Senior business leaders are often the ones younger professionals look to for how to conduct themselves. And no matter how long you have been in business, it’s likely that you’ve seen someone handle himself in a less than professional manner. Whether it was a lack of etiquette during a business lunch or dominating a conversation, an associate’s lack of professionalism can negatively influence any organization.
Setting a good example and behaving in a professional manner will allow younger employees to focus on what it takes to succeed in today’s business world. To ensure that you are setting a proper example, your friends at Dale Carnegie Training of Central & Southern New Jersey have listed below three essential tips to be mindful of.
1. Dress for Success — In most office environments, corporate dress code prohibits shorts or excessively tight and revealing clothing. Also, safety issues may preclude the wearing of open-toed shoes or high heels.
Assume that younger professionals will look to you to learn what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to office attire. As a general guideline, always remember that you not only represent your company, you also represent what the company or corporation will allow or disallow.
2. Maintain Professional Qualities — While standards of business professionalism may vary by industry and company, basic values lie at the core of professionalism in every industry. Conducting yourself in a manner that reflects integrity, credibility, promptness, accountability and competence will show younger professionals that the organization is uncompromising in adhering to these values.
3. Remember That You Are Being Evaluated — Anytime you interact with others in and outside of the office, you’re always being evaluated for how you conduct yourself. This includes your superiors as well as younger professionals. Thus, you always need to be prepared for challenges, pressure and stressful situations, and show that you can handle them with calm professionalism. Stay aware of your actions and maintain a professional image while you are at holiday parties, networking events, client and vendor meetings and internal meetings.
Remember, you have worked long and hard to attain your stature in the organization, and younger professionals want to fill your shoes someday. By being mindful of your attitude, competency, and understanding of core values, you will maintain a perfect example of business professionalism and instill the proper values in those who want to emulate you.
For more information on senior leadership in business, join us for our program, “How the Best Senior Leaders Pave the Way to Engagement,” being held in Hamilton, NJ on June 19.
This post is brought to you by the good folks at Dale Carnegie Training of Central & Southern New Jersey. We would love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter @CarnegieJersey.
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