Being A Professional Managing Time and Career Information gathered by Lucy Campanis Revised by Mikki Meadows EIU School of Family & Consumer Sciences

What Does It Mean to “Be A Professional” You can become a professional by………. remaining current in the field, developing new knowledge and skills, upholding ethical practices, presenting an appropriate image, and separating the personal from the professional.

Managing a Career Principles for a successful career: Understand the culture of the organization Learn the power structure Show loyalty to the organization Know all the people around you Acquire the special skills needed for your specific job

Choose mentors carefully Set achievable goals Decide what needs to be done Go the extra step in your work Keep people informed of your activities Make your supervisor’s job easy Be in the right place at the right time Work effectively with colleagues and co-workers Be independent

Learn to cope with workplace conflicts Be a good learner Be a good listener Understand the competitive system Adapt to change Assume a positive attitude Give praise where due Always be well prepared Present a positive and carefully planned image

Practice positive self-management Develop consistent work habits Remember the bottom line Emphasize professionalism Remember that perspectives differ If you don’t manage your career someone else will manage it for you!!!

Stress Management Stress –Pressures, mental strains, physical strains, and tension Stressors –Conditions, circumstances, and situations which cause stress

Symptoms of Stress Nervousness Tense Muscles Headaches Stomach Pains Insomnia Irritability Lethargy Short Attention Span Boredom Poor Concentration

Office/Work Stressors Pressures of daily routines Relations with co-workers Working long or irregular hours Mismatch between the person and the job Dealing with clients Office politics Deadlines

Home Stressors Family relationships Economic and financial matters Conflicts in personal values Lack of communication Differences in preferred lifestyles –activities, roles

Burnout Results from extreme stress Job becomes unbearable Inability to achieve goals becomes overly frustrating Those most likely to burn out are the hard-working, dedicated, idealistic

Steps for Managing Stress Work off stress Talk about your worries Learn to accept what you cannot change Avoid self-medication Get enough rest and sleep Balance work and recreation Do something for others Take one thing at a time Give in once in a while Make yourself available

Other Stress Management Techniques Slow down and try not to take on too many projects and responsibilities Learn to accept people and be more patient Look for the humor in situations Learn to relax and simplify things

Time Management Keep a schedule Plan activities in advance Establish goals and priorities Set completion dates Divide and conquer Take on one thing at a time Learn to make decisions in a timely manner Learn to say “No” Establish “Do Not Disturb” periods

Schedule special time periods for different activities Use peak times for priority work Reduce paperwork Delegate responsibilities to others when possible Fight against procrastination Exercise self-discipline and self-management