Professionalism in the Office

Position yourself as a professional by embracing a positive attitude in the workplace, upholding professionalism, and driving changes through personal accountability.

Define etiquette and professionalism in the workplace, clarify expected professional behavior, and learn tips to avoid the costs of poor etiquette while working effectively for your boss and team.

Define attitude as a settled way of thinking or feeling, and explain how beliefs generate behaviors that express attitude.

Administrative assistants help organizations be as productive as possible. By staying positive, enthusiastic, honest, and respectful, they foster a constructive work environment that supports realistic progress and boosts organizational productivity.

Demonstrate professional behaviors by aligning with colleagues' rhythms, asking timely questions, proactively addressing needs, and viewing customer complaints as opportunities for improvement.

Explore task oriented office behaviors, including interrupting for help, preserving the status quo, delaying other departments, and recognizing patterns to improve professionalism.

Cultivate a positive attitude to see your role as part of the whole organization, visualize potential with coworkers, customers, and clients, and inspire others through your behavior.

Define what a professional is and demonstrate how to project professionalism effectively in the workplace.

Define professionalism as the competence and skill expected of a professional, and distinguish professional practice from amateur work.

Define professionalism as an attitude, not a job description, and show how professionals take work seriously, analyze performance, and share ideas to align with the organization for collective success.

Project professionalism by presenting a well-groomed appearance that fits the dress code, being dependable, maintaining a positive attitude, communicating appropriately, and treating colleagues with respect to build credibility.

Define accountability, develop an entrepreneurial attitude, and practice personal accountability by creating a personal change plan and taking action to implement it.

Clarify accountability as the state of being responsible, and highlight the personal choice to rise above circumstances and take responsibility in professional settings.

Develop an entrepreneur attitude and personal accountability to own your job, go the extra mile, embrace change, generate proactive solutions, and create meaningful work that drives organizational success.

Practice personal accountability by defining your relationship with the organization as a contribution to goals, upholding high quality in every task, and owning the success or failure of your work.

Develop a vision for the future, define what you dream to become, and build an action plan and timeline to implement the necessary changes.

Take action one thing at a time for lasting results. Define simple, active smart goals, post them daily, discuss with others, practice until the new behavior becomes natural.

Position yourself as a professional by examining workplace attitude, beliefs, and behaviors, and apply personal accountability to drive changes through action planning and entrepreneurial attitude.

Enhance your professional image by evaluating your overall presentation, increasing marketability, and understanding how communication shapes your professional presence.

Assess your overall professional image and explore the benefits of a strong, authentic presence in the office. Learn how authenticity informs professionalism and how to update your office skills.

Assess your image to unlock your growth potential in your job by aligning how you see yourself with how others see you, and pursue promotions or bigger responsibilities.

Build a professional image to boost promotion and earning potential, gain opportunities to learn more skills and develop human relations skills, and enhance self-confidence and leadership abilities.

Project authenticity by acting true to yourself to build trust and a strong personal brand. Silence critics, stay positive, seek support from others, and align your traits with what matters.

Update your office skills to boost your professional image, focusing on office administration, technology and software, management, marketing, financial analysis, accounting, business law, and communications.

Develop a more marketable professional image by refining personal appearance, avoiding image-sabotaging pitfalls, and delivering a polished workspace presentation.

Align your personal appearance with your professional role to project a marketable, professional image. Dress simply and elegantly, keep hair and attire orderly, and convey competence.

Project a professional image by wearing clean, appropriate attire and maintaining grooming; avoid sloppy, cheap, worn-out clothing, garish accessories, gum chewing, bad breath, body odor, and blindly chasing fashion trends.

Learn practical tips to project a professional image by wearing clean, pressed clothing that fits properly, accessorizing modestly, and sticking to classic styles while avoiding overly trendy looks.

Maintain a tidy, well-organized workspace to convey professionalism, and keep clutter out with everything in its place. Avoid vulgarity, nudity, or suggestiveness, and do not display pin-up calendars.

Explore in-person communication, nonverbal cues and body language, and how to build credibility through your communication while remaining politically correct.

Develop professional in-person communication by varying tone, avoiding monotone delivery, and presenting messages calmly with appropriate emotion. Listen actively, use names correctly, pronounce them, and be discreet about shared information.

Master professional communication by recognizing nonverbal cues such as firm handshakes, appropriate laughter, facial expressions, active listening, speech rate, posture, gestures, and eye contact.

Review and apply nonverbal communication tips, including gestures, handshake, laughter, facial expressions, rate of speech, posture, and eye contact, to maintain a professional image by practicing each one.

Communicate to build credibility by guarding confidential information, keeping promises, and setting clear deadlines. Confirm promises in writing and promise less, deliver more to strengthen trust.

Maintain a professional image by staying politically correct in tough conversations, respond tactfully when managers are wrong, handle gossip and confidentiality, and raise concerns to the right people.

Enhance your professional image by evaluating your entire persona and avoiding self-sabotage, build marketable skills, and master verbal and nonverbal communication to shape your professional presence.

Expand your skills by sharpening time management skills, mastering project management techniques, and making decisions to enhance professionalism in the office.

Enhance your role as an administrative professional by sharpening office management skills to set a positive climate, prioritize tasks, coordinate projects, and organize resources, boosting overall performance through professional attitude.

Master time management by prioritizing tasks, reducing overload, and planning long-range goals for efficiency; identify stressors, use your phone as a time-management tool, and tips for meetings with your manager.

Schedule regular, 30-minute weekly meetings with your manager, leading a prioritized agenda to discuss time management and tasks, presenting concise details and solutions, and summarizing decisions and next steps.

View your workload as a challenge, not a problem, and prioritize overload by keeping written records of requests and deadlines, negotiating new deadlines, and discussing priorities with your manager.

Map your prioritized tasks to visualize engagement and impact for yourself and your manager, then discuss opinions and seek ideas for the best use of your time.

Prioritize top tasks during peak energy, save routine tasks for low energy times, chunk big jobs into steps, and finish them completely using a timetable or to-do list.

Rate each task's impact on a 1-10 scale and classify into a, b, and c priorities. Schedule high-impact work during peak energy and delegate c priorities to boost productivity.

Group tasks for greater efficiency by batching outgoing messages, drafting replies, stocking supplies weekly, and organizing mail; set regular meetings with assistants and managers to streamline communications and follow-ups.

Identify your stressors to improve efficiency. Eliminate interruptions, last minute requests, unpredictable time blocks, redundant questions, poor communication, irrelevant emails, and a messy workspace to become more effective.

Turn your phone into a time-management tool by asserting yourself, using tactful messages, and preparing notes to stay focused and get to the call's purpose quickly.

Develop a year-long planning document and timeline of reports and projects, identify hectic periods and vacations, and hold periodic planning sessions with your manager to translate long-range goals into action.

Explore project management techniques to work more effectively and efficiently, outlining planning steps and time organization to boost professionalism in the office.

Develop your project management skills and techniques across organizing project from start to finish, enrolling and motivating others, setting measurable goals, solving problems, maximizing resources, and measuring performance with benchmarks.

Plan any major project by establishing objectives, choosing a strategy, breaking work into steps with timelines and performance standards, and setting sequence, costs, staffing, training, and policies.

Stay organized while managing a project by using a comprehensive checklist to define scope and strategies, develop a schedule and budget, assign decision making authority, monitor progress, and finalize reports.

Explore making decisions through six easy steps and rate your decision making skills. Develop practical skills for decision making and improve professionalism in the office.

Master decision making through six steps: gather information, identify options, test options, decide, inform stakeholders and assign responsibility, act, and use feedback to assess effectiveness.

Gather information to become well-informed by talking to other people and reviewing options. Take notes and compare department input to choose the best travel records solution.

Identify options by asking which facts matter and how they align with the organization's values, weighing factors like equipment costs, refreshments, number of program users, and their skill levels.

Test each option against the situation to determine fit and gaps. Jenny finds that one program won't run on all computers or cover categories, revealing the need for another option.

Make a decision, inform those directly involved, and note who is responsible, while explaining that Jenny elected a program that accommodates all travel categories and may require training.

Take decisive action on your decision as the final step, illustrated by a purchase example that shows following through on the choice.

Build feedback vehicles to assess the effectiveness of changes, such as surveying staff before and after software updates to determine whether the decision helped or added challenges.

Rate your decision making by describing a recent decision, whether you gathered information, evaluated options, weighed consequences, informed others, and what you would do differently.

Develop professionalism in the office by mastering time management, prioritization, and project management techniques, using checklists and resources to improve decision making with six steps.

Master effective communication for results by learning the keys to clear presentations and how to host professional, strong meetings with strong communication.

Explore the keys to effective communication, including active listening, reflecting feelings, checking interpretation, showing comprehension, paraphrasing, requesting more information, and listening and responding, with practical steps for practice.

Discover the keys to effective communication by practicing active listening, writing clearly, and mastering verbal and nonverbal communication.

Assess your listening habits by asking yourself about attention, interruptions, eye contact, body language, empathy, and asking questions to learn more and deepen understanding through dialogue.

Take notes and repeat what you've heard to show you're listening and remember key points; stay present, positive, avoid distractions, and build rapport by matching gestures.

Practice active listening by paying attention and staying present, paraphrasing to confirm comprehension, and asking questions to clarify meaning. Summarize what you heard before responding to ensure accurate interpretation.

Learn to reflect feelings in conversations by paraphrasing the speaker's message, asking clarifying questions, and summarizing to ensure accurate understanding and appropriate responses.

Learn to check your interpretation by reading emotions and nonverbal cues—gestures and facial expressions—and paraphrase what you sense, not just the words, to accurately receive the message.

Develop the ability to receive messages accurately by showing comprehension and empathy. Put yourself in the speaker's shoes to understand their feelings, thoughts, and needs.

Paraphrasing helps you capture the speaker's message by focusing on the essence and key points, identifying facts, opinions, and ideas, and using your own words instead of parroting.

Ask open-ended questions to request more information, listen actively with curiosity, stay empathetic and on topic, and put yourself in the speaker's shoes to ensure accurate understanding and next steps.

Summarize the conversation and respond to evaluate it as a whole. Apply verbal and nonverbal responses to the speaker and craft a valid, tactful reply that fosters collaborative discussion.

Practice active listening and constructive responding by choosing positive, concrete language, reframing negative phrases, and focusing on what you will do to engage the speaker and foster dialogue.

Master clear business writing by using short familiar words, avoiding jargon, defining technical terms, and limiting clichés to ensure your message is understood at first read.

Enhance personal and professional communication by learning organizational policies, roles, and procedures. Listen actively, understand others’ perspectives, and adapt memo and email styles while following through.

Learn to use you and I messages to praise clearly and avoid defensiveness, while I messages express personal concerns and invite collaborative, professional problem solving.

Develop confidence in business writing with active construction and simple words. Clearly state purpose of letters and memos, personalize messages, keep file of samples, and proofread for names and grammar.

Boost email efficiency by writing clearly, avoiding confidential missteps, and using concise subject lines; plan on paper, tailor recipients, and reply promptly to keep readers engaged.

Learn to avoid common business writing errors such as rambling, unclear subject, misaddressed recipients, clichés, and missing contact information, and master proofreading for clear, professional letters.

Learn how to convey bad news tactfully by reframing negative messages into positive language and offering a clear plan of action.

Explore effective presentation skills with laptops and LCD panels, and learn tips for video conferencing.

Master effective presentation skills for professional settings by delivering introductory remarks, crafting a clear preview, presenting the body, and reviewing and concluding points.

Deliver concise introductory remarks by getting organized, thanking the audience, and describing the project. Do not apologize for not having a prepared speech; set expectations for a concise, informal intro.

Develop a clear preview sentence of your main points and verbalize them to yourself and your audience using a time-ordered sequence to carry them through project start, status, and future.

Deliver the body of the presentation by walking through each point, establish an organizational pattern, and acknowledge opposing views before presenting your viewpoint to end with a clear position.

Summarize main points for your audience to reinforce the key ideas by briefly restating them and outlining where the project started, where it is now, and where it will go.

Conclude your presentation with a strong positive statement and invite questions, as you express willingness to attend next month's meeting and report a satisfactory project conclusion.

Compare the pros and cons of laptops and lcd panels for presentations, highlighting graphics, quick slide creation, and hi-tech credibility, while noting setup time, distraction, and sensory overload risks.

Use laptops or LCDs effectively by indexing slides for reference and using cascading bullets. Arrive to test equipment, have a backup plan, and engage audience with a remote portable mouse.

Analyze your audience and present bold graphics for videoconferencing. Wear a light blue or pastel shirt, avoid white and patterns, minimize noisy jewelry, and assign an operator to handle microphones.

Set clear ground rules for videoconferencing, including how questions are delivered and how dialogue is hosted. Ensure all participants stay in camera view to gauge engagement and facilitate introductions.

Enhance videoconferencing by using expressive voice and facial cues, checking comprehension, and avoiding distractions. Monitor sound for echoes and use zoom focus to show speakers' facial expressions.

Explore planning for meetings with ten key statements for effective facilitation, and learn what to know before, during, and after meetings when your manager travels.

Plan meetings with a pre-meeting checklist—announcements, agenda, RSVP, directions, and contact details. Arrive early, gather materials, track RSVPs, take notes, and review outcomes to improve future meetings.

Explore ten key statements for effective facilitation that invite input, restate and build on ideas, keep discussions on topic, ensure participation, and review goals and deadlines.

Develop a clear pre, during, and post meeting checklist to support your manager traveling to a meeting, ensuring preparation, execution, and follow-up are organized and stress-free.

Create a trip folder as soon as the schedule is known, collecting meeting dates, transport, lodging, RSVP steps, and follow-up items; review previous folders and arrange needed reservations.

Perform an after action review with your manager to assess meeting arrangements, note data needs, and file the meeting folder with handouts and takeaways for follow-up.

Explore the keys to effective communication for results, and learn how to communicate during presentations, host and facilitate meetings with key statements, and plan for meetings.

Discover how your work personality shapes relationships and networks, learn what networking is, and explore office roles that support building relationships and networking.

Explore how your interpersonal skills and personality affect professionalism in the office, define assertiveness and how to be more assertive, and explain receptiveness and how to be receptive.

Develop your ability to work with others through interpersonal skills, the foundation of every skill, and a positive attitude that spreads, helping you get along and resolve conflict.

Explore your personality by examining assertiveness and receptiveness, two aspects that affect how you deal with other people. Identify how to utilize these traits to interact more positively with others.

Practice assertiveness by being pleasantly direct, honest about what matters, and respectful of others' opinions. Communicate directly and respectfully to juggle duties, gain energy, and perform better.

Develop verbal assertiveness with a firm but relaxed voice and sincere tone that invites collaboration, and use direct eye contact, open body language, and active listening.

Practice receptiveness by staying open to feedback, even from critics, to gain direction and control, improve behaviors, attitudes, and thoughts, and become more assertive and effective with others.

Be receptive in the office by carefully reviewing feedback, considering the giver’s perspective and best interests, and reflecting on how to adjust your approach to align changes with your goals.

Explore how personality shapes your networking style and use assertive and receptive skills to build a network, understand two approaches, and make a good first impression.

Cultivate your existing professional network by engaging with colleagues inside and outside your organization who can advise you and share developments, and learn to build on that foundation.

Explore two network approaches—the direct approach and the indirect approach—and learn how to use them, including when to seek introductions and assistance to connect with others.

Build and leverage a professional network to receive support, advice, and insight on organizations, personnel changes, trends, and opportunities, and to transact business and collaborate to get work done.

Master five keys to making a good first impression in networking: stay positive, research contacts, dress appropriately, position yourself for dialogue, and communicate with care through listening and asking questions.

Build a network and keep it alive by documenting helpful contacts, seeking mentors, sending letters of praise, attending open houses, volunteering, and drawing an organizational chart.

Explore roles in the office and how you and your manager collaborate to understand different roles, build networks, and support and advise one another.

Identify common sources of office conflict, such as organizational structure and aggressive coworkers. Clarify roles and resolve conflicts by addressing facts, assumptions, goals, and methods.

Resolve conflict to boost team understanding and unity, becoming a trusted advisor who strengthens the group. Clarify goals to boost self-awareness and mutual respect, ensuring clear expectations so everyone wins.

Learn six easy steps to resolve conflict: schedule a meeting, use I messages, and listen with curiosity to understand feelings. Collaborate to structure an outcome and agree on next steps.

Build a successful partnership with your manager by empowering yourself with clear expectations, boundaries of authority, goals, regular feedback, and guidance for conflict resolution.

A good manager demonstrates respect and fairness, builds mutual trust, clearly communicates goals, delegates with trust while monitoring progress and providing feedback.

Establish rapport with your manager by understanding their priorities and adapting your style. Act as a buffer, manage communications and key files, and keep them informed while protecting confidentiality.

Establish good rapport with your manager by matching pace, acting as a buffer, seeking out their preferences, keeping them informed, staying within your authority, and loyally managing schedules.

Learn to limit interruptions by holding brief stand-up conversations, assertively saying you are busy, and negotiating deadlines to preserve time and boost daily efficiency.

Learn to ask for help by focusing on task specifics, stating what you need and when, and considering mutual help opportunities that encourage others to assist you.

Explore how assertiveness and receptiveness shape collaboration, build relationships and networks, and apply six steps to resolving conflict for stronger office dynamics with your manager and colleagues.

Position yourself as a professional to enhance your image, expand your skills, communicate for results, and build relationships and networks as part of this course closure.