PROFESSIONALISM IN THE WORKPLACEKimberly Brown-Harden

Professional Development Office

Indiana State Library

PROFESSIONALISM???!!

What is professionalism?What does that mean for me??

PRO·FES·SION·AL·ISMPRƏˈFESHƏNLˌIZƏM/

Professionalism: the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person. 2. the following of a profession (as athletics) for gain or livelihood. (Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed.)

The level of excellence or competence that is expected of a professional. (http://www.businessdictionary.com/)

ARE YOU A PROFESSIONAL??

PROFESSIONAL

 of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession

engaged in one of the learned professions  (1) :  characterized by or conforming to the

technical or ethical standards of a profession (2) :  exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace

UNPROFESSIONAL

not professional; not pertaining to or characteristic of a profession.

at variance with or contrary to professional standards or ethics; not

befitting members of a profession, as language, 

behavior, or conduct. not belonging to a profession; nonprofessiona

l. not done with professional competence.

PROFESSIONALISM IN THE LIBRARY IN TWO PARTS…

APPEARANCE: IMAGE IS WHAT WE PROJECT….

PROFESSIONAL RULE #1

If you have to think about whether something is appropriate to wear to work, it probably isn’t and you should wear something else.

Part 2: Workplace Conversations

Who are the people in your neighborhood??

ETHICS:

The social principles, goals, or standards held or accepted by an individual, a class, a society, culture, etc.

ALA CODE OF ETHICS: As members of the American Library Association, we

recognize the importance of codifying and making known to the profession and to the general public the ethical principles that guide the work of librarians, other professionals providing information services, library trustees and library staffs. Ethical dilemmas occur when values are in conflict. The American Library Association Code of Ethics states the values to which we are committed, and embodies the ethical responsibilities of the profession in this changing information environment. We significantly influence or control the selection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information. In a political system grounded in an informed citizenry, we are members of a profession explicitly committed to intellectual freedom and the freedom of access to information. We have a special obligation to ensure the free flow of information and ideas to present and future generations.

MORALS..

concerning or relating to what is right and wrong in human behavior

based on what you think is right and good considered right and good by most people :

agreeing with a standard of right behavior

PART OF BEING A PROFESSIONAL IS BEHAVING ETHICALLY:

“Ethics means something more than ‘law’ and ‘morals’; it carries an additional connotation

of ‘rightness’.”

Breaking the law: can earn a fine or jail time Breaking a moral: can ruin your reputation Breaking an ethic: can ruin your conscience

It’s possible to break all three, simultaneously!

CODE OF CONDUCT :

an agreement on rules of behavior for a group or organization.

A set of conventional principles and expectations that are considered binding on any person who is a member of a particular group.

VETERANS:

Indiana is at the national average, 9.3%, in

veterans living in the state. About 9.6% of adults 18 and over have served in the military.

Porter County has 11,934 veterans living in the county; Chesterton has 932 in the city.

POVERTY:

Porter County has 10.4% of individuals living below the poverty line.

Chesterton has 9.6% of individuals living below the poverty line.

The state and national average is 14.5% for individuals.

SENIORS:

About 12.9% of Porter County residents are 65 and over; 5.5% are 75 & over.

About 11.7% of Chesterton residents are 65 and over; 4.7% are 75 & over.

The average age of Porter County is 38.8; average age of Chesterton residents is 36.1

GRADUATES

About 30.1% of the city of Chesterton’s residents 25 years and over are high school graduates. Porter county’s rate is 35.2%.

About 25.4 of Porter County residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and 30.5% of Chesterton residents hold the same credentials.

DIVERSITY

APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE CONVERSATIONS

Why should some topics be avoided at work?

What other topics should be avoided at work?

INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE

In a recent survey, 40% of business owners say they swear on the job even though 80% believe it is unprofessional.

BORDERLINE WORDS

Suck Crap Gay Retarded Pissed Ticked

PROFESSIONAL RULE #2

If you have to think whether a word or subject is appropriate for work, it probably isn’t and should be saved for a time away from the library.

UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR Behaviors that threaten positive and productive relations with

other people, constitutes uncivil behavior. You can be uncivil without meaning to — for instance, you simply assume that what’s acceptable in one social context (at the bar or at home) is acceptable in your current work environment.  Conduct that could be characterized as harassment or

discrimination. Verbal threats of violence, retribution, or lawsuits. Verbal outbursts. Inappropriate physical touching

or contact. Arguing in front of customers,

clients and families. Physical actions that threaten

others such as throwing or knocking down objects. Insults, verbal comments, or criticism intended to belittle or

berate others.

PART THREE: HOW TO WORK

Work or not work??

ON THE CLOCK

Ready to work when shift starts, on time for meetings

Work until the job is done Sometimes you are caught up Timesheets

TALKING AT PUBLIC SERVICE DESKS

Keep it short, work related Everything we do or say means

something to the patrons

REMEMBER THAT PATRONS ARE WATCHING

One thing I’ve learned from spending a lot of time in libraries over the years is that patrons are supposed to whisper and respect the right of others to read or study quietly.

[An Indiana library] may be the noisiest I’ve ever experienced — and

it’s because of the library staff! Someone should teach them to whisper. They are equally loud whether they are checking out books, making personal telephone calls or gossiping about their colleagues. Does everyone really need to know who they went to dinner with last night? Respect your customers, keep the noise down.

-August 31, 2010 Letter to the Editor

PROFESSIONAL RULE #3

If you have to think whether the activity you are doing would be considered “work,” it probably isn’t.

Part Four: Representing the libraryYou are the face of the library!

WELCOME TO THE LIBRARY!

PLACES YOU REPRESENT

In person & around town

On telephone Meetings and

conferences Online Listservs Email Social Networking

PROFESSIONAL RULE #4

“If it’s ever been posted or transmitted

electronically, assume it is forever.”

PROFESSIONALISM AND RESPECT

…for your workplace ...for your coworkers …for yourself …for your patrons

WRAPPING IT UP..

“Meticulous adherence to undeviating courtesy, honesty, and responsibility in one’s dealings with customers and associates, plus

a level of excellence that goes over and above the commercial considerations and legal requirements.”

QUESTIONS??

SOURCES:

http://factfinder.census.gov/ http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrel

ationships/a/dress_code.htm http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

professionalism http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/

professionalism.html

SOURCES

Bowman, Richard. 2013. “Understanding What it Means to be a Professional.” The Clearing House, 86: 17-20, 2013. EBSCO host (accessed June 30, 2015).

Gotskill, Gina. 2011. “Your Best Foot Forward: Image in the Workplace.” T + D, September 2011. EBSCO host ( accessed June 30, 2015),

Krinn, Keith. 2011. “What is Professionalism?” Journal of Environmental Health, 76:3, January/February 2011. EBSCO host (accessed June 30, 2015)

Stanley, T.L. n.d. “Professionalism: the Key to Success.” Supervision. EBSCO host (accessed June 30, 2015)

SOURCES• Adubato, Steve. 2010. "Consider your message before you click 'send'

button." njbiz 23, no. 29: 11. Regional Business News, EBSCOhost (accessed September 7, 2010).

• Bemis-Dougherty, Anita. 2010. "Professionalism and Social Networking." PT in Motion 2, no. 5: 40-47. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed September 3, 2010).

• Nancherla, Aparna. 2010. "On Their Best Behavior." T+D 64, no. 4: 28. Health Business FullTEXT, EBSCOhost (accessed September 7, 2010).

• Reddick, Ellen. 2009. "Are you your professional best?." Enterprise/Salt Lake City 39, no. 1: 9. Regional Business News, EBSCOhost (accessed September 7, 2010).

• Samuels Gibbs, Adrienne. 2009. "Diamonds last forever; e-mail does, too!." Ebony 65, no. 2/3: 34. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed September 3, 2010).

• Stafford, Diane. 2009. "Tirades show cursing is everywhere these days." Kansas City Star, The (MO), May 26. Newspaper Source, EBSCOhost (accessed September 7, 2010).

• Tyler, Kathryn. "Generation Gaps." HRMagazine 53, no. 1 (January 2008): 69-72. Corporate ResourceNet, EBSCOhost (accessed September 7, 2010).

Activity

SCENARIO 1: A patron comes up to the desk and asks if

you can help her with something on Facebook. You don’t like Facebook, and you don’t think it should be allowed in the library. You also don’t know how to use Facebook, so helping them isn’t really an option. What should you do?

SCENARIO 2: It’s 10 minutes until you have to start

shutting down the library for the evening. It has been slow all night, and you don’t think anyone will be coming in between now and then. All of a sudden, you see your most dreaded patron entering the building. If you shut down your workstation right now, you can get out of helping them. Otherwise, you are going to have to try and help answer her strange and difficult question in a short amount of time. What is the best way to handle this?

SCENARIO 3: You hear a coworker and his friend talk

about a patron who frequents the library. It is well known around town that the person is bipolar, and he often goes off of his medication. You hear the words “crazy,” “weirdo,” and “lunatic” in the conversation. This conversation bothers you because you don’t think a staff member should talk to a patron about another patron, and you don’t know if other patrons are listening. What should you do?

SCENARIO 4: Ugh! Your supervisor has told you that while

your new flip flops with the big flower on them are cute, you can’t wear them to work. She didn’t give you a reason why, so you guess it is just because she is being mean. You think about venting about this on the Awesome New Librarians listserv. Should you or shouldn’t you? Are there other steps you can take to resolve the situation?

SCENARIO 5: In the staff lounge, there is heated argument

about how your congressman voted on a particular bill. Some staff agreed with the vote, while other staff are asking how anyone could have voted for him. Voices are being raised, and the conversation is not constructive. Is there anything you can do to diffuse the situation?

CONTACT INFORMATION

Kimberly Brown-Harden

Professional Development Office

Indiana State Library

317-650-8492

Kbrown-harden@library.in.gov