Perhaps you want to advance your in career, or maybe you’re still stinging from being overlooked for that promotion. If you’re hoping for more respect in the workplace and to have a positive reputation then you need to work on your professionalism.
Many believe that to be professional you simply have to look the part, and do you job competently, but it’s so much more than that. Read on for a beginners guide to professionalism in the workplace.
Attention to detail
Whether it’s a spelling mistake in your work, or a grammatical error in you emails, focusing on the smaller details is just as important as concentrating on the bigger picture. Using tools such as those found on scribbr can help you with spelling and grammar, while ensuring you’re using the correct tone and approach in your communications is also important. Building yourself a reputation for excellence and a higher quality of work will certainly make you stand apart from other employees, you may also be given extra responsibilities if someone with an eye for detail is better suited to the task.
Dress correctly
In the world of business first impressions to count and rocking up to work in a creased suit and hoping no one will notice those old coffee stains on the sleeves simply won’t cut it. Adhering to the dress code rules is important here too; if your place of work has a relaxed attitude towards work attire then don’t stride in with a three piece suit and a briefcase – you’ll only turn heads for all the wrong reasons – opt for a smart casual approach. Whether that’s smart black jeans and shirt, or a skirt with tights and a smart top. Always ensure your clothes are clean, have been ironed and flatter you.
Keep your work space tidy
No one wants to be known as the office slob. Sure, it’s not always easy to keep your desk tidy when you’re stuck there for 8 hours a day, but always put rubbish in the bin, keep on top of your filing and your stationery and ensure a clean and well-organized working environment. This is especially crucial if your office management is taking all the necessary steps from hiring professionals from Commercial Cleaning Services to running cleanliness drives, in order to keep the workplace clean and tidy. If you at the least keep your desk organized and clean, it will only help.
Be wary of your grievances
We’ve all had bad days at work. Days when nothing goes right, and a fellow employee is getting on your nerves. Maybe you don’t agree with the appointment of a new manager or you don’t believe that they’re competent at their job. While all this might be true, be wary of airing your grievances at work. Gossip and indulging in negative office chatter isn’t professional. And there’s nothing more humiliating then being called out by your manager. Keep your opinions to yourself or choose to have a moan with a friend away from the office.
Accept criticism
It’s not easy being told where you could improve, or where things went wrong. But you can use these critiques to your advantage. Consider these negative points as constructive criticism, these are the points that you can work on to improve your work and the customer experience. Accept them professionally and then ask for more feedback!
