Affecting professionalism at workplace

The essence of professionalism can be summed up thus: Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when both your mental and emotional thought processes are in sync.

They say that professionalism is environmental; it blends a person into the mould of total environment. Besides knowing your job, you should know how and when to do it. And doing it is what matters the most. Some pertinent aspects about professionalism at workplace are enumerated in the succeeding paragraphs.

Connotation of professionalism:  Basically, professionalism implies your familiarity with and honest attitude towards your work within accepted organizational norms. It helps you to remain focused and make sound and unprejudiced decisions, thereby rendering your workplace atmosphere congenial.

Byword of professionalism:  The embodiment of professionalism involves the following:

·   Understanding the significance of the task that is required to be shouldered and ensuring that it is not mistreated.

·   Appreciating the hard work put in and time spent by others.

·   Displaying good demeanour and leading by example.

·   Sticking to your word given to your seniors, colleagues and juniors alike.

Significance of professionalism:  Sans professionalism, an organization is likely to go astray with tittle-tattle, politics and pointing fingers Inter alia, professionalism results in the following:

·   Communication channels remain open and no suggestion or grievance goes unattended.

·   Hard work put in by every single employee is acknowledged.

·   Inspiration and high contentment levels are brought about; organizational name is upheld.

·   Sincerity of endeavour and good output by every employee is promoted.

·   Workplace camaraderie is fostered.

Infusing professionalism at workplace:  Having understood the meaning and importance of professionalism, it is essential to ensure that it prevails. Employees constitute an establishment and hence professionalism needs to be instilled in them. Here is how it can be done:

·   Discourage unhealthy competition and rivalry:  Every staff, irrespective of his hierarchical position, should be discouraged to indulge in unhealthy contests. This also encompasses unnecessary rendition of complaints, indulgence in gossip or rumour-mongering. Needless to state, such actions warrant initiation of disciplinary proceedings against errant employees.

·   Stress the need for punctuality:  Adherence to office timings should be a rule and no violations accepted. If for reasons beyond control or due to other exigencies, late-coming cannot be avoided, advance information should be given. In any case, the man-hours wasted in the process should be made up and no leniency in inability to complete daily assignments should be exhibited.

·   Follow laid down dress code:  A dress code is prescribed to ensure uniformity and maintaining workplace decorum. There should be no deviation from it otherwise its very aim would be defeated. Everybody should be dressed smartly and wear minimum accessories; gaudy makeup and flashy frills are best avoided.

·   Maintain a consistent atmosphere for communications:  It all depends upon the culture that prevails in your organization. While addressing people, if a formal methodology is required to be maintained, let it be so across the board without any exception. It is necessary that all employees comprehend working imperatives and do not cross barriers so that the environment is not afflicted with undue sympathy-linked prejudices and presuppositions related to output.

Outcome if professionalism norms are violated:  Aspects discussed above cannot be imposed with rigidity. A professional workplace atmosphere need not impose limitations and in case, it is done, there will be off-putting fallouts like:

·   Employees will have a tendency to detach themselves from the company and which may lead to plummeting contentment levels.

·   Unscrupulous actions may take birth and resultantly, the organizational name may suffer.

·   Resignations and absenteeism may rise; this will impact productivity and also impose avoidable financial burden related to new hiring.

·   Mutual confidence between the staff and management will diminish rendering the working environment less congenial.

·   Drive and enthusiasm levels may take a beating.

To sum up, professionalism at workplace entails a bias towards action. It entails managing people – managing them in a way you would prefer to be managed. The mark of a true professional is giving more than you get. You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others.