Category Archives: Professionalism

The Pro’s Code: Be Trustworthy

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Part 5 in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 5: Trustworthy: Holds confidence with others; never talks out of turn, never gossips or talks about people.

Eleanor Roosevelt Credit: Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill

Eleanor Roosevelt
Credit: Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill

Thank you, Eleanor Roosevelt, for your profound statement:

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

Some of my most memorable conversations have occurred in the sacred space of meaningful dialogue, where I allowed others to openly share their thoughts and ideas and I did the same. It wasn’t small talk, chit chat or gossip. It was the meeting of minds on a new terrain of discovery. I came away from the conversations energized, uplifted and thinking differently.

To be trustworthy means that when people share information with you in confidence, it  remains in confidence; you tell no one. You have an uncanny ability to judge for yourself what is or is not appropriate to share. The professional who shares information in a confidential setting and then upholds that confidence commands respect from peers. If you begin a sentence with, “Let me share a little secret with you” or “You’re not supposed to know this but…” or “I heard that…” you dismantle your level of trustworthiness. Think before you speak or simply close your mouth and wait until you have something meaningful to say.

To be trustworthy also means that you do not engage in idle gossip. Gossip is the re-telling of a tale with an added negative spin. Don’t initiate it and don’t get pulled into someone else’s drama or ill feelings. If gossip that is generated by another person makes you feel uncomfortable, you have two choices. First, name it. “When you talk about Sarah this way, it makes me feel uncomfortable. I would prefer to talk about something else.” Second, redirect the conversation: “Tell me about your recent trip to Australia.” The person will get the message over time that you are someone who does not share a love for gossip.

Employers value employees who are trustworthy. In the workplace, defamation of character, which includes libel (false written statements) and slander (false spoken statements) can be grounds for dismissal or worse, legal action. Best to keep any negative thoughts to yourself and keep your job.

Don’t jeopardize your reputation and harm your credibility as a professional. When you  think certain thoughts and are eager to share those thoughts with others, ask yourself these questions:

Are my comments appropriate or inappropriate?

What do I have to gain by sharing these thoughts? Is it worth it?

How do my comments position me as a professional?

In building a reputation as a trustworthy professional, consider your behavior. You have more at stake than you may think. Following Eleanor Roosevelt’s lead, only you can determine if your mind is small, average or great.

The Pro’s Code: Be Selfless, Not Selfish

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Part 4 in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 4: Selfless, Not Selfish: Puts the other person’s needs first.

Happiness-doesn’t-come-through-selfishness-but-through-selflessness.-Everything-you-do-comes-back-around-300x300How different would the world be today if more business leaders thought about other people’s needs when making important decisions rather than just thinking of their own? You know the answer. The world would be a far better place.

The most impressive professionals that I have either worked with directly or whom I have admired from afar are those who consider everyone’s needs, not just their own. Their world view is broader and more inclusive.

This past week was a busy one for blockbuster news stories, many of which encouraged us as Americans to broaden our national conscience, to be more selfless, not selfish.

Marriage Equality: The Constitution supports equality, all types of equality, for all people. The pursuit of happiness is one example. With the Supreme Court’s ruling that same-sex marriage is now legal in every state nationwide, people who were previously denied the right to be married simply because of their sexual orientation are now able to make a legal commitment to their partner. Many American companies welcome – and extend benefits to – the partners of their gay employees. Those companies have it right.

Immigrant Equality: Donald Trump was “trumped” by NBCUniversal because of his overgeneralized, derogatory comments about Mexican immigrants. As a result, NBCUniversal announced that the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants (partnerships between Trump and NBCUniversal) will no longer be televised by that network; also, NBC is seeking a new host of the popular program, The Apprentice, which Trump has hosted since its inception. How do you – and your company – treat immigrant workers (not just from Mexico…from every country)? Do you welcome them or treat them like second class citizens?

Race Equality: The issue of racism is very much alive in America and has been for centuries. For anyone who says that racism does not exist, encourage that person to sit and have a conversation with any person of color – African-American, Latin-American, Asian or Native American – and ask if it exists. It just may change their perspective. An excellent series of interviews entitled Racism in America: How Did We Get Here? appeared on the popular PBS-TV programs, Bill Moyers Journal and Moyers & Company. Many companies today offer diversity programs or committees to tackle these issues in the workplace. How well is your diversity initiative working? What suggestions for improvement could you make?

Overtime Equality: Expected sometime this week, President Obama hopes to present a new rule that raises the current cap for overtime pay (current cap is based on a salary of up to $23,660/year; proposed cap would be up to $50,440/year). This rule secures overtime pay to employees working more than a 40-hour work week. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal (remember that from civics class?) guaranteed Americans who worked more than 40 hours per week overtime or time-and-a-half pay. Rules have been relaxed in recent decades mostly in the retail and restaurant industries where adding the title of “supervisor” often doesn’t increase the pay to workers who work on average 50-60 hours per week. Do you value the additional time your employees put in? Do you extend appropriate compensation to those who have earned it?

To demonstrate professionalism requires confidence, compassion and grace. To move your thinking, your company’s thinking, and the national conscience forward requires acts of kindness, inclusion and selflessness.

The Pro’s Code: High Standards and Ethics

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Part 3 in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 3: High business standards and ethics. Maintains high standards and quality in all work.

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert

Professionals who have the greatest influence are those who aspire to high business standards and make ethical choices and decisions. They hold themselves and others accountable to the same level. Consistent behavior and actions through honesty, authenticity and trust guide the professional to become a person of integrity.

It’s not just the excellent quality of work that people do; it’s how they conduct themselves with others that sets them apart. How would you answer the question, “What standards do you operate by?” What would make it to the top of your list?

Lack of ethics or low standards have been an ongoing topic of conversation for more than two decades, with the likes of Enron, Bernie Madoff and countless others making the headlines through bad behavior. Now, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is in the hot seat. He faces allegations of making false statements to the FBI and being in violation of federal banking rules. His actions hid the real reason for making $1.7 million in payments of a total promised $3.5 million (now known as “hush money” to an unnamed source to cover up an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student while he was a high school coach and teacher more than 25 years ago). When given an opportunity to tell the truth, then tell the truth. The more that is fabricated, the bigger the lies become and the greater the severity of punishment or charge.

Here is a man who reached one of the highest offices in the country and appeared to operate by a solid code of ethics. The sexual abuse case isn’t even under investigation; rather, the financial case is being scrutinized by federal courts…it’s how he paid the money that set off red flags. The irony? Hastert helped to put the Patriot Act rules into place. Clearly, this case is creating thought-provoking conversations in business and law schools  across the country, as students ponder the all important topic of ethics.

All too often, people who get caught in a web of deceit and lies forget that ethics has no double standard. You can’t be unethical in your private life and ethical in your business life. It doesn’t work that way. You are either ethical or you are not. When you try to play the double standard, it eventually catches up with you.

Consider your own ethical beliefs and practices. Are you a person of integrity? How do you practice ethical behavior each day? Who among your colleagues are you holding accountable to higher standards?

The Pro’s Code: Credibility

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Part 2 in a series on professionalism.

Criteria 2: Credible. Has integrity and follows through on what has been promised.

CredibilityBookCoverAs a professional, you work hard to establish and maintain a certain level of credibility in the work you do. If you have no credibility, you have nothing at all. Why, then, do people who call themselves “professional” keep ending up in the headlines doing stupid stuff that dismantles their credibility? The answer: They aren’t really professional.

On the topic of credibility, I rely on the wisdom of James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, authors of the book, Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It. Kouzes and Posner have conducted longitudinal studies on the topic of leadership for more than 30 years. My dog-eared copy of the book was added to my business library since it first hit the market in 2003. If you haven’t read this seminal book, then visit Kouze & Posner’s website, The Leadership Challenge, and order a copy of the 2011 Second Edition, along with the companion Strengthening Credibility: A Leader’s Workbook.

Kouzes & Posner asked people what specific behaviors they appreciated in leaders they most admired. Four key traits were revealed:

1. Honest

2. Forward looking

3. Competent

4. Inspiring

Combining the three traits of honest, competent and inspiring leads to what Kouze & Posner call source credibility, meaning that people believe you. This is the true essence of credibility. Each of these behaviors reflects an emotional connection. They represent how admired leaders make people feel.

dolezalSpeaking of honesty…in the news recently, Rachel Dolezal, (now resigned) president of the NAACP chapter in Spokane, Washington, lost all credibility as her true race, Caucasian, was revealed. She used a few props to portray herself as an African-American woman: An assortment of hairstyles and wigs, adjusting her skin tone to appear “black-ish” as some news commentators quipped, and posing with an older African-American man who she claimed was her father. When asked by an interviewer if she was African-American, she paused and responded, “I don’t understand the question.” What’s not to understand? You either are or you are not. She never admitted the mistake she made, nor did she apologize for lying to and misleading NAACP Spokane chapter members, the national NAACP organization and the general public. Remember, too, that the NAACP, both the Spokane office and the national office, have also lost credibility. Vetting someone takes a few seconds; in the click of a mouse, you can learn just about everything you need to know about that person. The NAACP selection committee would have understood her background better and known she was not qualified as a person of color to lead or represent the organization.

In Matt Laur’s interview of Rachel Dolezal on The Today Show, when asked about how differently things might have turned out if she had been more transparent, Dolezal said, “Overall, my life has been one of survival and the decisions that I have made along the way, including my identification, have been to survive and to um, you know, carry on in my journey and life continuum.” It got me thinking about two things: 1. Wouldn’t it have been neat to have Al Roker as the interviewer? I love you, Matt, but… 2. Dolezal’s motives became more apparent to me when she used the word “survival.” Ponder that one.

Back to Kouze and Posner’s book on credibility. In a section entitled “Scandals, Betrayals, and Disillusionment,” they say, “The most common reasons for the decline of credibility are the most visible.” In Dolezal’s case, her own visibility – both physical and professional – is the pivotal reason for the decline of her credibility. The truth simply caught up with her. Had she been transparent from the beginning, about her identification with (rather than her portrayal) as a member of) the African-American race and culture, her future may have looked a little different.

Credibility is one of those intangibles in life that can change from moment to moment. The credibility that you enjoy today has taken years to build. Why risk throwing it all way? Protect your credibility; it is one of your greatest assets. It is built on the foundation of your personal/professional character, and your competence as a professional. Never compromise your credibility.

 

The Pro’s Code: Respect

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RespectWelcome to Summer School. It’s the time of year when you either get caught up or you go above and beyond. This Summer, I am sharing my Professional’s Code of Ethics, which contains 14 criteria – topics – of what it takes to be a professional. Where appropriate, I will reference positive or negative examples from the media of these criteria “in action.” Pass the information on to people who can benefit from the wisdom. Share the topics or spark a dialogue with your boss, team or co-workers. Throughout the series, challenge your level of professionalism and help others to elevate their own.

Criteria 1: Respectful of others and oneself. Respect is on the top of the list for a reason. When you respect yourself first, then you can respect others.

How differently would people behave if they first thought “I respect you” or “I respect myself” before they took action? The workplace – and the world – would be significantly improved if we took a little time to think that. Our culture teaches us to be more inclusive and respectful.

In their study, What Is Your Quality of Life at Work? researchers Tony Schwartz and Christine Porath, with the Harvard Business Review, surveyed about 20,000 employees worldwide. They measured four basic needs in the workplace: renewal (physical), value (emotional), focus (mental) and purpose (spiritual). Of those surveyed, more than half (54%) indicated that they did not get respect on a regular basis from their leaders. When employees felt respected on the job, they were 55% more engaged in their work. When you show respect to the people you work with, it makes a difference in engagement, performance, satisfaction and retention.

Whether or not you support Caitlyn Jenner’s recent decision to become transgender, you can still respect her for making that important, life-changing decision. You may work with, live next door to, or meet a transgender or an LGBT person. What consideration are you showing? Respect that person for who he is or who she is. When the internet exploded with comments about how Caitlyn Jenner resembled Jessica Lange, Lange commented, “That’s so wonderful.” What a class act. She showed respect.

The true professional is that person who respects others and oneself.

How do you communicate respect to others?

How do you demonstrate inclusion of others?

 

You Are What You Meet

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Aurelien Rigart

Aurelien Rigart, Saint Flo

As a professional, you attend many public events, community functions and business trade shows. How do you show up to those events? Are you investing the time to make a favorable first impression with other professionals or are you there just for the freebies? Whatever you choose, it shows.

Last week I attended a popular annual business expo in my area. Being fully present in every encounter, I was more mindful of my actions. I enjoyed meeting  business owners and company representatives. I exchanged several business cards, registered for a few giveaways, received a few free items and enjoyed a few snacks along the way. The key word here is few. I also reconnected with some colleagues I hadn’t seen in a while. Throughout it all, I shared meaningful conversations. When I reflected on my time at the business expo, I realized that I had truly enjoyed myself because I brought purpose and mindfulness to each encounter. I wasn’t just exchanging small talk and business cards with vendors just to load my free bag with free stuff. I was selective about who I spent time with. As a result, I can remember every face, every name and every conversation.

If you attend public functions just to load up on free goodies, you’re missing one crucial point: People are observing your behavior and watching you as you approach them. They are examining your body language and listening to your words. They are gauging your level of interest in them, their product or service. They know that there are many prospects and new contacts that they can begin building relationships with in that first minute of the conversation. All they want is an opportunity to make a connection with you.

How do you “show up” at public events? Are you engaging, dignified and professional while talking with people or specific vendors who you want to meet? OR Do you walk around the event with a bulging bag of free stuff and spaghetti sauce on your chin? What first impression are you making? Choose wisely.

Opulent Positioning Strategy Backfires

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Ben Terris, The Washington Post

Applying my signature mantra “Everything I do positions me” to the recent resignation of Senator Aaron Schock (R-ILL) over extravagant spending habits causes me to ponder the question, “What were you thinking?”

In Senator Schock’s case, it was the over-the-top opulent design of his Capitol Hill office that caught the attention of the media, other politicians and his constituents back home. Was this how a senator’s office was supposed to look? Wasn’t it a tad bit too much? Who paid for the furniture and expensive decorative items?

Certain expectations come with the role of a public servant. The greatest of which is how you best represent the needs of your constituents. Your number one priority is to ensure that the voices of the people you represent in your district are felt, heard and presented. Taxpayer dollars are expected to go towards important issues, like education, job creation and health care, not office furnishings or an extravagant lifestyle. Even though the interior designer donated her services, that act also has faced scrutiny from Capitol Hill, questioning if that donation broke some ethical rules.

The foundation of our democracy – the Constitution and the Bill of Rights – reminds us that individualism – and self-expression – is celebrated as one of our greatest rights. However, there are certain norms and standards that apply to public servants. Beyond the Downton Abbey-esque decor of his office, Senator Schock also had gained a reputation for a flamboyant, ostentatious lifestyle, often posted on social media. (Lady Violet would have never approved of the red walls, by the way The sexy pose on the cover of Men’s Health?. You’ll have to ask her personally at her Twitter account, Dowager Countess).

violet_dowager_countess_of_grantham_downton_abbey_maggie_smith-thumbI have nothing against Downton Abbey. I am a huge fan, so much so that my husband and I transformed ourselves into ghosts “Lord and Lady Creepy Crawley from Downton Abbey-Normal” for a friend’s Halloween party last year. But I digress…

The young, 33-year-old Senator Schock was viewed by many in the Republican party as a leader with a bright future. That future does not look so bright right now because of some poor choices he made during his rise to the top. If he had considered my mantra, “Everything I do positions me,” things might have been a bit rosier for him.

Maintaining positioning power and credibility are achieved through understanding  what is expected of you in a specific role or position and appropriately living up to the standards and ethics of that role. The moment you push the boundaries too far, you expose yourself to risk. The next time you are considering a bold move, answer some important questions: How much of a risk are you willing to take? What are the potential consequences of that risk? Is taking that risk worth it? Those are questions only you can answer.

A Real Pro Uses Good Grammar

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Screen shot 2015-03-02 at 3.49.01 PMOne of the most powerful tools that positions you as a professional is your command of the English language. That includes use of good grammar in all forms of communication. The next time you submit a resume to a prospective employer, give it one last review before submitting it. Grammatical error is a top reason why candidates do not get invited to an interview. Instead, the resume goes right into the round file.

In celebration of National Grammar Day (today), I encourage you to set aside SpellCheck for just today and challenge yourself to read, review, analyze and pick apart what you have written and see if you can find those nasty grammatical errors without the help of modern technology.

To me, the most offensive grammatical error is the misuse of one of the tiniest words in the English language, its (which includes it’s and its’). I just received a news release from a colleague announcing a milestone event. In the first sentence, there it was, plain as day: “…celebrated it’s anniversary…” Like hearing nails on a chalkboard, my body began convulsing at the mere sight of it.

Professionals today, many of whom are college educated, even with advanced degrees, do not (sadly) know the difference among its, it’s and its’. So let me lay it out for you here once and for all.

It’s: As you learned in elementary school, an apostrophe indicates a contraction, like she’s (she is), isn’t (is not). In the case of it’s, this contraction stands for either it is or it has. Therefore, when you read a sentence and insert the words it is or it has and it does not make sense, then it requires no apostrophe because it is not a contraction. Case in point: My colleague’s news release should have read: …celebrated its anniversary.

Its: As stated above, its is a possessive form, showing ownership, not requiring an apostrophe because the meaning would change to what we’ve covered above. Think of other pronouns showing possession that all end in s, like his, hers, yours, ours.

Its’: Well, this is just plain silly. This does not even exist, so stop using it.

As you can see, there are only two correct solutions: it’s or its. It’s that simple!

With my pet grammatical peeve out of the way, consider the interesting twists and turns built into our language that only you, the composer, can control. Do you know the difference? They’re or their or there. Read or red. Hear or here. Make sure you’re (not your) selecting the correct word or your (not you’re) level of professionalism may slip a few notches. A misplaced apostrophe may seem small, yet it can have huge impact, like not getting a chance to interview for that job you really wanted. Imagine that.

Please, Thank You and You’re Welcome

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thankyou1-424-x-283Three simple polite expressions are missing from our culture these days: Saying “Please,” “Thank You” and “You’re Welcome.” Yet, these statements are so simple to say. They don’t require any extra energy…just some thought. For me, being polite became rote from the time I was a child. My parents taught me well.

There is a distinct difference between “Pass the peas” and “Please pass the peas.” Adding “please” adapts a command to a request and extends a common courtesy to the other person.

I recently facilitated a training program for a client. As I was distributing a handout for a special assignment, a participant said, “Thank you.” I stopped and said, “Thank you for saying thank you.” She replied, “You’re welcome.” She was taught well.

While visiting a longtime friend, her ten-year-old daughter said, “Thank you.” A few minutes later when I thanked her, she said “You’re welcome.” Her mother taught her well.

There was a time when exchanged pleasantries like these were common place. They were part of our cultural norm. We gave them no thought because everyone had been taught Manners 101. I long for those days when people extended simple courtesies to one another.

While attending a meeting recently, I ran into a man who I hadn’t seen for more than 20 years. He said he would like to get together some time to talk about getting into the kind of business I am in. Then he said, “Do you have a minute to sit and talk now?” We sat down. One hour later, after presenting a great deal of useful information to him, I wrapped up our conversation. He said he appreciated my time and gleaned many good ideas from our time together. A few days passed. A week, two weeks passed. Nothing happened. He never sent a simple thank you email. He sent me no handwritten thank you note. He never extended a small gesture of any kind. What is an hour of someone else’s time worth when you are on the receiving end of valuable information that will shorten your learning curve? To me, it’s worth – at minimum – a follow-up thank you of some kind.

How often do you add “Please,” “Thank You” and “You’re Welcome” to your everyday conversations? When someone goes above and beyond and delivers real value to you, what could you do to show your appreciation? Consider doing something more. At minimum, a simple thank you email or note positions you well. Giving a $10 Starbucks card to someone who has helped you somehow goes a long way in positioning you as a thoughtful, grateful person who valued that time spent together.

Gen X and Y: Dress Like a Pro

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IScreen shot 2014-06-04 at 7.52.48 AMn 1978, John T. Malloy wrote the classic book, Dress for Success. The primary message from the book was this: Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have. For the younger generations X and Y, think of where you want to take your career, and dress the part.

It was a warm summer day. I entered the corporate headquarters of a highly successful IT company, checked in with the receptionist and waited for the staff person to escort me to the meeting room. Before she arrived, I heard a sound all to common in more casual work environments today: Squeak. Click. Squeak. Click. Squeak. Click. She was wearing – you guessed it – flip flops. She was an attractive young woman, recently graduated from college, with all the potential for dressing professionally.

flip-flopAs I scanned the rest of her attire, I quickly realized she was dressed more for the beach than for the work environment. Her skirt rose about 8 inches above her knees. Her tight top revealed way too much cleavage for 7:30 in the morning. I found myself wondering: How far will this young woman get in her career? Does she not see how other people may perceive her? If she’s not dressing professionally now, will people advance and promote her?

I fully understand that some work environments welcome casual attire. For some, beachwear is completely okay and even encouraged. My first impression of this company, though, fell down a few notches that day. When meeting and greeting people from outside the company, you still want to make a positive first impression. With this young woman, she was impressing me in a certain way, and it wasn’t good. I thought to myself, If I owned this company, I would never allow my employees to greet vendors or clients this way.

There is a very thin line between what is acceptable and what is not acceptable professional attire in the workplace today. I err on the side of conservative. I remind young women that a close-fitting skirt (which most are these days) will creep up an average of three more inches when you sit down. You don’t need to be a math whiz to know where that skirt is going to end up! For young men, I encourage them to either own an iron and learn to iron their clothes or take them to the cleaners each week. Nothing destroys a positive first impression more than a wrinkled shirt and pants on a young man. If you think that the steam from your body as you exit the shower will magically press out the wrinkles in your shirt as you put it onto your body, you’re wrong. Only an iron will do it. So buy one!

With Baby Boomers retiring in great numbers in the years to come, a rather large window is opening up for Generations X and Y to move up the ladder of professional success at a much more rapid rate than we Boomers did. For Gen X: Dress the part and serve as a positive role model for the generation behind you. For Gen Y: Think about where you want to go in your career. Then take a look at your wardrobe. If you’re still dressing like you’re in college, it’s time to upgrade. There is nothing more attractive than young people who take their jobs seriously and dress the part for the career positions they want.

Question: How does your wardrobe position you in your career? Are you dressing like the future leader you want to be?