October 27, 2021 l by Tara E.
In today’s world, being a professional can be tough. Many of us are having to wear more than one hat in the workplace. No matter what your status is in today’s employment arena –ranging from a drone or worker bee to queen bee, today’s work environment requires you to be good at many things, placing a significant amount of stress and risk for discontent in what it is we do.
Couple these things with having to engage co-workers or internal/external clients or customers who are discontent with their role(s) in today’s job market, and it can prove to be a recipe for unprofessionalism. Here are a few things that you should consider in sustaining your own state of being a professional.
Get Good at What You Do
First, no matter what you do in the workplace, there is always room to become even better at what you do. This involves examining what you do and how it is you might be able to strengthen it. Next, identify your weaknesses and consider looking at what it is you can do to improve on them.
Now, some would argue that your ability to improve on your weaknesses will be somewhat limited. At best, you might see some marginal improvement over time. Therefore, weaknesses may not be the place to focus your attention. However, it is indeed a place to focus your attention. You have to confront the weakness if it is keeping you from being a professional.
If you are constantly late to work, there is a considerable risk that your lateness affects more than yourself. You might lose your job. You might be the best person, but this weakness will eventually overshadow all of your strengths. Therefore, you should build on the things you do well. Look for new ways to do them and avoid becoming complacent. Also, you will want to fix those things that are risks to you.
Take Pride in What You Do as a Professional
Being a professional requires you to take pride in whatever you do for a living and do it very well. Learn all you can about what you do. Even if it is not your long-term goal to be in the position, you are here now.
For example, if you work in a fast-food restaurant as a cashier, learn all that you can about customer service. Are you the burger guy or gal in the back? Learn all that you can about food preparation.
Perhaps you are the administrative assistant who spends the day answering phone calls. Learn all that you can about phone etiquette. If you are a health professional in a hospital setting, learn about the population you serve. Some professions (i.e., nurses, lawyers, physicians) require continuing education. Think broader than the status quo or like someone completing an annual or bi-annual requirement. The key here is to become stronger in what you do by reinforcing your education with something relevant.
Find Your Passion in Being a Professional
Let’s face it; We have all probably experienced working in a job that we did not want to live in forever. However, it was the job that paid our monthly bills at the moment. Do not allow your discontent to be others’ discontent.
Try to find the passion in what you do well in that job. Identify the things you enjoy about the job. It may not be the job you want, but there are Easter eggs we overlook. Whatever it is that gives you the passion for showing up each day, hold onto it.