While “showing up” can be one of the most disempowering tropes of workplace culture, its meaning is evolving in the new workplace culture. The new professional appearance is all about the power of individual character. How you act, how you communicate, and how you address others around you can have a profound impact on your perception in the workplace, and the influence you wield, at any level.
How you choose to show up will always be a personal choice. It’s about your individual character, your leadership style, and the expectations of your culture. However, there are some things I believe are fundamental to presenting a professional appearance, and can apply to most of us.
- Always be honest and transparent with yourself, your teams, and your partners.
- Be unafraid to say no, but always try to say yes. Remember there is always a way to say yes…even if it’s not the best use of resources.
- Be good stewards of your company’s resources – both time and money. Do our best to support those things that will have a measurable impact on either, and to improve or challenge those things that will have a negative impact on both.
- Always have a bias for action. Move quickly to get shit done, follow up with business partners, and close the loop on issues. Don’t dwell on mistakes or waste time assigning blame. Fix fast, then hindsight.
- Know when to move on. Not every decision is a good one. Not every call is the best one. Try to help your partners and leaders make the right decision, but don’t dwell on it when they do not.
- Be there for everyone. Pick up the partner who’s having a bad day, stretch yourselves to support the people around you, and make pains to recognize the efforts that go unnoticed.
- Build up your teams. As a leader, be direct and candid, show empathy, and set high standards. Focus on the positive at least as much as the constructive.
- Make mistakes. And when you do, own up to them, and learn from them.
It’s easy to write this idea off as “keeping up appearances”. In some cases, that’s what others mean when they talk about showing up, professionalism, or professional behavior. Being respectful of others, putting care into your appearance (casual
attire or business attire) all go a long way. However, those are no longer the most impact thing you can do to present yourself as a professional at work, or anywhere. The power of your individual character should always shine through in your behaviors, attitudes, and communications. Only then will you realize the true power, influence, and impact you can have.