Professionalism: What does it really mean Professionalism: What does it really mean? Randy Tilley Audit Division Administrator Idaho State Tax Commission tax.idaho.gov

Defining Professionalism The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines professionalism as: "the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person" And it defines a profession as: "a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation." tax.idaho.gov

Conduct, aims and qualities? These definitions imply that professionalism encompasses a number of different attributes, and, together, these attributes identify and define a professional So, what are these attributes? tax.idaho.gov

Specialized Knowledge Professionals are known for their specialized knowledge They've made a deep personal commitment to develop and improve their skills And where appropriate, they have the degrees and certifications that serve as the foundation of this knowledge tax.idaho.gov

Do all professionals need college degrees? Not all business areas have a stable core of knowledge (and the academic qualifications that go with them) Not all areas demand extensive knowledge to practice successfully Not all professionals have top degrees in their field tax.idaho.gov

You Don’t Need a Degree to be a Professional What matters is that the individual has worked in a serious, thoughtful and sustained way to master the specialized knowledge needed to succeed in their fields And that they keep this knowledge up-to-date, to ensure that those skills to not go stale and they can continue to deliver positive outcomes tax.idaho.gov

Professional Conduct Play Fair Clean up your own mess Say you’re sorry when you hurt someone Put things back where you found them Don’t take things that aren’t yours Use your manners Don’t hit people tax.idaho.gov

Honesty and Integrity Professionals exhibit qualities such as honesty and integrity They keep their word and they can be trusted implicitly because of this They do the right thing They never compromise their values even when it means sometimes taking a harder road tax.idaho.gov

Accountability Professionals hold themselves accountable for their thoughts, words, and actions, especially when they've made a mistake Personal accountability is closely tied to honesty and integrity, and it's a vital element in professionalism tax.idaho.gov

Self-Regulation Professionals stay professional under pressure Genuine professionals show respect for the people around them, no matter what their role or situation They show self-restraint and control regardless of the situation And they don't let a bad day impact how they interact with colleagues or clients tax.idaho.gov

Competency Professionals not only have knowledge but the capability to apply that knowledge to the task at hand Competent professionals get the job done They're reliable and they keep their promises They manage expectations up front and they do their best to make the situation right Professionals don't make excuses but focus on finding solutions tax.idaho.gov

Emotional Intelligence Professionals exhibit a high degree of emotional intelligence (EI) by considering the emotions and needs of others Emotional intelligence (EI) is the capability of individuals to recognize their own, and other people's emotions, to discern between different feelings and label them appropriately, to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and to manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to environments or achieve one's goals tax.idaho.gov

How to tell when you need work on emotional intelligence. Getting into lots of arguments Not understanding how others feel Thinking that others are “overly sensitive” Refusing to listen to other points of view Blaming others for mistakes Inability to cope with emotional situations Sudden emotional outbursts Difficulty maintaining friendships Lack of empathy tax.idaho.gov

Image Professionals look the part People make assumptions about others based on their initial appearance Professionals are polished, and they dress appropriately for the situation. Because of this, they exude an air of confidence and gain respect. Image is not just how you look but how you are perceived tax.idaho.gov

Recognize Limitations True professionals are humble – if a project or job falls outside their scope of expertise, they're not afraid to admit this They ask for help when they need it and they're willing to learn from others Professional recognize limitations but don’t let them stand in the way of success tax.idaho.gov

Building Professionalism To enhance your own professionalism, start by focusing on improving each of these characteristics Additionally, here are some further strategies that will help you be more professional in the workplace tax.idaho.gov

Build Expertise Don't let your knowledge and skills get outdated Make a commitment to build expertise and stay up-to-date CPAs require Continuing Professional Education to remain certified but you don’t have to be a CPA to make a commitment to continued learning tax.idaho.gov

Honor Your Commitments Say what you’ll do and do what you say Don’t lie Don't make excuses Focus on meeting expectations as best you can When something goes wrong try to make the situation right tax.idaho.gov

Develop Your Emotional Intelligence Professionals can sense the emotional needs of others They're able to give clients and coworkers what they need, because they know how to listen actively and observe what's happening If you want to improve your professionalism, focus on developing emotional intelligence tax.idaho.gov

Be Polite Be kind and polite to people even if you don’t like them Use good manners to everyone you come into contact with, no matter what their role is, and no matter how you're feeling This might sound unimportant, but it makes a significant impact tax.idaho.gov

Have the Tools You Need True professionals are always prepared If you don’t have what you need, ask This requires advance planning, timeliness, and attention Improving time management and planning can assure that you are always in control tax.idaho.gov

Get Outside Your Comfort Zone You have to take risks to get rewards Offer to help a coworker Analyze risks beforehand to minimize the consequences of negative outcomes Be honest about any skills gaps that you have, and work to fill them tax.idaho.gov

Communicate Appropriately Listen carefully for understanding Watch your mouth Don’t gossip Remain calm in the face of adversity Avoid “over sharing” tax.idaho.gov

Stay Positive Attitude does make a difference Don’t be a grump, a naysayer or a cynic Stop complaining and start fixing? tax.idaho.gov

Why is professionalism important? tax.idaho.gov

Robots! tax.idaho.gov

Why is professionalism important? Role of Automation Increased Customer Engagement Focus on Personal interactions Professionals will always be needed. tax.idaho.gov

Thank you!