What is Professional?

Over the past few years, I have seen people struggling with professionalism. As more of our personal lives have been incorporated into our business lives, the line between professional and personal has become very unclear. Add in more remote workers and the line practically disappears. So how do we define professionalism when so many things seem to affect it?

Identify the industry standard. Each industry has its own standards for what is acceptable business behavior and what is not. Individual entities within the industry color that even more. Company A may promote a traditional suit and tie image, while Company B has a standard of business casual. Both are professional, but be sure not to transfer the standard of one to the other.

Identify the expectation of your profession. This follows identifying the standards of your industry. By definition a professional is a competent expert in their field, not an amateur. How you present yourself and conduct your work should be a reflection of your training, education, and talent. 

Identify the expectations of the client/customer. Businesses exist to provide services or products to clients/customers. Ensuring that their expectations are met is not only what keeps you in business, but what defines you as a professional. This includes keeping appointments, being on time, and providing what you say you provide.

Whether you are onsite or working remotely, professionalism still needs to be maintained. I hope these guidelines will help you as you navigate the ever changing business landscape. Contact me if you need a hand writing up your standards of professionalism.