How to be professional in your line of work

Finally, after endless years of searching, sending tons of applications and agonizing over grilling interviews, you have finally landed your dream job or that coveted graduate trainee position. You’re now under pressure to portray your best image to your corporate peers, be it your boss or subordinate employees. If this is the case, here are some few tips of making sure that your level of professionalism in the workplace is unquestionable.

Punctuality over virtuosity.

The necessity of punctuality in the workplace can’t be stressed enough. There’s nothing that will put at loggerheads with your bosses or fellow colleagues faster than being perpetually late. Lateness, regardless of the explanation or excuse, is the highest level of disrespect you can portray to your seniors. Not only is it irking, annoying and frustrating, but it also a sign of sloppiness, carelessness, and disorganization. And mind you, nobody likes a careless employee.

On that note, punctuality is not limited to arriving on time for boardroom meetings, it also extends to timely submission of projects, diligent supervision and leaving the office early enough. Contrary to the common myth, staying in the office for long hours after the official close of business doesn’t and will never portray you as being industrious. It only paints a picture of a poorly organized employee who has deep-set issues with their time management etiquette. Leave the office in time but be in it early enough the following morning.

Dress the part.

Your attire is by far the first thing people will notice and remember about you. Besides, bear in mind that first impressions are harder to erase especially if you project the wrong picture. That said, corporate dressing has come a long way. Sooner or later, suits might be discarded for casual wear when it comes to the acceptable dress code for official board meetings. But until then, invest in a prime suit ( or skirt suit for the ladies) and a matching neat hair cut. The makeup should be minimal – keep it subtle if going natural is not your cup of tea. The same applies to colognes, after shaves, perfumes, and fragrant deodorants. Pick those whose scent is not overpowering or suffocating. You can spare the flashy and overly-suave ones for the weekends.

Be polite but don’t be a pushover.

In as much as being respectful and courteous is one of the recognizable traits of a true professional, it doesn’t imply that you should simply sit back and allow others to tread on your toes. Remember the adage, ” It is not what you say but how you say it that matters.” Learning how to accept and give positive criticism is one the of the hardest things to do as you move up the career ladder. However, there are some few tips for this as well.

One, if your subordinate associate submits substandard work, for example, call him aside and school them away from the prowling eyes of his juniors. That’s a tad better than admonishing them in full view of his peers and juniors. Besides, undermining their leadership in the presence of their juniors can be detrimental rather than constructive, especially if they are the type that can’t handle an honest reproach.

Steer clear of office politics, gossiping, and other petty shenanigans.

An office or workplace is a social setting, and with time politics, gossip, slander and bickering begin to crop up, as it happens in any human society. Nevertheless, if you’re interested in advancing careerwise and progressing up the corporate food chain, then you may want to pay less attention to non-constructive office affairs and concentrate more in delivering quality services and building meaning relationships.

Talking behind your boss won’t make them any better or worse than they already are. It would make much more sense if you spent that time building a healthy rapport with them, something that can significantly improve your future career prospects.

Other handy tips include;

1. Interact as often as you can with your juniors, either through mentorship programs or offering constructive criticism when needed.
2. Maintain an open line of communication with your seniors.
3. Be friendly and accommodating to new co-workers or visiting professionals.
4. Keep your financial woes under wraps while in the office. Recognize that promotions are often earned and deserved..
5. Sexual relationships with co-workers, your boss or juniors are a no-go zone. Keep it purely professional.