Professionalism - a way to succeed at work
Professionalism is the art of performing a task in a methodical fashion, with conviction, dedication and passion to achieve better results each time. Its tough, it calls for a lot of commitment, but its certainly not impossible. Infact each one of us can be professional in our approach to work.
Intelligence + Talent + Ability + Professionalism = Achievements
Mere intelligence, talent or ability isn’t enough to achieve something. The dash of professionalism needs to be present too and practiced.
Plan for each day
Do you know what you’ll be doing each hour of the day today? If yes, then you’ve planned for the day. Before Tenzing and Hillary set foot on Mount Everest, they had to find out everything about the snowcapped mountains, terrain, weather, approximate time needed to reach, the distance to be covered and the right time for assault. If they didn’t plan things they’d have surely returned to base unsuccessfully. You need to prepare for any eventuality and not be caught by surprise.
Organizing
A well organized person is one who does his work rather efficiently, using all the resources at hand. He knows his limitations and his strengths like the back of his hand. He hates wasting time and giving excuses. In short, he believes in controlling his destiny by smart managing of his activities towards the desired objective. Can we do the same at work and home?
Delegating
A professional doesn’t try to do all the work by himself. When routine work can be delegated, or there are experts for a task at hand, make use of them. Only when your core knowledge or skill needs to be applied, get into action. Ordinary works like typing, filing, circulating a memo or withdrawing money from the bank can be delegated to other staff.
Responsibilities
As a professional, you must voluntarily take additional responsibilities but give accountability too. The extra drive and initiative to do a job without being told is important. Be a leader, learning to synergize with fellow workers, keeping your team mates together and motivating all of them to greater achievements.
Learn to solve problems
Well, success in anything comes from learning to solve problems (mostly someone else’s). If you can solve your boss’ problems, then you’re an efficient leader. Analyze, understand, debate the consequences, think of the alternatives and then spell out a course of action. When a problem defies solution, seek help, evaluate and then execute your plan. If you can fix problems, you’ll be the most sought after professional at school. Not all problems have quick fix solutions, but none can defy proper application of mind.
As a professional
1. Have a clear conscience.
Be kind hearted and just in whatever you say or do. Do not be ruthless.
2. Channelize you team mates energies.
Young employees have a lot of enthusiasm that may be misdirected sometimes, as a professional you must learn to harness that burst of energy.
3. Have a vision
All of us work to make us ends meet. But is that all? Isn’t there a purpose, a goal to be achieved as a professional? Don’t you want to have the satisfaction of having shaped the next generation? Money should be the end of the road, although its importance can’t be debated.
4. Manage your activities well
You have 24 hours in a day, you can’t change that. But you can manage your activities better, in a more organized and efficient way.