Acting and looking professional is fundamental in getting ahead regardless of your career. While impressive results are counted, employees get a higher chance for promotion if they present themselves well.
Did you know that looking professional is more than dressing well? It also includes habits and mannerisms that make you stand out. In general, professionalism requires several qualities that make a person exceptional. You consistently leave good impressions, and your skills are excellent that people can never ignore them.
In addition, looking professional can boost your confidence. It allows you to carry out duties despite challenges you might face. Your confidence will help you perform tasks efficiently. However, not everyone can present themselves professionally. But fret not! Making yourself look professional does not require any secret potions.
With this article, you will learn how to act and look professional. And as we tackle each method, ask yourself if you are already doing these things.
Dress Properly
We mentioned that professionalism is more than dressing nicely. But it’s a vital component in presenting yourself properly. Dressing wisely is one of the fundamentals of looking professional. If you ask someone how they envision a professional, they often describe someone well-dressed.
Dressing wisely is easy. It doesn’t require you to dress like a movie star, though. You need to dress up according to your profession. Presenting yourself mean that you need to “look the part.” For instance, if you’re a wrongful death lawyer, wearing a coat and tie in meeting your clients is essential. It would boost your credibility and integrity as a law professional.
Answer Calls Politely
Phone manners are a huge factor in looking professional. In most cases, how you answer phone calls can have a massive effect on your career. It might even be the reason why your clients are loyal to you. Besides, customers often create their first impressions by talking to professionals on the phone, so don’t ever blow up your chances.
Your first words during a phone call say a lot about how professional you are. Always answer your phone in a positive tone and avoid sounding lousy. Here are some examples you can try:
- “Hi, Michael speaking. How can I help you?”
- “Hello, this is Crystal. What can I do for your today?”
Be Punctual
Being punctual is also an essential quality to look professional. A person who is always late for meetings and misses project deadlines often stands out for all the negative grounds.
Punctuality indicates that you manage your time wisely. Being late in almost everything will show people that you can’t manage your time correctly, making you seem like an unprofessional worker. Furthermore, failure to be punctual might also be a sign of rudeness as you cause inconvenience to others.
Communicate Effectively
A professional should be able to express himself and communicate efficiently. If you want to be seen as incredibly professional, you need to be an efficient communicator. You will interact with people constantly in the workplace- from colleagues, supervisors, and clients. The better your communication skills are, the better and the more professional you’ll appear to everyone around you.
You can be an effective communicator by being a good listener. If not, you will talk about matters that people don’t even care about. Aim to communicate in the most natural ways, so people can quickly grasp what you mean. Avoid using jargon as these things often confuse people. And lastly, avoid being a show-off.
Project Confidence
Did you know that you can look confident even though you feel the other way around on the inside? That is a method known as projecting confidence. Executing confidence makes others think that you can carry yourself well. It’s also a great way to prevent others from talking ill about you.
Generally, employers prefer confident employees because they can be competitive. Confident people believe in their abilities to do tasks without asking for assistance, which is an attribute that most people see as an advantage. In fact, it’s a skill. It’s as if you possess a unique qualification in your resume.
Genuine professionals are confident because they know what they are doing and work hard for it. So, it’s vital to project confidence if you want to be perceived as a professional individual. Confidence is also a qualification that immediately distinguishes you as a competent employee.
As you can see, most of these tips are easy to implement. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look professional. It’s all about how you carry yourself, interact with people, and perform. If you want to boost your career, make sure to implement these tips the next time you get into the workplace.