PROFESSIONALISM

AND WORK ETHICS

What is
Professionalism?
“ Professionalism is skill or behavior that goes
beyond what an ordinary person would have or
behaving in a more formal or business-like manner.

An example of professionalism is a business person

who is dressed in a suit and tie, has good manners
and shows good business sense.

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• In simple terms, professionalism means the conduct,
behavior and attitude of someone in a work setting
or business environment. It’s a component of work
ethics that’s reflective of an individual’s
consideration of others. It leads to lasting
professional relationships, a strong professional
reputation and workplace success.
WHAT IS WORK
ETHICS?
“ Work ethic is a set of standards of behavior and
beliefs regarding what is and isn’t acceptable to
do at work. Work ethic can be strong (good) or
poor (bad), it depends on personal views of
employees, their motivation, and overall
company culture

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A strong work ethic is an attitude an
employee applies to their work that indicates
a high level of passion for any work they do.

A bad work ethic is an attitude that an

employee demonstrates that shows a lack of
ambition and professionalism in the
workplace.
Professionalism and
work ethics
Professionalism leads to workplace success, and a
positive reputation. Developing a strong work ethic
is a habit that will carry on after college. Seeking
personal growth and self improvement is valued by
employers, and considered essential in the
workplace.
SAMPLE BEHAVIORS
Act equitably with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization.
Maintain a positive personal brand in alignment with organization and personal
career values.
Be present and prepared.
Demonstrate dependability (e.g., report consistently for work or meetings).
Prioritize and complete tasks to accomplish organizational goals.
Consistently meet or exceed goals and expectations.
Have an attention to detail, resulting in few if any errors in their work.
• Show a high level of dedication toward doing a good job.
DEVELOPING PROFESSIONALISM AND WORK ETHIC

“ Participate in student organizations

Complete a leadership development program
Complete an internship
Volunteer with a non-profit
Present at a conference
Attend a networking event
▫ 10
“
Practice developing health habits
Maintain a calendar
Take on leadership roles
Become a project manager
Develop your professional image
▫ Demonstrate integrity and be reliable

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CHARACTERISTI
CS
OF
PROFESSIONALIS
M
Competence

As a professional, you get the job done and done well. Your abilities match the requirements
of your role, and you often
produce results that exceed expectations.

But you never plow on simply for the sake of appearances. Instead, your professionalism
allows you to manage your own and others' expectations, and to ask for support when
necessary.
 Knowledge
Professionalism involves developing detailed, up-to-date knowledge,
which is often highly specialized . At every stage of your career you can strive to
master your role – and keep adding to what you know.
 Conscientiousness

Professionalism involves being reliable, setting your

own high standards, and showing that you care about
every aspect of your job. It's about being industrious
and organized, and holding yourself accountable for
your thoughts, words and actions.
 Integrity

Integrity is what keeps professional people true to their

word. It also stops them compromising their values, even
if that means taking a harder road.
 Respect

Professionalism means being a role model for

politeness and good manners – to everyone, not
just those you need to impress.
 Emotional Intelligence
To be a true professional you need to stay professional even under
pressure. This takes strategies for managing your emotions, plus a
clear awareness of other people's feelings. In short, emotional
intelligence is essential
 Appropriateness
A big part of being professional is knowing what's appropriate in
different situations. It avoids awkwardness or upset, boosts your
credibility, and helps you to feel secure in your role.
Appropriateness relates to outward appearances, such as dress,
personal grooming and body language.
Confidence

Well-founded confidence reassures and motivates other people,

boosting your ability to influence and lead . It also pushes you to
take on new challenges, because you don't fear damaging your
professional reputation if things go wrong.
 bochins.paw

Problem Solving Skills

AND
Decision Making
Skills
Problem Solving Skill
• Problem solving is the process of identifying a problem, developing
possible solution paths, and taking the appropriate course of action.

• The ability to solve problems is a basic life skill and is essential

to our day-to-day lives, at home, at school, and at work.

• Problem solving is a process. Learning about different problem

solving strategies and when to use them will give you a good start. 
• To have effective problem solving skills be curious, ask questions,
gather facts, and make logical deductions rather than assumptions.
Decision Making Skills

• Decision making is the process of making choices by

identifying a decision, gathering information, and assessing
alternative resolutions.
• Some people put off making decisions by endlessly
searching for more information or getting other people
to offer their recommendations.

• Decisions need to be capable of being implemented, whether on

a personal or organizational level. You do, therefore, need to be
committed to the decision personally, and be able to persuade
others of its merits.
 DIFFERENCE bochins.paw

Problem Solving Decision Making

• Identify the problem • Frame the decision
• Explore Alternative • Innovate to address the need
• Select Alternative • Decision and commit to act
• Implement Solution • Manage consequence
• Evaluate the Solution • Manage consequence
 Importance of Problem solving
and Decision Making Skills

Problem-solving and decision-making skills are both important because they can

help you to navigate a variety of situations that might come up at work and in
everyday life. They complement one another and can be used to resolve many of the
same issues. Both problem-solving and decision-making involve critical thinking.

Decision making has much in common with problem solving. In problem

solving you identify and evaluate solution paths; in decision making you
make a similar discovery and evaluation of alternatives. 
Collaborative learning And
teamwork skills
WHAT IS COLLABORATION?

Collaboration is the action of working with one or more people who

have different skill sets to produce something, such as finishing a
project, developing a shared idea or completing a task. In business,
collaboration refers to colleagues with varying areas of expertise
working together on a common goal to accomplish a purpose or
produce results. Workplace collaborationcollaboration is a set of
learned skills that can improve productivity, solve problems, foster
healthy relationships and create teamwork.
 Examples of collaborative skills
include:

-Self-awareness: Be clear about who you are, what you

want and what you need from others.
-Purpose-driven: Keep in mind the purpose of the
project and its goals.
-Resource management: Keep information organized
and know how to share it.
-Forgiveness: Be willing to apologize for mistakes and
forgive those who make errors.
 WHAT IS TEAMWORK?

Teamwork is the qualities, abilities and processes of working well with

one or more people to accomplish a common goal. Teamwork in the
workplace is a group’s ability to work together effectively, communicate
well, define roles and leadership, share resources and actively listen to
each other. Teamwork is a set of learned skills that can boost morale in
the workplace, build rapport, increase the quality and quantity of output
and improve retention rates.
 Examples of teamwork skills
include:
-Interpersonal skills: Know how to interact and speak with
others.
-Conflict management: Help mediate between members and
settle your own disputes fairly.
-Communication: Be open to constructive criticism and sharing
your ideas with others.
-Listening: By actively listening, your teammates feel valued
and you reduce miscommunications.
 Collaborative and Teamwork skills

The ability to work effectively with others on a common

task; taking actions which respect the needs and
contributions of others; contributing to and accepting
the consensus; negotiating a win-win solution to
achieve the objectives of the team.
Collaborative teamwork

Collaborative teamwork can promote

innovation, increase job satisfaction, find
solutions to resolve problems and develop
excellent soft skills.
 How to improve teamwork and collaboration
There are many effective strategies for improving teamwork and
collaboration within an organization. Here are some ways to accomplish
collaborative teamwork:

-Establish intentional leadership.

-Make change a positive step.
-Create group problem-solving
-Clarify roles.
-Invite healthy debate.
-Be humble.
 Critical
Thinking Skills
 What is Critical
Critical thinking isThinking?
the ability to objectively analyze
information and draw a rational conclusion. It also involves
gathering information on a subject and determining which
pieces of information apply to the subject and which do not,
based on deductive reasoning.
 Why do employers value
critical thinking?

Critical thinking skills are a valuable asset for an

employee, as employers typically appreciate
candidates who can correctly assess a situation and
come up with a logical resolution.
 Analytical
Thinking
Critical
Being able to properly analyze
Thinking information is the most important aspect
Skills of critical thinking. This implies
gathering information and interpreting it,
Examples
but also skeptically evaluating data.
 Good
Communication
Whether you use it for gathering information or
convincing others that your conclusions are correct, good
communication is crucial in the critical thinking process.
Getting people to share their ideas and information with
you and showing your critical thinking are components of
success.
 Creative Thinking
Being able to discover certain patterns of
information and make abstract connections
between seemingly unrelated data will improve
your critical thinking.
 Open-mindedness

Previous education and life experiences leave their mark on a

person’s ability to objectively evaluate certain situations. By
acknowledging these biases, you can improve your critical
thinking and overall decision process. For example, if you plan to
conduct a meeting in a certain way and your partner suggests using
a different strategy, you could hear them out and adjust your
approach based on their input.
 Ability to Solve Problems
The ability to correctly analyze a problem and work
on implementing a solution is another valuable skill.
 Asking thoughtful
questions
In both private and professional situations, asking the
right questions is a crucial step in formulating correct
conclusions.