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Professionalism In The

Workplace

Lynn Lawrence, CPOT, ABOC, COA, OSC

Communication

• While attending a marriage seminar on communication, David and his wife listened to the instructor declare, “It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other.”

• He addressed the man, “Can you describe your wife’s favorite flower?”

• David leaned over, touched his wife’s arm gently and whispered, “Pillsbury All-Purpose, isn’t it?”

Overview Cont…

• Define Professionalism

• Determining who is a Professional

• Elements of Professionalism

• Hindrances to Professionalism

• How to instill professionalism at work

• How to get others to see you as a professional

Professionalism

• Webster: the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or professional individual

• Lynn: someone that has learned a skill, understands it’s importance, and continually strives to improve upon it through education and on-the-job training

• Sports, medicine, law, technical skills,

When you fail the entire profession takes a hit!

Professionalism is:

• Having an awareness of how your actions, body language, and words affect others

• Being accountable for one’s action

• Learning to master skills of the trade

• Leading by your example

• Having a passion that cannot be stopped

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Professions

• have a body of knowledge, scope of practice, agreed upon values, oath or code and accountability to our society for their profession and their professional behavior.

Professionalism

• Describes a certain type of behavior in the workplace

• Based on our values and understanding of our professional roles

• Evidenced in our behavior

• Becoming an expert

Where do we start?

What does professional mean?

• An occupation requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation

• Conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession

Who Determines

• No one can tell you if you are a professional

• You can work in a profession and not demonstrate the traits of a profession

• Doesn’t matter what you actually do, you can do it professionally

• You determine if you want to be viewed as a professional

How professionalism is judged

• Against a set of expectations or standards

• From our own personal values set and understanding of what “professionalism” means

• May be situational in nature

• Strongly influenced by culture

Elements of Professionalism

• Education and training (credentials)

• Participation in a professional organization

• Attitude (determines altitude)

• Knowledge of responsibilities

• Knowing limits of responsibilities

• Determination

• Appearance

• Communication (upward, downward, lateral)

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Professional is judged through:

• Our Image

• Our Communication

• Our Competence

• Our Demeanor

Appearances Matter You Are A Team Representative

From the Patient’s Perspective

• Trustworthy

• Competent

• Empathetic

• Respectful

• Caring

• Commitment

• Accountability

Our relationships with patients:

• Therapeutic context

• Safety, trust and ethical behavior are foundational

• Relationship has boundaries

• Vulnerability of patients and the imbalance of power

Treat patients like your favorite family members

• I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area. So I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. 'Now,' she asked me, 'Has your plane arrived yet?'... (I work with professionals like this.) ***They Walk Among Us!!!!!!!!***

From the Co-Workers Perspective

• Trustworthy

• Competent

• Supportive

• Respectful

• Accountable

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Body Language Functional Trust

• All people have an equal need for respect

• Respect is the basic foundation of all healthy personal relationships

• Each team member is equally important

• Each team member’s work is equally important

Mutual respect • All people have an

equal need for respect • Respect is the basic

foundation of all healthy personal relationships

• Each team member is equally important

• Each team member’s work is equally important

Hindrances • Not knowing your job • Poor communicator • Failing to understand the

impact of actions • Poor decision making • Poor language • Personal conduct on and off

the job • Not keeping current with

trends in profession • Dress and appearance • Poor or Bad Attitudes

Professionalism is NOT!

• Blaming others

• Waiting for others to take the lead

• Bringing drama to situations

• Losing your composure

• Making excuses

• Letting your ego take over

• Having a bad attitude

It’s your attitude

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Deal with the Storm Professionally Developing the Staff

• Ensure everyone is learning something all the time

• Ensure everyone understands what is expected and what is at stake

• Establish efficient lines of communication

• Instill an atmosphere of teamwork

• Identify all stakeholders

• Accountability is a must…documentation!

Others/You Professionalism

• Train

– Tell, show, watch, agree

• Look the part

• Speak the part

• Communicate the part

• Always be aware

• Get feedback

• Practice at home

Personal Professional Development

• Don’t wait for someone else to train you

• Don’t work for an office that is professionally blocking your dreams and goals

• Don’t make excuses, make plans and stick to them

• Get involved in your future…develop career path to success and follow it…

• Find others to get involved in your future

• Become an expert

• Don’t forget, it is your future

Be Convinced That You can

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Ways to Develop Your Professionals

• Examine what you want…be the example

• Set clear borders

• Teach staff how to learn

• Find great examples

• Educate, educate

• Explain office values

• Teach tactical/ strategic thinking

• Create an environment that encourages development

• Develop a clear advancement plan

• Find out about staff personal goals

• Write down the career path/review quarterly

Treat others with CRS

Recognizing Professionals

• Professionals are always learning

• Professional conduct demonstrates learning

• Professionals are focus on the profession

• Professionals connect with the profession

• Professional know what they are doing

• Professionals look, talk, reflect their roles

• Professionals are loyal to the profession with in their actions

• Professionals look for ways to advance the profession

• You never have to look for a professional

Professional Issues • National roles and functions

of the professional…get involved

• Liability and malpractice

• Conduct, confidentiality, and ethics

• Hygiene and Infection Control – Asepsis

– Cross contamination

– Sterilization

Character

• "Character is the firm foundation stone upon which one must build to win respect. Just as no worthy building can be erected on a weak foundation, so no lasting reputation worthy of respect can be built on a weak character."

— R. C. Samsel

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Character Cont…

• "People do not follow uncommitted leaders. Commitment can be displayed in a full range of matters to include the work hours you choose to maintain, how you work to improve your abilities, or what you do for your fellow workers at personal sacrifice.

• — Stephen Gregg

Chairman and CEO of Ethix Corp

Ok To Have Fun in Context

Terrorist Fun

Be responsible for you Stay In Your Lane

Honor Your Job

Take Care of Yourself

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7 Steps on How to go Interview • Step 1 Learn the basics and make

a positive impression

• Step 2 Know who you are and what you can do

• Step 3 Do your homework and come prepared

• Step 4 Answer key interview questions with ease

• Step 5 Handle tough questions with confidence

• Step 6 Follow up

• Step 7 Negotiate your way to a fair salary

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later. Og Mandino

Keep positive perspective Be Responsible

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Quote

• One day I had to be the bearer of bad news when I told a wife that her husband had died of a massive myocardial infarct. Not more than five minutes later, I heard her reporting to the rest of the family that he had died of a "massive internal fart."

martralyn@msn.com

http://lynnslecturehelp.wordpress.com

Thank you very much…

Bless you all…