What is professionalism?
Let’s break this word down. The word professionalism comes from the word Professional. Now, who is a professional? A Professional is a person who has a profession. What is a profession? The profession is an occupation in which a person takes, or earns a respectable income. Now, let’s reverse this. So, anyone who wants to earn a respective income should take any occupation so that he can become professional and exhibits professionalism.
How to be a professional?
- Learn your job. Make sure that whatever job is assigned to you, you should know how to do it. If you do not know, learn how to do it. If you are given a job that you do not know how to do, let the assigner know that you do not know about it, but you will learn about it and then do the job.
- Make sure you know your price. That does not mean asking for an insane salary just because a big organization is hiring you. You should know your market worth.
- Be on time for meetings.
- Wear the right attire
- Take the accountability.
Why is it important?
- With great professionalism, People tend to gain quick credibility and growth chances.
- You will make rational decisions.
- You will be able to control an emotional burst.
Work Ethics (Ikhlakiyat):
- Do not be afraid of speaking the truth regardless of your position. Do not think that people will think that you are in such a high position, you have tons of experience and you still don’t know that. People get under pressure.
- If you lack some knowledge, say you do not know and do not give answers on assumptions. You can always say “You will get back to them with the correct answer”.
- If you commit, make sure you fulfill it. If you have said, you will get back to them, make sure you reply to them.
- Be on time for the meetings. If the meeting is getting delayed just because you are not there, it means you have taken everyone’s time who was waiting for you. Respect everyone’s time.
- Finish the meetings on time.
- Never ask about the illness details if a person is sick.
- If you are sharing the desk with your colleague, ensure that you clean it properly after your shift.
- Do not use office equipment /paper/printer/stationary/internet for personal use.