Today’s working world is a complex and confusing one. In a world where freedom is cherished and individuality encouraged, knowing how to be a successful professional can be difficult. Believe it or not, there are still some unspoken standards even in 2019. They may be a little bit different than they were ten years ago, but they do still exist. A lot of employers still look at certain things in a work environment. What are those hidden things that make someone more professional? Even though fashion and culture changes, there are still areas that are timeless and still hold value in the working world. There are three areas that you can focus on to become a better professional: attire, mentality, and talk. Now, there may be more, but these are the foundation of becoming successful in a career.
Professional attire is an important aspect because it effects your first impression. This is especially significant when interviewing. There is an art to looking professional. Some things are simply timeless and can make a great first impression. For women, proper coverage is a must. You can look great without showing too much. Today, sexual harassment is a big issue in the workplace. If you are showing off too much, that might stand out to them negatively. The same goes for wearing clothes that are far too tight. This can be another red flag. Again, you can look good and professional, just be careful. Have class and leave the weekend outfit at home. Men have it a little easier in this aspect, however they still need to dress appropriately for the job. If your dress code is jeans and a polo, make sure you wear clean and wrinkle free clothes! If you must wear a suit and tie, make sure things match. Wearing clothes that clash can be seen negatively no matter where you work. You want to look like you care about your appearance, and the job you do. Stay classy.
What you wear says a lot about your personality. It can be fun to personalize what you wear; just remember the impression you want to give off. If you want to be a professional, you must look the part. First impressions are a big deal in the business world, and it can be very difficult to undo a bad one. You don’t want to reveal too much about yourself at once. Leaving some room for mystery is a good thing. It allows for conversation. One last thing about attire – know the context. You will dress differently for different occasions. Know what you are getting into and what is expected. Knowing your audience will give you insight on how to dress.
Let’s move on to mentality. Having a professional mentality will set you apart. Going into your career with the right attitude will help you meet your goals. If you go in to work everyday with a poor attitude, that is going to show and rub off on your coworkers. Displaying negativity will not get you anywhere! The same goes for laziness. If you want to be successful in what you are doing, you have you be self-motivated. No one will do your work for you. Do the work and reap the rewards. It’s worth it. Laziness kills your career. Complacency makes you stagnant which kills your goals. Don’t let yourself sink into this mentality! It will destroy you. Even more so, it will hurt those around you. Your mentality will affect other people’s as well.
Having a positive attitude doesn’t mean being the office sunflower. You don’t have to be something you’re not. It simply starts with your own self talk. If you don’t like where you are, make goals to go somewhere else. Tell yourself “I CAN” and “I WILL” rather than letting negative thoughts float around unchecked. You can control your attitude! Grasping the concept of self-talk will empower you more than you know. Remember this: if you think positively, you will act positively.
Lastly, lets cover professional talk. By talk, I not only mean office conversations by the coffee pot, I also mean the conversations you have with superiors and how you conduct yourself. This goes together with your attire and your mentality. Professional talk is the culmination of everything else. It is the output. When thinking about talking professionally, consider what people want to hear about. Your superior doesn’t want to hear through the office grapevine what you did last weekend. Keep your conversations productive! If it doesn’t help you reach your goals, don’t bring it up. Your job is your job for a reason. Your home life is separate. Now, you don’t have to be completely isolated. You can have good conversations without going too far. Know the balance between pleasantries and too much information! This might be the number one problem social media has created. The divide between personal life and professional life has become blurred because everyone always has access to everyone. You can be different. You don’t have to follow that pattern.
Sexual harassment was brought up earlier, and I want to review that again. Since the #MeToo movement, sexual harassment has become a major concern for employers. People have to be very careful in the way they talk at work. What is funny to you may not be for someone else and that could come back to haunt you or even cost you a career. Be careful with what you say to people in the workplace. Not everyone has the same morals and background and could take offense to something you mention. I am not here to say what is sexual harassment and what isn’t. All I want to make sure I make clear is that anything you say in the workplace can be used against you. Don’t give them anything to use!
Professional culture is a moving breathing thing. It changes and adapts with the world around it. It is important to keep up with what is valued in a career environment. While you should never change your values for superficial reasons, you should be aware of what is going on around you. Being a professional in today’s world is challenging. There are new demands, new policies, and ever-changing opinions. If you look the part and dress for your own success, check your own mentality and talk the talk, you will meet your goals. It is possible to succeed, and it is simple. Work hard, look your best and speak with purpose.
Studentity 