Seven Things That Brand You Unprofessional

Being professional has always meant taking one's obligations seriously, but at one time being professional was also assumed to mean being stiff and formal. A lot of people still have that idea in their minds.

I have been called 'unprofessional' for a lot of silly reasons, like wearing a shade of pink lipstick that someone thought was too vivid, or for telling the truth when no one else in the room wanted the truth to be told.

Gradually I realized that people throw the term 'unprofessional' around for several different reasons.

There are behaviors, of course, that are actually unprofessional and that will tarnish your reputation. We'll talk about seven of them in a minute. 

Sometimes when people say 'That's unprofessional' they mean that something you've done or said makes them uncomfortable. Whatever you did or said might be the most professional thing anyone in your company has ever done!

Professional doesn't mean stiff and staid. It means ethical. It means upright. A profession is a calling, not just a job. When you are professional, you act with the highest standards of integrity and regard for your organization's welfare, not to mention the best interests of its customers, employees and shareholders.

What sorts of behaviors qualify as professional, using our definition? It is professional to tell the truth, especially when it is hard to do so. It is professional to treat your customers, vendors and employees as valued collaborators. 

It is professional to remember that no job title or business card can excuse or give cover to rude or less-than-compassionate behaviors. Going to work doesn't mean giving up your humanity, no matter how fervently people may tell you that it does.

Here are seven things that will brand you as unprofessional -- make sure you're steering clear of all seven!

Dropping Your Commitments

Everyone says "I keep my commitments" but virtually none of the hiring managers and recruiters who tell job-seekers "We'll get back with you in a few days" actually do that. Your word is a heavy thing. It's a big commitment for you to say "Here's what I'm going to do."

You have to actually do it, then. You can't make excuses for yourself. It's very unprofessional to do that.

Blowing off a promise to a job-seeker, of course, is not the only way to shirk your commitments. If you said you're going to finish a report or call a customer, you have to do it, even when it's inconvenient and you're tired. 

Blaming Other People for Your Mistakes

Our client Maggie was seven weeks into a client engagement and running into roadblocks. "The Sales VP who hired me for this consulting gig says the company's Marketing department is slowing her down, and delaying the project," said Bridget.

"I called the Marketing VP just to talk. I didn't throw her colleague, the Sales VP, under the bus. I just asked the Marketing VP what she knew about the logjam and how I could help sort things out.

"She told me a radically different story than my own client did. She told me that the Sales VP had announced at a meeting that our project was on hold for budget reasons.

"She said the Sales VP told her colleagues she had gone over her budget and needed to delay our project to make up the shortfall.

"I can't work that way. I set up a call with my client to clear the air. She blamed her colleague in Marketing again on the phone with me, so I asked her to pay me for my time so far and I closed up the project. She begged me to reconsider but I can't work with someone who blames other people for their mistakes. That is incredibly unprofessional."

 Attending Professional Events Impaired

Alcohol is a social lubricant and often found at business dinners and networking events. Imbibing too much of a good thing is highly unprofessional. Err on the side of caution and drink less than you feel you could.

That way, you won't trash your professional reputation for the sake of a slightly more intense buzz. As much as you may feel that your elevated state improves your decision-making or conversational skills, you're wrong.

Assaulting Other People's Senses

People have five primary senses, and it's unprofessional to invade any of them at work. Don't eat hot food at your workstation, because people don't want to smell what you've cooked for your lunch while they're trying to get their work done.

It's not okay to talk loudly at your desk because no one wants to hear your phone conversations (or your radio, for that matter). If you ride your bike or run at lunch, take a shower before you start working again.

Don't chew the ice in your drink at staff meetings. Your manners prove your professionalism or shortage thereof. Be mindful!

Throwing Your Co-Workers to the Wolves

When someone goofs up at work, you can let them know about the error compassionately. It's never professional to bust people for their mistakes either one-on-one or in a group setting. What if it were you on the hot seat? 

Cutting Corners

They say there is exactly enough time in life to do the things that need to be done. You broadcast your professionalism every time you answer the phone, reply to an email message or do any part of your job, so take the time to do them right!

Everybody knows the annoyance of getting an email reply that makes it clear the person who responded to your message didn't read it. Take a moment, settle down and do your job as thoughtfully as you can, even when you're under pressure.

Badmouthing Your Employer or Its Associates

If you hate your job, you owe it to yourself and your employer to leave. As long as you are employed, you must not criticize your employer to anyone who has or might have a relationship with the firm. It is very badly-brought-up to do so. 

It takes two to tango, and you are part of the dance! Take responsibility for everything that has happened to you and realize that it's all learning. If your boss is a jerk, s/he's your jerk, because you accepted the job! 

Ron Burgundy's sign-off "Stay classy, San Diego!" is good advice even for those of us who live many time zones away. People will remember the way you handle yourself years after they met you. What would you like them to remember you for?

Most people wonder at some point or another whether  their professional manners are up to snuff!

Our 12-Week Virtual Course "Perfect Professional Manners" will give you confidence and polish for your professional advancement!

Join us in the 12-Week Virtual Course "Perfect Professional Manners" starting July 11, 2015 and get our NEW Four-Week Virtual Course "Know Your Worth and Get Paid for It" (a USD $129 value) as a FREE registration gift! 

Reach us with your questions here!