3C's of Professionalism

There are a variety of generations, expectations, personalities, values and ethics in today's complex workplace. Many people tend to focus on external characteristics when discussing the highly subjective topic of professionalism. Professionalism is so much more than the clothes you wear.

Whether you are a recent college graduate or a seasoned professional, there are three "C"s I believe employers across all industries and disciplines want to see for increased productivity, retention and harmony. From the CEO to the janitor, these basic skills can be practiced by everyone to raise the standard of professionalism in any work environment.

1) Communication

A true professional needs to be able to write and speak effectively. Demonstrating professionalism as it relates to communication has to do with the day to day spoken and written words we exchange. If your email takes more than one screen or six lines of text, you should probably call or try to speak to the person face to face. Always quickly read over what you have written before you send it. Eliminate unnecessary details. Make sure there is a call to action, if necessary. Try to anticipate the next question the reader might have after reading your message. Every written communication should include what, when, where, why and a summary of the next step or end with what you are asking the reader to do--that's your call to action. Don't use email or text  to avoid difficult conversations. Verbal communication can build or break relationships. But don't be afraid of it. True professionals think before they speak and are not afraid to engage in tough conversations. They answer and ask questions that are on-point--clearly and concisely. They anticipate potential questions that may arise from whatever point they make without worrying about being defensive. And finally, they ask intelligent questions then listen thoughtfully to the answers.  

2) Confidence

Many individuals desiring to be professional mistake having a harsh, hard attitude for confidence. Confidence does not mean you know it all or have the right to treat others harshly. Confidence means you listen as much as (or more than) you speak. Confidence is a silent strength that comforts as well as motivates.  It is the thoughtful courage to maintain integrity and make decisions that benefit the organization or situation even if it means being unpopular. Professional confidence involves a willingness to make a decision or move forward when no one else will. When properly used it may even push others outside their comfort zone. A confident professional knows when to confront, correct, encourage and when to be silent. Confident professionals take calculated risks. Confidence may frighten some people even when applied appropriately. Peter McIntyre said it best,"Confidence comes from not always being right, but not fearing to be wrong."

3) Consideration

Everyone has their reasons for behaving a certain way in the workplace. It is never acceptable to be rude or abusive to people no matter your title. Insecurities play out in different ways for leaders and employees. Some people may be overly sensitive to concise directives or correction and misinterpret direct communication. True professionals consider the fact that there are a variety of communication styles in the workplace. It is important to be able to adjust your style according to the situation or person but not lose who you are. Consideration does not involve tip-toeing around the unreasonable people or troublemakers in the workplace. True professionals do not seek to dominate a conversation in the office or in office related social settings. They know when to listen and how to ask questions to get others engaged in the decision or discussion. True professionals accept differences but rarely settle for differences as an excuse for mediocrity.

Whether you are a leader, employee or volunteer, try practicing these 3C's for one week in your shared environment. Let me know how it goes. Remember, time spent improving yourself cuts down on time wasted disapproving of others.  


What "C' would you add? Please leave your comment below. 

What impact is Social Media having on College Students?

Via: OnlineEducation.net

Graduating from college in May? What you should have been told

It's that time of year when my calendar is filled with appointments of those preparing to graduate in May. I love working with college students and always try to find a way to encourage and help while offering a practical, realistic perspective. However, if a student is in my office for the very first time in April and he/she graduates in May, they might be a little late in the job search process. I'll still try to help but I'm no miracle worker. I am convinced there are a few reality checkpoints students, parents and professors miss along the academic journey. Here are a few tips for students and those who love them to use during each year of college:

Freshman: Discover your strengths. Even if you have decided on a career or major, take personality, skills and interests assessments that your university or college may offer. This may include: Myers-Briggs, Strengthsquest, VARK or FOCUS. Getting good grades matters along with involvement on campus or in your community. Participate in student government, clubs, non-profit events, academic organizations, church service or a sorority/fraternity to gain basic teamwork experiences and discover your passion. The interpersonal communication skills and self awareness you gain may help you rule out, decide on, or confirm a career choice. These activities also give you confidence to interact with new people(adults and peers) and are valuable in meeting potential contacts for networking later on.

Sophomore: Your grade point average is important but now is the time to gain further practical experience from internships, on-campus jobs, sororities/fraternities, clubs, pre-professional organizations, mission work, community service or any other part-time employment. This experience provides transferable skills valuable in any profession such as leadership, public speaking, writing, critical thinking, organizing, teamwork and customer service. Take an active role in learning about careers and networking. Get to know the career service professionals on your campus. I have to admit, the quality of career center professionals and the services they offer varies widely in higher education. So be wise about the advice and direction you accept. It may help to know if the person advising you has actually worked in the real world. Make sure those advising you know the latest trends with resumes, interviewing and social media by industry as well as specific professions. Politely ask specific, smart questions. Just please stop asking your room mate, friends or others who have little to no knowledge of current employment/hiring trends in recruiting, resumes or creating an effective job search plan.

Junior: Make sure you have a strong resume. I say ditch the job objective. No one reads them because they are often poorly written. Network with family, friends, professors. Ask questions. If someone tells you to email your resume to them...do it! Within 24 hours. Attach the e-mail as a PDF and the cover letter should be the body of the e-mail. Even if there are no openings, contacts may pass it along to a colleague or someone who will consider you for other opportunities. Re-take any personality, interests or skills assessments. You may have changed a bit since your Freshman year. Be self-aware. Enhance your interpersonal communication skills by texting less and talking to people more. Recruiters and CEO's continue to seek graduates who can articulate what they are looking for, are not socially awkward--will show some enthusiasm and can verbally make connections to transferable skills during a conversation or interview. Create a financial plan (aka budget). Living at home? Moving out? Medical? Dental benefits? Do you have a realistic view of your annual salary expectations and expenses?

Senior: Make sure you are netweaving. What's that? Remember the informational interviews you conducted? part-time job? community service work or talking to friends of your friends parents? Let them know you are graduating and tell them what you are looking for. Avoid relying solely on job boards. Use all resources available to you and do not just wait for someone to contact you. Netweaving (aka networking) remains the most effective way to find a job. Schedule lunches. Talk to people. Ask professionals in your network if you can send them your resume. Avoid focusing solely on what you want from an employer (i.e. experience). When you meet people talk about how you can add value or help solve a business problem. Identify companies you are interested in and ask people in your network for the name of someone who works there. Create a Linkedin account and use it. Go to Linkedin for grads for more information. And don't forget to thank everyone who helps you along the way. A verbal, email or other note of thanks makes you memorable and people more willing to help. As a senior the fear and questions may overwhelm you. If this causes you to do nothing, just remember, Abraham Lincoln said it best, "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."

If you are conducting an active job search as a new graduate it's necessary to: Be flexible. The more limitations you place on your job search the fewer options you have. Are you willing to relocate? In today's economy this is a must consideration. Be fearless. Talk to people and be willing learn new things and go to new places. Be faithful. Don't give up too soon, or get negative or blame the economy, just keep moving forward. If you are curious about the status of an application or interview call or email your contact. Be kind, courteous and make statements like: "just checking to see if you need anything else from me in this process." Hiring managers and others are just busy, it's not personal. Find out what you need to know.Call them but don't stalk them.

Today's reality is the entire approach and process of gaining professional employment has changed. It's taking anywhere from six months to a year to get an interview much less obtain an entry-level job--even longer in some states. Many universities and colleges are doing a huge dis-service to students by not having early, frequent and practical career conversations. You do realize you will eventually have do something with all of that academic excellence you've acquired...right? Resumes, interviews, salary levels and recruiting tactics have changed dramatically in the past five years, yet many in academia(even some campus career centers), parents and professors erroneously advise students to use outdated approaches on everything from resume layout/content to answering age old interview questions like: What is your greatest weakness? "I'm a perfectionist." BLEH!GAG! Those who advise college students must help reset the expectations of what a college degree is all about. A college degree is simply the price of admission to the professional working world. Having a degree still matters, but we are experiencing a highly unique, recovering job market, and it requires students (and those who advise them) to re-think their approach to career planning and the tools used to secure employment. Experience matters. Parents, professors, career services professionals and students need to initiate fresh, frequent and relevant discussions about careers and what can (or cannot) be done with a specific major/degree well before the senior year of college. While everything may not be tied up in a neat little bow by graduation, students--remember to do your part and don't give up. Have a plan A, B AND C. There's no easy path to a career but there's one out there for you. It's your calling. I'm counting on you to find it. It may take some work. I'll even help. I just hope you'll talk to me about it sooner rather than later.

What do you think? Leave a comment or check a box below...if you are a student let's talk, I'm here all summer.

A Fish Out of Water

I recently spoke to a woman at church who mentioned that during her mission trip she became frustrated because she did not speak the language or enjoy the food in the country she was serving. She said no matter how hard she tried, she just could not connect with the people there. A co-worker told me how her son who is living in a foreign country (Russia, I think) stated he was tired of trying to communicate with his host family who spoke no English. She said he felt it was particularly unbearable when he became sick. He just wanted something familiar and comforting around him which they couldn't provide. As I reflected on these experiences, I realized you don't always have to visit a foreign country to be a fish out of water (FOOW).

Scientific studies have been conducted on what happens to a fish when it is out of water for too long. The main effect being the gills dry up and the fish dies of suffocation. It is a slow death that's difficult to watch.

In some ways, I think I have become a FOOW. Don't worry, keep reading, this is not a pity party or judgement of the deep south--just an honest observation of an experience at this point in time. I am a positive person who wants to positively influence and relate to others. I share these observations because I want to grow and help others who might be experiencing the FOOW syndrome. What amazes me most, is the impact being a FOOW has on the FOOW's personality and joy. I call it the "FOOW Syndrome," where several things can happen:

1) You are unable to have meaningful, genuine conversations. Every conversation is guarded or defensive causing only surface interactions.

2) You don't have anyone to offer healthy challenge to you professionally, personally or spiritually, so you become out of touch because of #1.

3) You become acutely aware of nonverbal behaviors (i.e. people tense up, make strange facial expressions or stop talking when you walk into the room).

4) You become systematically excluded from professional and social events causing you to become lonely and even a bit angry---feeding further negative opinions of your attitude and behavior.

5) You exhibit the physical symptoms of stress such as weight gain, headaches, fatigue, and other illnesses.

6) Finally, and most unfortunate, you become irritable in response to being alienated, isolated and lonely. Sadly, this provides more ammunition to further exclude you. Your gills begin to dry up as you flop around all of this and the slow suffocation begins.

Today an EF3 tornado almost leveled the city where I live. My husband was out of town. After making it home safely, I realized that locally I had no one to call and no one called to check on me.*** I am a firm believer in "to gain a friend, you must be friend." As the storm was moving in, I called someone to see if they were okay and the conversation was awkward. I'm not sure the person even understood I was just concerned about them. Once again, guarded and weird conversations. I have even tried to stop wearing business suits to work thinking my attire might be causing the distance. I only wear suits because I own more of those than anything, due to my previous career. Reality and maturity remind me that not everyone connects or likes each other but this is the first time in my life I do not have genuine, deep, caring relationships in the place where I live and work. And that's unhealthy for someone who seeks a fit body, career and spirit. So I am praying about how to better connect and understand what God is doing in this situation.

I have asked myself intellectual and spiritual questions about being a FOOW. Is the lack of connection because the pull of sameness is just easier for most people? Is it because friends and family would judge us if we had a friend from a different background in our homes, churches or social circles? Perhaps it's because if a person does not fit the typical behaviors, speech patterns or social interests expected of a particular gender or race, then people don't want or know how to relate to you. Perhaps high standards of excellence and a strong work ethic cause people to become unnecessarily nervous and insecure. As I look to God for answers, I simply wonder what is the greater purpose of all of this? I am not angry or blaming anyone, I'm just hoping to figure out ways to swim back into freshwater and return to joy.

The good news is I still have healthy, strong, joyful relationships all over the country. These people lift me personally, professionally and spiritually. I can get to any of them via a plane ride, Twitter or Skype but they are not here daily to spontaneously encourage, embrace and show me love in person. That causes me to feel a slow suffocation most days. I long for the authentic support systems, belly laughs, intellectual debates and the caring conversations I have known in other places. I miss having someone ask me about me about my family, my day, care enough to celebrate a success or pat me on the back when things get rough. It reminds me of a great proverb that states, "Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget."

In a freshwater aquarium there are thousands of different species of fish available to the aquarist. The various types of fish found in the hobby today come from all over the world. These fish all have their own preferences for environment and social behaviour yet they share the water and learn to swim in the same direction. They all have similar basic needs: a comfortable water temperature, nourishment, kindness and to swim peacefully within the tank that they are forced to share. Sometimes we think only fish who are alike should be with each other. That's not always true. When a new fish is introduced into the tank, it requires the other fish to accept the new fish and avoid judging it based on the external appearance or what others have said about it.

As a species who often flops around outside of the aquarium at work, there are subtle ways other fish guard themselves. It causes the FOOW syndrome to manifest in me. So I focus inward and ask myself: Should I leave behind who I am and try to fit what makes others comfortable? Do I try to laugh along when a joke or comment reinforces a negative portrayal of another? Do I sacrifice my strong work ethic so others don't think I'm so intense or feel the need to be guarded or secretive?

After publishing these thoughts, I fully realize this may cause even further alienation, judgement, defensiveness or criticism. The unfortunate part is that I will most likely never have honest or intellectual discussions about it. Mainly because it is such hard work for us to invest in growing and building relationships. Alas, I am compelled to write about that which I know impacts my mind, body, career, and spirit. Simply put, I long to get back in an aquarium where we can all breathe and swim freely. I don't care if they are goldfish, bluefish or catfish. I just need kindfish, honestfish and determinedfish. Misery does not love company--joy loves company. I'm not miserable, I just want air, water and yes, joy in growing and building a life and leaving a legacy.

After reading this, would you comment or check a box below? If you comment, try to keep it constructive even if you disagree with me. Bring life giving water into this aquarium! I welcome your thoughts, observations and prayers to return to the freshwater aquarium of clarity, openess, friendship, peace and joy. I can breathe there. What about you?

Have you ever felt like a FOOW? When? Where? What did you do?

***On the day of the tornado, Bruce A. called and sent me a text, he just wanted to know if I was okay or needed help with anything, it brought me to tears.