id Dunlap

Discussion Topic – Characteristics of a Professional

Hello once again Professor & class,

            Professionalism is a word that encompasses a lot of different meanings and may have different expectations associated with it, based solely on an individual-to-individual basis. However, many of us can identify what we consider to be a “professional” based on some of his or her characteristics. For example, many of you would probably agree that a professional is someone who is acknowledged as a specialist in their respective field. Or, a person who has gone above and beyond the average person to refine their skills and to improve their chances of success. Similarly, many of us see a professional as someone who has succeed or one who is successful in what they have set out to do.

            For me, the foremost important professional characteristic is image. A professional is someone who dresses appropriately, whom is well-groomed, and who has an air of confidence that reassures us that they know what they are doing (Smith, 2014). Although stereotypical, many of us would probably much rather deal with someone who looks professional rather than someone who does not but claims to be. One should be able to identify you as a professional and as such feel comfortable in seeking you out.

            Second, expertise – or communication skills which exhibit them. By expertise, I don’t mean speaking mumbo jumbo techy-wiz stuff. I mean an individual who shows an understanding of the subject matter in which he or she practices and the ability to communicate it back to me. For example, if I were to call and ask when an auto shop opened up and the employee said “I don’t know.” I would not consider them a professional for the simple fact that they do not show any knowledge of the business. Or, if they do, they have no demonstrated it by acknowledging my question with a clear and concise answer. A professional, to me, would be someone who is willing to state that they do not know, but also, is willing to find out for you.

Third, self-regulation. Which is the ability to handle an escalating situation. All too often, we find ourselves overwhelmed by emotion or pressure. It could be for any number of factors, however, the idea behind self-regulation is finding the ability to professional handle that situation by staying calm, keeping your business-like demeanor, and doing everything in your power to make things right again (Smith, 2014). And, if needed, re-directing that individual you are having issues with to somebody else who can better handle the situation.

            While these characteristics can be applied to just about any field, I find that these three in particular are especially important in Information Technology and as a computer/network technician. For me, I wouldn’t want the guy sitting at my desk, fixing my computer, to smell funky or to be dressed inappropriately. It’s extremely important to be make those around you feel comfortable and trustworthy. Also, going back to expertise, it’s important to demonstrate your knowledge of the system without making the other person feel inferior or stupid about it. If they ask you a question, you should be able to answer; but until then, try to keep things simplistic and easy to understand so they know what’s going on while you work. Finally, it can be frustrating trying to work on a system or get a network backup when you have someone, or worse, your supervisor breathing down your next. But it’s important to realize and to remember that they are depending on you and they rely on your skills to do their own job. Thus, keeping self-regulation is important for not only keeping your professional presence; but also, for keeping your job!

–          Dave

Reference

Smith, C. (2014). Professionalism – Developing This Vital Characteristic. Retrieved November 13, 2014 from: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/professionalism.htm