Experts write extensively about crafting a professional personal brand to stand out and succeed. Today, especially with social media, it’s about the outer rather than the inner, making opinions known, and standing out from the crowd. Unfortunately, appearance rather than substance has become a norm.
Core to anyone’s business professionalism and reputation should be their skills, expertise, and unique value.
Yet, the true foundation of professionalism is your character: who you are and how you act in your work, regardless of your profession. Your character earns you an everlasting, true reputation.
Five Character Traits Plus One
I focus on five traits that show character in the workplace. These are not the only traits in business; however, in my professional career, these traits have stood out because when people display these consistently, they make an impact and difference that enhances business relationships and outcomes in the long term. These character traits also provide a foundation from which other traits flow naturally.
In dealing with each of the characteristics, I refer to the definitions from the Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries to provide an objective definition of each as a basis for the discussion.
Let’s look into these now.
1.Integrity
The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles”. Doing what is right at all times and being internally motivated to act honestly and with high moral standards shows character. Acting according to what is popular or easy rather than what’s morally right indicates character that changes according to circumstances or business stakeholders’ opinions. Acting to please business colleagues demonstrates a character that bends according to situations that may provide easy wins to achieve short-term gains. It does not foster trust or reliability—character traits that people ultimately gravitate towards. Unfortunately, many times people want to be liked rather than do what is right—in the long term, this behaviour shows unreliability and fickleness. Integrity places value on truth and consistency rather than social convenience and self-preservation—it’s invaluable and essential to a credible professional reputation.
2.Humility
Humility is defined as “the quality of not thinking you are better than other people”, as per the Oxford Dictionary. It shows up in the way you engage and treat others. It also shows up in the way you show an interest in people. When you are truly interested in people, it acts as a deterrent against pride and arrogance. Arrogant people, who think they are better than others, rarely show an interest in people except when it enhances agendas.
3.Respect
I like the way the Cambridge Dictionary defines it as
• polite behaviour towards someone, especially because they are older or more important than you.
• admiration for someone because of their knowledge, skill, or achievements.
• behaviour that shows you think something is important or needs to be dealt with carefully.
In the business context of today, there tends to be an attitude that all people and circumstances should be treated equally—that if you are older and more experienced and skilled, no respect is due. Especially in a world where youth is idolised, even by older people. Respect skilful and knowledgeable business professionals who have travelled the road of life and business longer than you have, especially professionals that embody solid values; it cultivates a learning mindset and humility.
4.Perseverance
Defined as “the quality of continuing to try to achieve a particular aim despite difficulties” (Oxford Dictionary). Perseverance is an essential characteristic and crucial to life and business. Persevering through difficult circumstances, which is part of everyday life, will also generally include the following:
• Resilience to recover quickly from unexpected and difficult or traumatic circumstances
• Self-discipline to structure your personal and work life.
• Adapting to circumstances out of your control.
• Optimism about the future.
The pace of change is enormous, more so with the advent of technology and AI, and perseverance to operate within this business context is crucial to being a competent, contributing professionals.
5.Accountability
The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “the fact of being responsible for your decisions or actions and expected to explain them when you are asked”. Our society has become prone to shifting blame or making excuses, making accountability a dying quality. The lack of accountability has become a societal epidemic—just read the news.
Accountability is very closely linked to integrity. When you have high internal moral standards and act with honesty, you will also most likely take accountability for your actions, including the mistakes. In a business context, taking accountability displays maturity and is an example for others to emulate—creating trust and promoting a productive and healthy business environment. It speaks volumes about who you are and displays leadership.
Plus One!
Communication
As per the Oxford Dictionary, communication is “the activity or process of expressing ideas and feelings or of giving people information”. I am deliberately including this, although it’s not a character trait per se, but it’s revealing of a person’s core values and character. It entails the ability to express yourself well, which includes the use of language that reflects your values.
Use communication to reflect your professional character.
Your internal compass
Be a person of character with an internal compass that directs you to act with consistency in an inconsistent business world and be the professional that stands out for the right reasons.
Don’t follow the crowd or take the easy way—be a person of good character that does the right thing when it’s not convenient or popular – whether people are looking or not. Being steadfast will be invaluable to you and others as you set the example in today’s business landscape.