Call him a Pro or Professional. You don’t need not look for him among the elderly in the society or organisation. It is not even all about the experience though this is also very important. So, what image comes to mind? It is the portrait of a person with special training or skills in a particular field that makes him act or perform a piece of work as if he knows everything. He masters the act of achieving results in his endeavours. A professional concentrate on a particular field of human endeavour and give all energy to staying relevant.
You probably hear somebody say, he is a professional photographer or fashion designer. That erases the notion that the skills and expertise of professionals can be gained only in a formal education environment. That is not always the case. Training in the two areas mentioned can both be within a school system and under a trainer. Notwithstanding, those that emerged from years of studies at higher institutions are often associated with a governing body registered by the national government for regulation the profession. They have sets of rules guiding their operations, and members are supposed to comply accordingly. Others have associations though less formal than the later and maybe less subjected to rules and regulation.
A professional is not supposed to act in the realm of the ‘unknown’ in meeting the needs of customers, but this does not mean he should be assuming when he does not ‘know-how’. Therefore, he may need to work with professionals in his or other fields.
He is proactive, always looking out for solutions to emerging issues. This will be a means of personal development to demonstrate his worth. A Pro should also be responsible for his actions and choices, more generally, his decisions.
As a professional, you should be able to act more than expected and must not be an island of knowledge – get to know more and share what is known to increase the reservoir of knowledge and stay relevant.
A combination of competence, confidence and belief in business processes will increase ‘trust-worth’, which invariably will leave a lasting impact on the customers. He should be a two-way actor in business processes. That is, pay attention to customers’ needs and be able to give appropriate feedback. He needs emotional intelligence to get this done and communicate effectively. By doing this, you remain organised to address issues as they come to light.
As you make efforts to be at your best, you will be operating on the path to staying proactive, relevant and organised. Do share your take and experience in the comment section below.
ThePro 