Being a professional employee requires the one to be competent and serious. While listing 10 ways to be professional at work, Monster.com lists competence as it's number one attribute (Monster Career Coach, 2014, Monster.com). Adding to the conversation, Alison Green, a journalist for U.S. News, states that one must, "take work seriously"(Green, 2013, usnews.com). To take work seriously means that one does not play games or waste time. It can affect your relationship with staff and co-workers. As one becomes competent at their job and takes their work seriously they will be recognized as a professional.
As one becomes more professional, respect from co-workers and leadership will follow. Stephen M. R. Covey, a prominent teacher of leadership wrote, "The first job of any leader is to inspire trust. Trust is confidence born of two dimensions: character and competence. Character includes your integrity, motive, and intent with people. Competence includes your capabilities, skills, results, and track record. Both dimensions are vital" (Covey, 2009, LeadershipNow). How can a competent leader use an incompetent employee? The simple answer is that the leader will find someone else who can help him or her achieve their goals.
To achieve a goal takes serious work and focus. An employee must be willing to take work seriously if they wish to advance in their selected field. Even Colin Powell has stated, "Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously..."(Powell, 2014, BrainyQuote.com). The way to achieve is through making sure the work you accomplish is the best it can be.
Employment is the way through which humans sustain themselves. We must take our work seriously and be competent at what we do. Even as I write this I realize that I must take this seriously because my future income could depend on the grade that I receive in my MIS 3200 class. Being a professional student is just as important as being a professional employee.
References:
Covey, Stephen M. R. (2009). How the best leaders build trust. Leading articles. Retrieved from http://www.leadershipnow.com/CoveyOnTrust.html
Green, Alison. (2013). What does it mean to be professional at work. US News. Retrieved from http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/07/22/what-does-it-mean-to-be-professional-at-work
Monster Career Coach. (2014). 10 ways to be professional at work. Monster.com. Retrieved fromhttp://career-advice.monster.ca/in-the-workplace/starting-a-new-job/10-ways-to-be-professional-at-work-canada/article.aspx
Powell, Colin. (2014). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved from http://www.brainyquote
.com/quotes/quotes/c/colinpowel389507.html
