By
Zarela Cruz
Being professional may
mean more than we can imagine. At first sight, we may think that it demands to
make the most of our professional skills at work. Not exactly. It means much
more. Since it is not taught, but picked up along our careers, the list below
may help you redefine this concept.
1. Do you respect your company policies?
2. Do you treat company property with care and respect?
3. Do you take your
work seriously?
4. Are you organized?
5. Are you punctual?
6. Are you a reliable worker?
7. Are you a positive person?
8. Are you willing to help?
9. Do you avoid teachers’ room drama and
worker gossip?
worker gossip?
10. Do you pay attention to dress code and personal
hygiene?
This list may go on and on. Needless to say, we may have
different definitions and different backgrounds. However, we all agree that,
when it comes to professionalism, we want to show our best “us”.
It is more than the way we conduct ourselves
in our working place; it is about the way we behave, it is about who we are as
individuals.
We do not pretend to be
either superheroes or geniuses, but we all would like to be part of the
solution more than of the problem. We cannot deny that a pleasant working
environment depends mostly on the workers themselves. If we know what is going
on in our institutions, if we work hard to be (and look!) accountable, if we commit
ourselves to doing our best every day,
we are on the right track.
Easier said than done?
Let us know by sharing your own experience and/or giving advice to your
colleagues.
NOW,
IT’S YOUR TURN:
What
does ‘Being Professional’ mean to you?
Are
you up to it?
References
Biodata
Zarela Cruz graduated from Ricardo Palma University
as a translator. She also finished her master’s studies in Linguistics and took some specialization
diplomas in the Teaching of English and Spanish. She has also completed some
online certificates: Teaching the
Working Adult, Online, Hybrid and
Blended Education, among other self-study courses. She has taught
different courses, programs and levels and has been a teacher trainer, a
lecturer and online instructor for more than 25 years. She is currently studying a master’s in
Translation. This article aims to reflect on the concept of professionalism
at work.
