The Art of Professionalism
It may have been said about catching flies, but did you know that honey is more effective than vinegar at catching business? I’m occasionally surprised at the way professional adults sometimes conduct themselves when confronted with a challenging situation. The art of professionalism is a hard one to get, even for the best of us, and can be particularly troublesome when circumstances make tactful respect a hard pill to swallow.
We are all too busy. We have planners and iPhones with jam-packed schedules, wireless gadgets attached to our heads, and too many emails to reasonably read in one day. We have collectively grown to think that anything beeping at us requires immediate attention. With so many distractions, we have more to deal with than we should, and often our nerves at their wit’s end. The results can sometimes be a snap at the wrong person; a mistreated customer or colleague, or ineffective communications that get you nowhere.
Here are a few simple tips to help you maintain a ‘nicest guy on the business block’ reputation while maintaining your professionalism and business goals…
- Don’t send an email to ask the recipient to call you. Pick up the phone yourself. We all have too many phone calls to return and too many emails to check. If you need to talk to someone, seek them out.
- Be specific in email subject lines. A simple two-to-five word answer is ideal: “Need to reschedule”, “new marketing project plans”, or “details on Friday’s lunch meeting”. Don’t type your entire message in the subject line, but give enough that a quick glance gives the basic details. If your readers have to scroll to see the whole thing, it’s too long and will never be read.
- Unless you work in an industry where your timing can be life-saving or life-threatening, don’t answer your phone during a meeting with a vendor/client/employee/boss/… or anyone. It’s a quick way to make the person you are meeting with feel less important and appreciated. Always give your full attention to the person in front of you.
- Want your voice mail returned? Leave details in your message about why you called, and provide enough detail that a response can be made without your involvement. You will be surprised at how many answers you get when there is an answer to be given. Voice mail that leaves only a simple request for a call back will always be placed at the bottom of the pile; ‘This is Bob with ABC Inc., call me back’ will usually not receive a response. Good voice mail is courteous and effective.
- Don’t string anyone along. It doesn’t matter if your answer is ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘please don’t ever call me again’. Be upfront (respectfully, of course) about your intentions. Everyone else’s time is just as important as yours. Don’t waste it.
When we neglect to give others the consideration they deserve, we position ourselves in the most unflattering light imaginable. No one can imagine willingly turning away business, but we risk offending, or at the very least annoying, potential clients and other business associates when we lack professionalism.
Do everything you can to obey the golden rule and start enjoying the fierce loyalty and respect you will receive from everyone you encounter when your approach is professional and respectful.
Update: The folks at SnappConner PR have republished this article with permission. Check it out on their blog at http://snappconner.com/2008/10/03/the-art-of-professionalism/
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You’re right on, Allison! It all seems so simple, yet we all fall short on these important points too often.