Characteristics of a Professional Employee

Professional employees set themselves apart from average employees by acquiring and demonstrating professional characteristics.  First, professional employees are action-oriented. Second, professional employees are self-aware.  Professional employees go above and beyond what their employers ask for and expect.  Being action-oriented and self-aware puts any employee at an advantage.

Employees demonstrate professionalism in their career by being action-oriented.  As soon as they are given a task, they promptly begin working on the job.  Not only do they complete the assignment promptly and quickly, but professional employees are thorough and precise.  One important aspect of being action-oriented is taking the chance and risk to become a more valuable asset to the company.  They do not let opportunity pass them by, but take the chance to grow.  If the opportunity results in failure, they learn from their mistakes and continue with confidence (Sundheim, 2013, para. 3).

An important characteristic for professional employees is to be self-aware.  They not only care about their performance but how they are affecting their coworkers.  Professional employees are selfless and will do anything to help others succeed.  They understand not only their strengths and weaknesses, but also their team members’.  A professional employee utilizes strengths instead of dwelling on weaknesses (Farrell, 2011).

            In the competitive business world, it is important to differentiate yourself from others.  You can do so by being a professional employee and having desirable characteristics to employers.  Two characteristics that set professional employees apart from others is being action-oriented and self-aware.  If you strive to develop these characteristics, you will succeed in the workplace. 

References

Farrell, R. (August 3, 2011). 23 traits of good leaders. CNN Living. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/08/03/good.leader.traits.cb/

Sundheim, Ken. (April 2, 2013). 15 traits of the ideal employee. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensundheim/2013/04/02/15-traits-of-the-ideal-employee/