Being A Professional

1. Being A Professional Managing Time and Career Information gathered by Lucy Campanis Revised by Mikki Meadows EIU School of Family & Consumer Sciences

2. 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.

3. Managing a Career Principles 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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!!!

7. Stress Management • Stress • Pressures, mental strains, physical strains, and tension • Stressors • Conditions, circumstances, and situations which cause stress

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

9. 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

10. Home Stressors • Family relationships • Economic and financial matters • Conflicts in personal values • Lack of communication • Differences in preferred lifestyles • activities, roles

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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