What is professionalism? Everyone’s talking about being professional these days. You must have heard about examples of professional ethics from your manager or colleagues or even guided your team on the same path. But have we ever thought of a concrete definition of professional behavior, and how can we induce it in our work culture?

Professionalism is that quality or aim or conduct that characterizes a professional and, in turn, professional person. In simple words, professionalism is about the success and reputation that employers seek in their staff by maintaining work ethics and following certain rules. Managers and leaders often choose to plan these rules to impose professionalism at the workplace. What is planning, what are values, you ask?  It is simply thinking before you act. Planning is fundamental in management that decides everything about actions beforehand. Here managers have to answer questions such as ‘what is to be done,’ ‘when and how it should be done,’ and ‘who will carry out a certain action.’

Deciding rules for professional ethics fall into planning employee productivity tool. Now, if you are wondering how one can induce and demonstrate professional behavior at the workplace, here are key rules to follow.

• Be respectful

“Respect is to be earned.” We all grew up listening to this. But how do you earn respect? It’s by being courteous, friendly, and polite. In simple words, you earn respect by treating others the way you want to be treated at work and in life.

Courtesy makes workplace interaction easy that helps avoid conflicts and run operations smoothly, therefore earning you respect in everyone’s eyes.

• Be trustworthy

It all starts with trust. Whether it’s work or life, trust is that key when turned makes things easier, whether it’s starting a sensitive conversation or solving a critical problem. We all experience it now and then. We only confide in people we trust. Your friends and family come for help, solution, or advice because they trust you. Team members’ trust in their manager or leader is equally important to get things done or face workplace crises together.

Although having trust makes things easier, earning the trust of others is equally difficult. And it comes from your everyday activities. Completing an assigned task in time, maintaining the quality and consistency in your work, having your team’s back during difficult times, and being their voice whenever needed; all these actions break the ice and nurture trust within a team and their leader.

• Be ethical

“A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.” American industrialist Henry Ford rightly highlighted the importance of business ethics. Impact of businesses in more than economical. Through their products/services, processes, and approaches, they create an impact on society and the environment as well.

That is the reason why consumers today are demanding and supporting ethical brands. And businesses, in turn, seek those ethics and values in their employees. So, complying with a generally accepted code of conduct and acting within moral conscience are also a part of professional ethics.

• Be competent and consistent

Competence and consistency are the key aspects to improve your workplace performance. And let’s face it, we all want to strive for excellence, including our employers. And with the right set of skills, knowledge, experience, and best behavior one can improve their performance and strive for excellence at the workplace.

• Show not tell

“An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.” This quote by Mahatma Gandhi depicts the importance of practice. Once you start demonstrating professionalism through your excellent work and ethical behavior take it a little further to impact others around you.

Positivity is as infectious as a virus, if not more. Spread goodness and positivity around you and encourage others to demonstrate professionalism and discipline by setting good examples.

Want to know more about how professional ethics can impact and improve your life at the workplace and outside? Try enrolling in online courses by industry leaders who will enlighten the path with examples and experience for you to follow and improve in every step.