before. There are going to be times that you make mistakes. Owning that and acknowledging your responsibility of the situation shows you can be trustworthy.

As humans, we naturally don't like when we make mistakes or do something wrong. It's easy to ignore it and pretend it didn't happen. In most cases, the truth will come out at some point. And typically what results are far worse than what would occur if you were honest from the beginning.

There may also be times where something occurs in the workplace and it doesn't feel right to you. We all have our own set of morals and values we tend to abide by. And those may be challenged at your place of employment. For example, maybe you see a friend come into the store you work at and you notice them stealing.

Now, you are in a situation where you want to be loyal to your friend. However, they've engaged in a behavior that you don't morally agree with. How would you handle a situation like this? Stay true to what is important to you and try not to let those around you influence you in a negative manner. If people want what is best for you and truly care about your success, they will offer encouragement and support rather than putting you in a negative situation that could jeopardize your job and goals.

Self-regulation. This was briefly mentioned in the examples from the respect section. There will be times when a customer is being rude to you or a coworker who talks down to you because they don't like you or they're having a bad day. How you handle your emotions and reactions in those situations is always being observed whether or not your supervisor is there.

Coworkers and customers won't hesitate to talk to management if they feel your behavior is inappropriate or rude. Try to handle challenging situations with patience and respect. Remember, only you have control of yourself.

Competency. We can easily categorize this under the specialized knowledge. However, we're going to discuss this in a more general way when it comes to the work you're doing. Competence is defined as the ability to do something well or efficiently, as well as a range of skill or ability.

Being aware of your responsibilities will help you be more competent in your role. Most jobs will provide training so you understand what you are supposed to do and how they expect you to complete your job. If you find yourself in a situation where you are confused or don't know what is expected of you, it's your responsibility to find out. If you find that one of the processes to complete a task is ineffective and you found a better alternative, discuss this with your manager to see if changes can be made.

These are just a few examples of being competent in the workplace. Pay attention. Be aware. Take initiative.

Accountability. It's never easy to admit when we are wrong. As described under honesty and integrity, it is important to be honest with yourself and with others in the workplace. Being a professional means owning up to your mistakes and holding yourself accountable.

It can be easy to blame others or ignore the mistakes you have made. This will only create an environment where people don't trust you and could lead to many other issues, possibly even being let go from the job. Additionally, if people can't trust you, it will be much more challenging to build a network of professionals who will support you and encourage you.

Image. This tends to be one of the first things people think of when they hear the word professionalism. If someone has never met us, our appearance tends to be the first thing people see and base judgments off of. This may seem wrong. However, as human beings, our so-called first impressions have been used for thousands of years as a means for survival.

So, what does a professional image look like? This can really depend on the type of job and role you are in. Let's take our mechanic we discussed earlier. He most likely won't be required to wear a suit and tie because he's working in an area where he is bound to get dirty from working on cars.

So an acceptable and professional attire for him may be a uniform designed specifically to withstand in an environment that is exposed to dirt, oil, and other fluids, and allows him to move rather freely. Also know that even if you are in a job where you get dirty or you're working with food that may splash on you doesn't mean you shouldn't practice good hygiene. Making sure your appearance is benefiting you and not working against you should be your main goal.

Now that we have a better definition of what professionalism means, how do we go about exhibiting professionalism? Some of this we briefly discussed in the previous slide. But let's take it a step further. Let's continue with the mechanic as our example.

So building your expertise. As a professional mechanic, it's your job to know how cars work and how to repair them to operating order. As technology changes and car parts are changing, it is your job to ensure your knowledge base is also changing to understand the industry. Make sure to do your research and actively educate yourself as the industry you work in evolves and changes.

Be polite. You are responsible for how you act, react, and engage with others around you. Whether you are engaging with your boss or someone you supervise, be sure to provide the same respect that you wish others to provide you. Use your manners. Please and thank you can go a long way. A rude attitude and demeanor will only create a divide between you and those you engage with and it could ultimately jeopardize your job.

Honor your commitments. Do what you say you are going to do. A professional is seen as someone who is dependable. If you've agreed to a task or project and it's proving to be much more difficult than you expected, try and problem solve rather than giving up or ignoring it. Be sure to leave the excuses at home and take responsibility.

Develop your emotional intelligence. There will be times you may not get along with some of your coworkers. That's OK. This doesn't mean you need to treat them any differently than other coworkers you might get along with. Be respectful and try not to let your emotions control how you make decisions. Pay attention to how you are feeling in certain situations and find ways to keep yourself in control rather than saying or doing something you may regret later.

Have the tools you need. Depending on your job, this will look different for everyone. It's important to make sure you are prepared and have the resources you need at your convenience. Do you rely on your phone to track your work hours or to schedule when you will be working? Maybe you are a line cook and need to wear a specific attire to ensure health and safety standards are met while you are working. Making sure you are prepared with the necessary tools will not only make your job easier, it makes you look prepared and ready for the work that needs to be done.

Now, we will partake in an activity that relates to professionalism among coworkers. Take a moment to read about George and Kayla and the experiences they are going through right now as it relates to personal issues, as well as professional. As George and Kayla have been working together, they both have started to become frustrated with one another, which is now starting to impact how they do their jobs.

Now that a little bit more about George and Kayla's situations, take a minute to look at why they are frustrated and think of some ways that George and Kayla can exhibit professionalism. Feel free to look at the previous slides that we've gone through to get some ideas. Jot these thoughts down and share.