By Gerardo Herrero Morales
Instructor of International Negotiation | Entrepreneur | Director of Training and Strategic Consulting
“Professional. It’s not a label you give yourself. It’s a description you’d like others to say about you.”
—David Maister
Does your company have a “Ten Commandments” of professionalism?
If not, perhaps you know someone in your workplace who you consider the epitome of professionalism.
They probably stood out to you for specific traits that made them different from everyone else.
You could likely count on one hand those who you’d describe as 100% professional. There are several notable traits:
1. Punctuality
Not just arriving on time, but always following through on promises — delivery dates, goods, or tasks due to internal or external clients.
2. Quality
Their reports and presentations are impeccable — free of typos, easy to understand, with accurate and reliable data.
3. “The Show Must Go On”
Like stage actors who perform with energy even after a bad day or personal tragedy — their audience never notices.
A professional at the office or workshop moves forward like a warrior, despite inner hardships.
4. Assertiveness
Picture the perfect English butler: discreet, always truthful, yet tactful and careful not to offend.
Highly observant, they speak up at just the right moment without dominating the conversation or seeking attention.
They don’t follow the crowd when it’s wrong.
5. Emotional Intelligence
They stay centered, even in heated internal or external debates.
Their body language exudes confidence and composure. They keep a cool head and avoid rash decisions, gathering and comparing information before weighing pros and cons.
6. Fairness
They treat everyone equally — not belittling those below them, nor flattering those above.
They focus on the message, not the messenger.
7. Integrity
You could trust them with your house keys, the company books, or banking passwords.
They’d report income and expenses down to the last cent.
They tell the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable.
They don’t hide mistakes or shift blame. Instead, they explain what they learned and their action plan to prevent recurrence — because they’re still human.
8. Up-to-Date
They’re a go-to person — a resource for advice.
Professionals know they don’t know everything.
They seek internal and external training.
You never have to beg them to attend a workshop — they’ll be the first to arrive, asking sharp questions.
And if their company won’t fund it, they’ll pay out of pocket, knowing that jobs aren’t forever and they must stay ready for new challenges.
9. Image
They dress modestly but neatly, and care for their appearance.
Their desk is tidy, their inbox clean and current.
They define the next day’s priorities the night before.
10. A Whole Person
They invest time in family, physical health, and spiritual well-being.
They’re involved in community decisions.
They never neglect their “inner child” — they have hobbies, play with pets, travel, read, meet with select friends, and know how to enjoy life.
This list may seem difficult to attain, considering the effort required.
But remember: your level of professionalism determines your personal income and that of the company you work for.
The future will only grow more competitive — not less.
There are more traits that define a professional, but for now, here’s a challenge:
Assign 10 points to each of the above categories — 100 points total — and create an action plan to reach them.
Professionalism isn’t something you can buy. Strangely, it’s not taught in school or university.
It’s barely mentioned in the workplace.
It’s a forgotten skill — and that means it’s up to us to make it a personal decision.
Add comment
Comments