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The importance of having a professional attitude

The way you act at work has many long-reaching effects; attitude is one of the most defining factors in the workplace. Your attitude directly determines the quality of your work relationships, which affects your productivity level. In the long term, it can make or break your overall success within an organization, for instance by impacting on factors such as pay raises and promotions.

At some point, everyone has to deal with co-workers who display poor or unprofessional attitudes. They don’t invest themselves in team projects, gossip about co-workers, complain about the boss or show up late and leave early on a regular basis. Even if you dislike your job, displaying a professional attitude is important because it shows your employer, colleagues and even clients that you take your job seriously. Maintaining a positive, professional attitude creates a more productive work environment, helps you maintain a healthier, more positive perspective and contributes to increased job satisfaction.

Your attitude consists of both internal and external components. The internal component mainly involves the way you view the world, while the external components involve the ways you display this view to others. In the workplace, a professional attitude means that you have the ability to effectively manage your time, act in an ethical manner, show determination, act and think creatively, appreciate diversity, manage conflicts effectively and display emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence means you don’t let your emotions control you — you learn to control them. This helps you better manage stressful or heated situations with poise and calmness.

Displaying a positive professional attitude requires you to think about and decide how you want to be perceived by others. You try to leave your personal concerns and cares at the door when you arrive at work. You dress appropriately and show up to work on time. You are cordial and friendly to your co-workers, respectful to your supervisors and helpful and professional toward customers. When conflicts with co-workers or customers arise, you stay calm and try to help solve problems with an understanding, nonjudgmental attitude. You avoid prejudice or judgment when working with people from ethnical backgrounds or religions different from your own. You keep your emotions under control as much as possible and try to maintain as much of a positive and productive frame of mind as possible, even under stressful circumstances.

There are inevitable moments when everyone loses their cool and appears unprofessional or stressed. The most important point is to try to refrain from letting these moments regularly affect your everyday attitude.