Lesson 2.1
What Does Professional Conduct Actually Mean?
Estimated time: 5 minutes
Professionalism is not a job title.
A cleaner can behave professionally.
A driver can behave professionally.
A receptionist can behave professionally.
A teacher, cashier, stylist, waiter, security officer, technician or manager can behave professionally.
Professional conduct means behaving in a way that shows:
- responsibility
- respect
- appropriate self-control
- attention to the work
- awareness of the workplace around you
- respect for customers and coworkers
- respect for workplace standards
It does not mean acting superior or pretending to be someone you are not.
Scenario
Two employees are equally skilled.
Employee A performs well whenever the owner is present.
When the owner leaves, A spends long periods on social media, ignores small problems and stops following normal procedures.
Employee B maintains the same reasonable standard whether the owner is present or absent.
Which employee is showing stronger professionalism?
Correct answer: Employee B.
Professionalism includes what happens when nobody is standing over you.
Poor mindset
Poor
“Nobody is here. It doesn’t matter.”
Better
“The standard still applies because I am representing the workplace.”
More Workplace Examples
Behavior, not clothing
A mechanic in clean, simple overalls
BETTER BEHAVIOR
A sharply dressed salesman ignores walk-in customers and makes promises he cannot keep.
Which one is more professional? The mechanic — professionalism is behavior, not an expensive outfit.
Professionalism anywhere
A market stall attendant
BETTER BEHAVIOR
A receptionist in a large office is rude to visitors and careless with their requests.
Professional conduct does not depend on the size of the workplace or the cost of the uniform.
Remember
Professionalism is not performing for the supervisor. It is maintaining appropriate standards because they are part of your responsibility.
Workplace action
Identify one workplace standard you are sometimes tempted to relax when supervision is low.
Ask yourself:
Would I do this differently if the owner were standing beside me?