Traits of a Professional Individual

        For you to be professional in business, you should focus on developing these two traits.  First, you should always be honest and maintain your integrity.  Second, you should be patient in all business dealings and while interacting with other individuals.

            In everything you do within the business world, you should always be honest and ethical.  Being honest makes you credible and desirable to clients and customers.  You will stand out amongs your peers, and build your reputation as a trustworthy individual.  Being dishonest will tarnish and ruin your reputation, which dissuades any further clients or customers from wanting to working with you.  Ian Altman from the Huffington Post says “Those who operate with transparency and integrity reap huge rewards.” (Altman, 2013)  You not only need to be honest in business, you must also be patient.

            The ability to undergo setbacks, delays, or annoyance of any kind without getting angry or anxious is a highly desirable trait.  Being patient, especially during stressful times, sets you apart as a highly professional individual.  Doug Dickerson of International Business Times lists three benefits of patience in business:  (1) It builds your reputation; (2) It leads to remarkable results; (3) It leads to positive recognition (Dickerson, 2012).  To show patience in spite of any circumstance will add to your professionalism.

            If you want to succeed in the business world, you need to conduct yourself with the highest standards of professionalism.  In seeking to be professional, you should attain these two traits.  First, develop the habit of being honest and ethical at all times.  Second, be patient with situations and people.  With these characteristics, you will always be professional.

References

Altman, I. (2013, May 21). Why Honesty Is the Only Policy in Business. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-altman/honesty-sales-business_b_3304579.html

Dickerson, D. (2012). Four Reasons Why You Need Patience Right Now. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from International Business Times: http://www.ibtimes.com/exnet/four-reasons-why-you-need-patience-right-now-797121

Working Effectively as a Team

Working effectively in a team is an essential skill you will need to succeed in the business world.  To work as an effective team you should apply these three suggestions.  First, you should have clearly defined goals and objectives.  Second, have frequent and open communication with your team members.  Third, assign your team members to tasks that play to their strengths and skills.

You should always have a goal or objective in mind.  Without it, you will not achieve or accomplish anything.  This principle is the same for working in a team.  Without clearly defined objectives and goals in mind, your team will be ineffective and inefficient.  According to Morton Paterson from Biznik, “If your team is clear on the objectives, the outcome and what is expected of them, you will engender greater commitment.” (Patterson, 2010).  Once you have a focus in mind, proper communication takes over.

Regular and open communication helps a team avoid problems and empowers members.  If you do not communicate your team will break down.  Miscommunications will create problems and waste valuable time and resources.  An open communicating environment allows team members a chance to voice their opinions and concerns without fear of criticism.  With an open communication environment, you will be better able to assign tasks and responsibilities.

            Assigning team members tasks that allow them to use their strengths and skills will make sure your team functions effectively and efficiently.  Your time and resources are limited, and you don’t want to waste them making members work on what they aren’t already good at.  According to Jason Hiner from Tech Republic, “Make sure you have the right people in the right seats.” (Hiner, 2007)

            To make a team function effectively and efficiently, you need to have a clear objective with which to focus effort.  It is also important that you have frequent and open communication with all team members.  And if you want to utilize your time and resources to the maximum level, assign tasks and duties to individuals with skills and strengths suited to those tasks.

References

Hiner, J. (2007, May 1). 10 tips for leading your team to peak performance. Retrieved February 17, 2014, from TechRepulic: http://www.techrepublic.com/article/10-tips-for-leading-your-team-to-peak-performance/#.

Patterson, M. (2010, September 2). 7 Tips for Developing an Effective Team. Retrieved February 17, 2014, from Biznik: http://biznik.com/articles/7-tips-for-developing-an-effective-team