| Behaving professionally is the best way to go about | | | | own opinion is much more powerful. |
| conducting your business with your customers and | | | | 4. Be aware which particular person is your customer |
| suppliers. It ensures that you are seen your | | | | and ensure that you answer only to them. |
| customers in a way that helps you to concentrate on | | | | 5. If someone tells you something in confidence then |
| doing your job effectively and helps the customers | | | | make sure that you keep it to yourself. |
| to know that they have the right person for the job. | | | | 6. Be tactful and honest in passing on bad news. |
| The word "Professional" is very powerful word. So | | | | Do No Harm |
| powerful in fact that some occupations have tried to | | | | |
| take exclusive control of it for their own use. | | | | 1. If you are in the Computer Business then make |
| Historically, it has been Medicine and Law that have | | | | sure you take a backup before making any changes. |
| tried associate the term "professional" solely with | | | | 2. Do not attempt any task that you feel unable to |
| themselves. Nowadays, it is more widely used and is | | | | perform. If you would like to do it then seek help |
| used to convey a certain type of image of a person | | | | before you start and ensure that you perform a dry |
| who is expert at his or her work. | | | | run first if at all possible. Make sure that you inform |
| So what does behaving professionally involve? well in | | | | the customer of the possibility of failure. |
| my opinion it involves four essential rules. | | | | 3. Keep your professional knowledge and skills of |
| - Be discreet and trustworthy | | | | your profession up to date. |
| - Do no harm | | | | 4. Do nothing illegal. If you are in the computer |
| - Keep your word | | | | business then that includes installing unlicensed |
| - Under promise but over deliver | | | | software. |
| To follow these rules is very straightforward and will | | | | Keep Your Word |
| pay big dividends. Customers are more likely to | | | | |
| commission you with work and you will find that you | | | | 1. You are the only person who is accountable for |
| will be able to increase your billing rates. Furthermore | | | | your actions and the promises that you make. |
| if your customers feel that you are professional then | | | | 2. If you cannot deliver something you have |
| they will be more likely to give you additional work in | | | | promised then let the customer know at the earliest |
| the future and recommend you to others. | | | | opportunity. Make sure you are able to offer an |
| In my experience, here are the most important | | | | alternative. |
| actions that you can do to put this into practice. | | | | Under-Promise but Over-Deliver |
| Be Discreet and Trustworthy: | | | | |
| | | | 1. If you believe that an hourly rate job will take |
| 1. In behaving professionally be careful what you say | | | | between 3 and 5 hours then estimate to the |
| or how you phrase things. Be especially wary of | | | | customer that it may take up to 5 hours. When you |
| something that may be construed as offensive in | | | | complete the job in 3 hours let the customer feel |
| some way. Jokes are not always recognised or | | | | good about the cost saving. |
| appreciated by everyone. | | | | 2. Always give the customer something for free |
| 2. Never say anything that you might regret. | | | | (ideally something they have revealed to you that |
| 3. Never criticise someone - no matter who they are | | | | needs doing). I do not mean a pen or some |
| or what they have done. Even if they are a | | | | notepaper with your business telephone number on - |
| competitor or rival company, who you may have no | | | | that may be taken to be a bit cheap. Rather, do an |
| regard for, do not criticise them. Even if it is | | | | additional task. For example, if you are in the |
| someone who is blocking you from doing what you | | | | Computer Business then whilst waiting for a backup |
| need to do then still do not criticise them. That would | | | | to complete then take the time to check the |
| not be behaving professionally. There are better | | | | customers PC for anti virus or something similar. If |
| ways of communicating your concern to your | | | | you are a building professional then whilst waiting for |
| customers - just state the facts and let them speak | | | | some concrete to set then do some other small task |
| for themselves. Allowing the customer to form their | | | | that needs doing. |