Being a professional is a very good recommendation to get from your customers. During the years I have been working with hundreds of different business people, some are professionals some are not. I have always liked very much working with true professionals, although I have not always liked the people personally.
Clearly, professionals have to be team players; they understand that the effort demands everybody’s input. Therefore they also respect other member’s of the team and are willing to share – ideas and time.
So how do you earn a professional status? Yes, it has to be earned, you cannot buy it, there is no specified exam for a professional status – you just have to earn it. From my experience the following attributes and attitudes are attached to true professionalism:
- They know their business, both in theory and in practise
- They have gained experience, successes and failures
- They are determined to get things done
- They can communicate clearly, both in speech and in writing
- They understand how their job is linked to the big picture
- They are business oriented
- They value time – their own and others
- They think first the job and then themselves
- They have good self-esteem but they know they can always learn more
- They are open to new ideas
- They have good sense of humour
- And they always have a professional attitude
This is a long list and not all of the professionals I have worked with do have all these attributes. But they have most of these and that is the reason why I like to work with the professionals. The professionals never mix their personal feelings to the job they are working with. As they say in the movie Godfather: “This business, nothing personal”.
If possible, I always try to find professionals to work with. I do not have to like the people personally – although that can be an added bonus – but I know the work will be done, professionally.