Category Archives: Professionalism

What Jon Stewart Teaches Us About Power Positioning

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Jon Stewart, Comedy Central

Jon Stewart, Comedy Central

When Jon Stewart left Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, people were wondering what he was going to do. The answer is simple: He is doing good. Listen up, professionals, and learn from Stewart, who is using his positioning power to give others a voice.

On the December 7, 2015 Daily Show, host Trevor Noah welcomed back Stewart, who is bravely tackling a serious issue before Congress right now: the fight to continue funding for first responders of the 9/11 tragedy through the James Zadroga Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act. H.R. 1786 “amends the Public Health Service Act to extend the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program Fund.  Watch the full episode here.

Stewart and a video crew accompanied first responders to Capitol Hill, visiting the offices of senators, most of whom were (conveniently) out, unavailable or in meetings. With every rejection from Senate staff, Stewart pushed on, heading to the next senator’s office, determined to let first responders’ voices be heard. There were no altercations, no harsh words, just a message that needed to be heard. The only leader who took the time to talk with Stewart and first responders was Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), who later signed the act.

For two decades, I have coached professionals on the importance of power positioning. I define power positioning as “The art of putting yourself in a place that you want to be, that maximizes your talents, skills and contacts.” Stewart demonstrated power positioning in action on Capitol Hill. In his Daily Show appearance, he reached millions of loyal Daily Show viewers, encouraging them to contact their senators and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). He asked them to Tweet using #worstresponders. He recognized that he had the clout and power to raise his voice and raise the collective consciousness of Americans. Political leaders across the country can take pointers from Jon Stewart’s integrity and high level of professionalism. It comes at a time when lives have been shattered and communities are still rebuilding from devastation. It’s time to do the right thing.

All too often, you can easily become passive, detached or uninvolved in the issues of your community, your workplace and the world. The next time you rationalize why you shouldn’t get involved, think again. Your voice could make a difference in someone else’s quality of life.

Thank you, Jon Stewart, for elevating our awareness about this important issue. You continue to be a positive role model for other leaders. You inspire and motivate us all to do a better job of putting other people’s needs ahead of our own.

The Pro’s Code: Dress the Part

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Part 14 – the last in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 14: Well packaged. Dresses the part, like a professional.

DocMartinBoots1990sWithin just a few seconds of meeting someone for the first time, people “preview” other people before they know anything about them. This first impression can last from a few seconds to about fifteen seconds. When people size up others, at a quick glance they notice physical attributes or external features, like: Gender, race, age, ethnicity, weight, outer wear, physical characteristics, skin quality, posture, stance, and movement.

From these physical attributes, they begin to observe: Physical health, grooming habits, level of education, manners/etiquette, marital status, socio-economic status, language (verbal and nonverbal), wealth, and original geographic location.

At a deeper level, people assess: Personality, level of professionalism, credibility, trustworthiness, approachability, attractiveness, honesty, attitude, friendliness, promptness, confidence, courtesy, and demeanor.

When you make a first impression, you want it to be the best it can be. Make that first impression a positive and lasting one. Here are a few tips:

Know Your Body Type. That deserves repeating. Know your body type. A specific body type looks best in clothing that accentuates that body type. The three basic body types are:

  • Ectomorph (Think Cher). Long and lean, delicate body build, thin, small shoulders, usually with a narrow waist and hips with a linear physique. Wardrobe tip: Big chunky anything, especially jewelry, looks out of place on the Ectomorph’s delicate build.
  • Endomorph (Think cartoon character Dilbert). Soft body, big bones, large trunk and thighs, with more body fat around the midsection. Wardrobe tip: Tight pants…tight anything…isn’t flattering to the Endomorph’s physique. Keep clothing loose and flowing.
  • Mesomorph (Think Arnold Schwarzenegger). Athletic build, broad shoulders, large bones, narrow waist, large muscles. Wardrobe tip: Ditch the boxy Chesterfield coat. You’ll look like a refrigerator walking down the street. Add fullness below the waist to balance your broad shoulders.

Dress With Credibility in Mind. Clothing can accentuate or divert attention from your credibility. A tailored business suit for women or men presents a professional image, especially for the board room. Creative types have credibility when highlighting their creative flair.

Hire an Image Consultant. If you don’t have an eye for what goes with what, then hire someone to help. Many image consultants are members of the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI). Visit their website at www.aici.org. Scroll through “Find an Image Consultant” to locate an image consultant in your geographic area.

Dress Up to Get Up in an Organization. In 1978, John T. Molloy wrote a best-selling book, Dress for Success. Molloy’s mantra, “Always dress for the job you want; not for the job you have“ remains powerful today. I tell people in my professional presence workshops that it’s important to observe the people ahead of and above you, to see how they dress, and use that as a guideline. What is acceptable or unacceptable?

Maintain a Clean Wardrobe. The secret to looking professional is making sure that your clothing is clean, ironed and mended. Put the Oxford shirt with frayed collars and cuffs in the rag bag. Have the gravy-laden tie dry cleaned. Hem that skirt before it completely unravels.

Practice Good Grooming Basics. I once interviewed a woman for a position. Her perfume arrived in the conference room before she did! Know the basics about personal care and hygiene. If you work with someone whose grooming habits are standing in the way of advancement in the organization, schedule that critical conversation. You can have a positive influence on that person’s professional life forever.

How you dress and groom yourself positions you in the minds of other people. When you handle yourself with grace and elegance, dress in appropriate stylish attire and become skilled in basic etiquette, people will regard you as a true professional. Isn’t that how you want others to think of you?

The Pro’s Code: Develop Your Skills

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Part 13 in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 13: Highly developed skills. Has attained a certain level of expertise in a given area, and openly shares information with others.

SkillsYou have acquired certain skills and abilities throughout your life that makes you knowledgeable in certain topics or areas of interest. It’s often called your body of knowledge. But how do you become competent in those areas?

Competence comes from a deep knowledge and assimilation of a subject, enhanced by ongoing study or research. You know the topic cold, without having to reference any notes. For instance, you can be knowledgeable about the perennials in your garden. To become a competent gardener, you must know when to feed your plants, when to prune or divide them, and whether to plant them in sun or in shade. Your higher level of competency about gardening would translate into a consistently healthy garden. It takes a lot to become recognized as being competent in your field; you must add your own field experience to your education and training.

No matter what profession you choose, each offers a professional organization to join. Don’t discount what you can learn from your peers. When professional organizations host annual conferences, some of the learning takes place in the general sessions and breakout sessions. Between sessions, valuable learning happens through hallway conversations, when members can open up and exchange information and share valuable insights. Look at the associations that you belong to and ask how they are helping you to learn more, network with your peers and advance your career. You may be missing important opportunities that could heighten your level of professionalism. Joining a professional organization puts you in contact with other leaders and keeps you informed of the latest trends and innovations in your field.

The competent professional is the person who makes it to the short list every time, who people think of first, whether being considered for a higher level position at work or leading a volunteer organization, because they have developed their level of proficiency.

How would people describe your level of competence? Would they identify you as skilled, being knowledgeable, or being competent?

The Pro’s Code: Use Appropriate, Consistent Behavior

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Part 12 in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 12: Appropriate, consistent behavior. Knows the limits, and sets those boundaries. Is mindful of temper and behavior.

images-2When I was in elementary school, excellence was acknowledged with a gold star. When you received two, three or ten gold stars, you knew you were performing consistently well.

What if we could give gold stars in the workplace for best behavior? Consistently good behavior? Would that small visual symbol change the way we see ourselves as an employee, contributor or leader?

High potential employees who are being groomed for senior management positions are chosen because they practice appropriate, consistent behavior. The higher up in the organization you go, the greater the responsibility for managing and motivating others. You can’t be irrational or erratic like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Those are the people who are in a good mood one moment and in a foul mood the next. You never know who you are going to encounter, Jekyll or Hyde. This type of behavior from a senior manager impacts performance and morale. That’s why companies look for people who know how to set boundaries and are consistent in their behavior.

No matter where you go or what you do, people are watching you, silently observing how you lead a meeting, interact with others, motivate your work team or handle a crisis. They also observe you online through social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. Are your comments or content helpful to others (posting a link to an article on leadership) or repetitive rants and emotional outbursts on any given topic? Rather than being called a hothead, whiner, control freak or immature baby, wouldn’t you prefer being described as a team player, bridge builder, innovator or class act? It’s up to you.

The gold star equation is quite simple:

Appropriate + consistent behavior = career advancement.

The Pro’s Code: Be Humble

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Part 11 in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 11: Be humble. Not boastful, self-important or arrogant.

UnknownIn December, 2013, I created a blog post on the topic of humility. It fits so perfectly into my series on professionalism, it deserves repeating.

When Time Magazine honored Pope Francis as its Person of the Year, it begged the question, Is humility hip?

I doubt that the average person today ponders the meaning of the word humility much, let alone embraces its virtues. Society is more likely to reward materialism, greed, vanity and pride. How refreshing to know that there are still some people in the world today who not only value humility…they live it. The pontiff’s practicing humility demonstrates his concern for the greater good rather than living the good life himself.

Humility is defined as: The state or quality of being humble. Humble is defined as: Having or showing a consciousness of one’s shortcomings; lowly; unpretentious; to lower in condition or rank; to lower in pride; make modest. (Reference: Webster’s New World Dictionary).

Consider how different the world would be if leaders practiced humility. For one thing, they would admit their flaws, their mistakes, their humanity. They would practice transparent communication and eliminate hidden agendas. They would lead by example. They would think of others first. Rather than tell us how great they are, they would recognize and reward greatness in everyone. As a result, we could come together on common ground and work in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation. It would be like a breath of fresh air.

I, for one, support the notion that humility is hip. It would be grand to live in a world where humility is king (or Pope). It begins with self-reflection and one question: How am I practicing humility in my life?

The Pro’s Code: Be Confident

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Part 10 in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 10: Confident. Shows high confidence in abilities.

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The White House

For some, being confident is simply part of who they are. They were “born” confident. For others, finding one’s own confidence can be a painful process. The good news is that at any stage of your life, you can build self-confidence. It begins with believing in yourself and your abilities.

One contemporary leader who exudes confidence is First Lady Michelle Obama. Since assuming this position in 2009, Michelle Obama has shattered old thinking and expanded the role of First Lady in a dynamic, caring way. She used a relatively new designer, Jason Wu, to create her memorable inaugural wardrobe. A big part of her style has included baring her arms in sleeveless dresses, something that is still talked about today in the media. Why? Because her biceps and triceps look amazing! She also had the confidence to take on important issues like education, health and wellness and the advancement of women and girls. The First Lady had the confidence to break out a dance with Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon to launch her “Let’s Move” campaign to get Americans healthy. Other initiatives include Joining Forces in 2011, Reach Higher in 2014, and Let Girls Learn in 2015.

Confident people are doers and make a positive difference in their community, workplace, family and home. They don’t second guess their actions. Imagine what you could do if you put your mind to it.

Great thought leaders and inspirational speakers have told us “You can do it!” for decades. From Dr. Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking to Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich to W. Clement Stone’s Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, these seminal books have transformed people’s lives. Try telling that to someone who feels “less than.” Less than perfect. Less than whole. One of the great lessons I learned from The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander was this: Never compare yourself to someone else. For people who see themselves as less than, their thinking begins with comparing themselves to others who seem to have everything they don’t. It’s deficit thinking. Confidence comes from within. When you believe in yourself and your abilities, remarkably, miraculously, anything is possible. To achieve professional presence, you must have confidence and carry yourself with integrity and grace.

Here are two tips that I share in my workshops:

  1. Begin and end every day in a positive way.
  2. Shift negative self-talk into positive self-talk.

Believe that you can do anything, have the confidence in yourself and your abilities, and you will experience positive results in your life!

 

The Pro’s Code: Be Diplomatic

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Part 9 in a series on professionalism. Criteria 9: Diplomatic. Handles problems, deals with issues with finesse and discretion. Maintains calmness even when engaged in the most heated discussions. 1FlagsThe word “diplomatic” usually conjures up images of high-ranking officials in the State Department or the United Nations who expertly know international policy, often serving as ambassadors or cultural attaches. Yet being diplomatic isn’t reserved just for diplomats. It is a welcome quality – and necessity – for any business professional. To be diplomatic, a person must be keenly aware of everything that is at play in the environment or culture and step lightly before any actions are taken. Other people’s feelings or concerns are considered before information is presented or important decisions or actions are made. Anyone serving in the diplomatic corps today must be qualified for the position, and the list of criteria is a long one. How are your diplomatic skills? The higher up the career ladder you go, the more important diplomacy becomes to your position. The picture changes as you accept greater career responsibilities. You may be responsible for a multimillion (or billion) dollar budget as well as hundreds or thousands of staff members. Decisions are more difficult. Personalities can be more challenging. Accountability lies with you. Try on for size – just for one moment – being more diplomatic in your daily work:

  • Present yourself with integrity.
  • Consider the needs of others.
  • Think through how to handle sensitive information.
  • Decide when – or how – to discuss a specific topic.
  • Have facts easily accessible to present a solid case.
  • Be aware of yourself, others and the environment or culture in which you are working.
  • Determine any potential areas of potential dispute and negotiation.
  • Choose your words carefully.

Being diplomatic is more than simply sparing people’s feelings. It requires integrity, grace and poise. How do you measure up?

The Pro’s Code: Be Honest

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Part 8 in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 8: Honest: Communicates openly, has no hidden agenda.

freeimages.co.uk workplace imagesYears ago a wise mentor advised me, “Be honest and tell the truth, and you’ll never have to remember any untruths you have told people. The more you spin a web of lies, the more it will entangle you.” That was solid advice.

In my workshops, I ask participants to list their top three to five core values. I also ask them to consider how they live those values each day and how they communicate them to others. Invariably, a few people in the group will identify honesty as a top core value. When your behavior is aligned with your core values, you are presenting your most authentic self. When they are out of alignment, you present yourself as someone who is not true to the self.

There is much to consider when speaking honestly. You can either be honest or brutally honest. An honest person chooses words carefully, speaks with grace and kindness and considers the culture, environment or another person’s feelings. A brutally honest person doesn’t care about words or feelings; the goal is to tell it like it is.

There are different requests made of honesty.

Honest Opinion: What do you do when someone asks for your honest opinion? Since an opinion is subjective, speak to any level of opinion that makes you – and the other person – feel comfortable. Then it’s a win/win.

Example:

“Do these pants make me look fat?”

Response: “In my opinion, they accentuate your curves.” (The brutally honest person would say, “Yes, they make you look fat because you are fat!”)

Be Honest: “Be honest with me. Am I qualified for that job?”

Response: “Let’s review the position description and compare it to your qualifications. Then we’ll look at all of the facts and discuss anything else that either you or I know about the position.” (The brutally honest person would say something like, “Are you crazy? What makes you think you’re qualified for that job? No, I absolutely don’t think you’re qualified.”)

Straight Talk: “Give it to me straight. Don’t mince words. I can take it.”

Response: “What are you most interested in? What specifically would you like me to share?” You have to decide if the person really can take it, and how much. (The brutally honest person never needs permission to give anyone straight talk; it comes with the territory.)

Being honest requires some courage, especially when discussing controversial or delicate topics. One contemporary figure who is refreshingly honest is Pope Francis. When sharing his thoughts, ideas and opinions honestly, they come from a place of grace and integrity.

What would greater honesty bring to your work relationships? Your personal relationships?

The Pro’s Code: Use Good Judgment

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Part 7 in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 7: Good judgment: All issues are thought through carefully and clearly; implications are considered before any action is taken.

ChoiceWith experience comes wisdom. An important lesson you have learned as a professional is to think before you speak – or act. It’s a lesson that often requires repeating multiple times throughout a career. Some examples of not using good judgment could include:

You don’t care that your boss is in a bad mood today. You ask for a raise anyway. You don’t get the results you wanted. You learn the importance of timing.

You exaggerate what happened in a meeting with a co-worker. You find out later that the new employee sitting in on that meeting just so happens to be your co-worker’s sister-in-law. Who knew? Open mouth. Insert foot. You learn the importance of discretion.

It happens to everyone in their careers…not taking the time to use good judgment to get the desired results.

Here are some tips on using good judgment:

Think it through. Don’t just act on the first impulse that comes to mind. Carefully scrutinize the decision that you are about to make or the action that you are about to take. Weigh any options.

Ask questions. Take a moment to ask several questions. Who will this decision impact? Who could I potentially hurt? What are the ultimate consequences of my actions? Is what I have to gain worth what I may potentially lose?

Listen to your intuition. If your intuition (or gut) screams out, “Don’t do it!!” then listen. Your intuition is always right. Your intuition knows when something feels right or not.

Question your emotional intelligence. Daniel Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence looks at human behavior from four perspectives: Self-awareness, social awareness, self-management and relationship management.

Consider others, not just yourself. It’s easy to put a thought, opinion or idea out there. Are you thinking of others rather than just yourself?

Learn from your mistakes. If you realize that you used poor judgment, then learn from the experience. Admit your mistake, learn from it and move on.

Here are a few examples of both good and bad judgment from recent news stories:

ESPN recently awarded its Arthur Ashe Award for Courage to Caitlyn Jenner for having the courage to announce her recent transgender transition. (Good judgment).

Donald Trump is back in hot water after making yet another inappropriate comment that caught the media’s attention, this one claiming that Senator John McCain was not a war hero (McCain was a POW in the Vietnam War). (Bad judgment).

A police officer in Texas forcefully arrested Sandra Bland, a 28-year old African-American woman, for failing to use a turn signal when switching lanes. The officer did not follow proper protocol (bad judgment), took Bland into custody and placed her in jail; later jail authorities found her hanging in her cell. The family has called for an investigation. (Good judgment).

There are positive and negative examples of judgment in the media every day. When you scan these stories, ask yourself “What would I have done differently if it had been me?” You will learn a great deal about your own judgment and integrity. Take the time to make the best decisions you can. In doing so, use good judgment every time, consider the consequences, and you will continue advancing your career.

The Pro’s Code: Be a Positive Role Model

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Part 6 in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 6: Role model: Is a positive influence on others…respected, admired and emulated by others.

USWNT 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Champions

USWNT 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions

You may have met people or even admired them from afar and quietly said to yourself, “I want to be like (insert name) someday.” There was something about that person that made you think that. Most likely it was a specific behavior, skill set or ability that caught your attention. That person served as a role model to you.

Recently, Americans enjoyed seeing some powerhouse role models in action, as the U.S. women’s soccer team defeated the Japanese women’s soccer team on July 5 to clench the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The U.S. team honored two of its veteran players, Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe, by putting them front and center, holding the trophy high at the awards event. These high performers served as role models and leaders to other younger players over the years. The trophy was immediately passed to every team member and coaching staff because everyone contributed to the team’s successful win.

Somewhere out there, young school girls and college players are envisioning their future success. They aspire to be like the U.S. women’s team members and the level of professionalism they each demonstrate both on and off the field.

As a positive role model, you are fully accountable and responsible for your actions, done with intelligence and grace. You are aware that others are observing your behavior, so you don’t make any missteps. For a closer look at what it takes to be a positive role model, read the feature article on this topic in the June issue of my e-newsletter, Q Tips. It may inspire you to be a better role model to the generations following you.

How are you being a positive role model today?