1. Professionalism: What does it really mean
Professionalism: What does it really mean? Randy Tilley Audit Division Administrator Idaho State Tax Commission
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2. 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."
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3. 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?
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4. 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
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. 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
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8. 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
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9. 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
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10. 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
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11. 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
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12. 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
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14. 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
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15. 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
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16. 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
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17. 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
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18. 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
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19. 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
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20. 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
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21. 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
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22. 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
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23. 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
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24. Communicate Appropriately
Listen carefully for understanding
Watch your mouth
Don’t gossip
Remain calm in the face of adversity
Avoid “over sharing”
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25. Stay Positive Attitude does make a difference
Don’t be a grump, a naysayer or a cynic
Stop complaining and start fixing?
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26. Why is professionalism important?
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27. Robots!
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28. Why is professionalism important?
Role of Automation
Increased Customer Engagement
Focus on Personal interactions
Professionals will always be needed.
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29. Thank you!