What is a professional? What are the core elements of professionalism? And what comprises a person who is seen as a true professional in hearing health care settings? Definitions of and opinions about professionalism abound. Journalist Chris Joseph shares an insightful reminder: “Being a professional in your chosen field means much more than wearing a lab coat and possessing a college degree and a license to practice, or an important title. Many people in this world boast those outward appearances but do not function as professionals. And, when we meet them, we remember who they are. Professionalism has to do with how one conducts oneself during and after business hours.” Business and personal image management coach Yasmin Anderson-Smith, who has written extensively on the topic, points to the influence of physical appearance and performance in shaping one's professional image. In many cases, health care professionals are judged based on their professional image, which results from their physical appearance, behavior, and performance when serving patients. In the “Professional Seminar in Audiology” that I teach to doctor of audiology students each year, I discuss what I refer to as the “two-minute rule”: Patients—or potential patients—and their families develop their first impression of a health care professional within the first two minutes of seeing or meeting one, and that first impression is difficult to erase. They may observe our appearance, our way of greeting them including eye contact, our manner of speaking, our grooming, and other factors that vary by individual. They may have never received our services, but that two-minute appraisal may determine whether they would want them. Thus, I often remind my students and colleagues: “We only have one chance to make a first impression!” While comprehensively defining professionalism is not easy, I've outlined eight key characteristics to keep in mind in practicing professionalism even during challenging times. Humility: Professionalism is not ego-oriented. Some of the most famous, rich and successful people in the world may be among the most kind, modest, and unassuming people that anyone would have the pleasure of knowing. A study published in the Journal of Management found that humility in the workplace empowers employees and helps build a culture of engagement and innovation (J Manag. 2015;49[2]:014920631560418). Respect: Probably one of the most important characteristics of professionalism involves respect—remembering that people appreciate working with or being served by those who make them feel respected. Professionals are deemed so because of how they conduct themselves and how they treat their colleagues and those they serve Competence: Professionals work to become experts in their field. Over the summer, we had a carpet layer in our house installing new carpet in one of the rooms. He had 30+ years of experience in carpet laying, and he worked with confidence and competence. The result was absolutely perfect. He didn't have to tell us that he was a professional; he demonstrated professionalism and competence in his demeanor and skills. Work Ethic: All professionals including audiologists, speech-language pathologists, etc., must adhere to a strict code of ethics and professionalism, which includes guidelines in communicating with patients and providing services, punctuality, among others. These must be demonstrated even if their company or clinic doesn't have a written code of conduct. Consider reviewing the code of ethics from these professional audiology groups: https://bit.ly/3d6L8uX and https://bit.ly/3nsqbj0. Confidence and Poise: Even under highly stressful conditions, professionals approach situations and people with patience and respect, while demonstrating confidence in their expert knowledge and skills that everything will be fine. Appearance: Professionals must maintain neatness and good hygiene. Exhibiting a lack of concern about one's personal appearance does not inspire confidence in those we serve. Know and observe your workplace dress code. Workspace tidiness: Your office or cubicle should be kept clean and tidy. The neatness of your workspace says a great deal about your ability to preserve order in your professional services. Phone and email etiquette: Phone and email messages must be responded to as quickly as is reasonably possible. Delayed or no response is a sure giveaway that the recipient evidently did not really care to respond. Always respond in a prompt, respectful, and courteous manner, no matter who the response is being sent to. Thoughts on something you read here? Write to us at [email protected].
