5 Ways To Be Professional Anywhere
I run into different kinds of people everyday, and I notice that almost everyone acts a little bit unique in different situations. While many people try to be nice to others, it seems that they also try to be professional in different areas of life. Many people think that being professional requires one to be in a business situation or be in a situation related to making money. In my view, professionalism has nothing to do with the workplace. In fact, being professional means you act sensible and responsible in every situation, both business and non-business.
I would like to present to you 5 of the many simple ways to be professional anywhere, whether it is your personal blog, to your neighbors, or even during arguments. I think this list will help more of us realize how professionalism can be applied to many parts of our life, and not just business or work.
5 Ways To Be Professionals Anywhere
- Be honest:
Hiding a fact is one thing. Hiding a fact to manipulate someone to their own disadvantage is a completely different thing. Being honest means you do not lie to others, and that you do not try to manipulate others without their knowledge, to their own disadvantage, by keeping them in the dark about something.
- Do what you say:
This can be noticed on many blogs and in the offline world, where many people will make promises and then later either not keep them, or fulfill them in ways differently than originally proclaimed. Some people even pretend to do what they say by simply preaching others repeatedly about good things, like telling others to be honest or to appreciate others.
- Focus on both your and other’s well being:
What many people both in the offline and online worlds do not realize is that being in a situation where two people are doing a trade does not mean you have to focus only on the money you can make. You also have to focus on what you are giving to the other person to ensure that the other person gets a fair deal too. If you pretend to offer a fair deal to someone else, when in reality the deal is only fair for you, you are not being professional. Many online blogs and businesses today make a lot of money, but they are not professional as their customers and readers are getting nothing but an illusion of a fair trade.
- Be respectful:
Being respectful means not hurting the other person’s character or personality directly if you have the chance, even if the other person hurts your character or personality. If you disagree with someone for any reason, you focus only on disagreeing with arguments, not with people who disagree with you. If you want to disagree with someone or something, you express your frustration without forcing the other person to become frustrated on purpose.
- Not getting too personal:
Not getting too personal involves not divulging unnecessary information from your end, and not asking for unnecessary information either. Telling someone how your boyfriend/girlfriend had an argument with you can be an answer to a question “How did he/she argue with you?“, but telling someone bad things about your boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s friends and family can be too much information. Similarly, if someone you meet for the first time only wants to be your friend but you want an intimate relationship right away, that is getting too personal. Getting too personal also involves asking too many personal questions just because you are bored or you want to make a conversation.
That is my list of 5 of the many things that make you a professional person. Professionalism is a word that seems to stem from the concept of having a profession, but professionalism itself is not limited to any profession or even the idea of having at least a work place. In theory, you can be professional anywhere, anytime, no matter who you are or what your age is.
What is your opinion on this? Can you think of something else that can make a person professional, or more professional? Do you think being professionalism means you must have a job or a profession, and that you must be in a business or job related situation?
Thank you for reading. 
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( June 2nd, 2007 at 8:12 am )
I agree on all of the 5 ways to be professional, especially the 5th one. That is EXACTLY how I am. I don’t like to be “nosy” to people/friends that I don’t know too well. I’m like that, and sometimes it’s a good thing, and sometimes it’s not. Well, according to some people I know… Like how I don’t want to ask certain questions to certain people, but they say that it’s nothing at all, and it isn’t too personal, but I think differently… I’m like that, so I guess it’s a good thing?
( June 2nd, 2007 at 2:17 pm )
SP, thanks for sharing.
I like the concept of realizing when one is being “nosy” and when is genuinely interested for valid or useful, relative reasons. However, many times, people simply do not care about others and use the idea of not being too nosy to say that they do not want to ask too much personal information. Again, the perception of such a thing is relative too.
( June 2nd, 2007 at 9:59 pm )
I think asking general personal questions is okay as long as the need to respond is clearly voluntary.
I would add to your list - language. What you say, says more than what you mean.
Years of education and experience melt-away in the aftermath of poorly chosen words. Don Imus is, perhaps an extreme example, but a good melt down by anyone can ruin a professional appearance. Profanity, racism, and slang can also undo the impression given by a well tailored suit.
Anyone can act in a professional manner, but few do it often enough.
Great list - I love 5 point lists (See my Squidoo lens Don’t Eat the Steak - here)
( June 3rd, 2007 at 4:09 am )
Roger Anderson, thank you for the comment. You are right; language is indeed very important. The way things are said and what is being said can be more important than what one intends to say. Personal blogs can be good examples of this, since many personal bloggers use words loosely and assume that the supposed light-nature of their blogs will automatically help in conveying the appropriate message to the readers.
Emotional outburst, though completely human, can be taken as a sign of not being professional. Other things that may do the same are extreme or non-typical views about topics like same-sex marriage, pregnancy, and even politics. I like the last part of your comment: in real life, we can all proclaim that we are professional, and we may even act like one for a few hours during work, but in reality, very few people actually live their entire lives, or even a whole day, being professional. It can be so easy to act for a few hours, though it can be more than hard to actually be something all the time.
Thanks for the link; I have bookmarked it. Your lists look very interesting and informative. I may end up buying your book, by the way.
Thanks for visiting and for your comment, I really appreciate it.
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