Being A Professional

Being A Professional

Managing Time and Career

Information gathered by Lucy CampanisRevised by Mikki MeadowsEIU School of Family & Consumer Sciences

What Does It Mean to“Be A Professional”

You can become a professional by……….• remaining current in the field,• developing new knowledge and skills,• upholding ethical practices,• presenting an appropriate image, and• separating the personal from the

professional.

Managing a CareerPrinciples for a successful career:• Understand the culture of the organization• Learn the power structure• Show loyalty to the organization• Know all the people

around you• Acquire the special

skills needed for your specific job

• Choose mentors carefully• Set achievable goals• Decide what needs to be done• Go the extra step in your work• Keep people informed of your activities• Make your supervisor’s job easy• Be in the right place at

the right time• Work effectively with

colleagues and co-workers

• Be independent

• Learn to cope with workplace conflicts• Be a good learner• Be a good listener• Understand the competitive system• Adapt to change• Assume a positive attitude• Give praise where due• Always be well prepared• Present a positive and carefully

planned image

• Practice positive self-management• Develop consistent work habits• Remember the bottom line• Emphasize professionalism• Remember that perspectives differ

If you don’t manage your career someone else will manage it for you!!!

Stress Management• Stress

– Pressures, mental strains, physical strains, and tension

• Stressors– Conditions, circumstances,

and situations which cause stress

Symptoms of Stress• Nervousness• Tense Muscles• Headaches• Stomach Pains• Insomnia• Irritability• Lethargy• Short Attention Span• Boredom• Poor Concentration

Office/Work Stressors• Pressures of daily routines• Relations with co-workers• Working long or irregular hours• Mismatch between the person and the

job• Dealing with clients• Office politics• Deadlines

Home Stressors• Family relationships• Economic and financial matters• Conflicts in personal values• Lack of communication• Differences in preferred

lifestyles– activities, roles

Burnout• Results from extreme stress

• Job becomes unbearable

• Inability to achieve goals becomes overly frustrating

• Those most likely to burn out are the hard-working, dedicated, idealistic

Steps for Managing Stress• Work off stress• Talk about your worries• Learn to accept what you cannot change• Avoid self-medication• Get enough rest and sleep• Balance work and recreation• Do something for others• Take one thing at a time• Give in once in a while• Make yourself available

Other Stress Management Techniques

• Slow down and try not to take on too many projects and responsibilities

• Learn to accept people and be more patient

• Look for the humor in situations

• Learn to relax and simplify things

Time Management• Keep a schedule• Plan activities in advance• Establish goals and priorities• Set completion dates• Divide and conquer• Take on one thing at a time• Learn to make decisions in a timely

manner• Learn to say “No”• Establish “Do Not Disturb” periods

• Schedule special time periods for different activities

• Use peak times for priority work• Reduce paperwork• Delegate responsibilities to others

when possible• Fight against

procrastination• Exercise self-discipline

and self-management