10 Qualities Every Professional Should Strive to Have

Each person is unique and naturally has their strengths and weaknesses. Just like opinions are very relative: the characteristics of a person that are seen by many as extremely positive, can, at the same time, be understood in a negative way by others.

However, from a professional point of view, it is possible to unanimously talk about admirable characteristics, which certainly make a difference, especially when hiring (and, consequently, in the day to day work).

Below, Arnaldo Auad, founder of Direction and Sentido Coaching and Training, and BD Tecnologia Group; HP Consulting USA Certified NLP Practitioner; Certified Professional Coach licensed by BCI (Behavioral Coaching Institute); cites the main qualities that a professional should strive to have.

1. Self-confidence

For Auad, without a doubt, a confident and secure person stands out in professional life, for several reasons. “One of the things I think is most important is that a confident and secure person tends to take more risks than others, they are more daring and they put themselves ahead of situations most of the time,” she says.

“I don’t think there is a person who is 100% secure in all things, all the time. Everyone carries a little insecurity in some aspect of their lives. I believe the biggest challenge is finding balance. Too much security can lead to arrogance, and too much insecurity can lead to letting your future be decided by others. Extremes are never healthy”, recalls the coach.

At the time of a job interview, for example, it is normal to feel some insecurity. But, above all, trust in what you are doing, and one way to demonstrate this is to look into the eyes of the person conducting the interview.

Always remember: if you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will!

2. Willingness to learn

It is important that the professional is willing to listen and learn new things, always. That you never think that you “already know enough about a certain subject”, that you are a “fully done” professional and that you have an advantage over other co-workers.

“Listening and learning are fundamental factors. We live in an ever-changing world. What was new yesterday is obsolete today, and tomorrow it will be replaced. Seeking to learn and develop is what will keep each of us alive, both in our professional and private lives”, says Auad.

“I also suggest that whenever possible, professionals look for what is becoming a novelty or trend and learn as much as they can about it, and realize that when this novelty becomes real, you will be prepared. Preparation and opportunity, some call it luck”, adds the expert.

3. Flexibility

Being a professional adaptable person is undoubtedly important, according to Auad. “It is even one of the most important skills today. The business context is changing all the time. New demands, new ways of doing business, new skills are required every day and for everyone. Change is something democratic. If a professional doesn’t adapt, he may not serve the new business context,” she says.

“The most flexible element of a group is the most influential. There is a maxim that says: ‘It is not the strongest that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one that best adapts to changes’”, highlights the coach.

4. Self-motivation

Some people, in order to feel more secure with what they do, expect, daily, a positive feedback, a compliment, either from their own boss or from someone else on the team. However, this can be “risky”.

Auad explains that he considers the concept of self-motivation important. “Staying motivated, moving to action is what I believe is most important, and this is an individual challenge, from the inside out,” he says.

In other words: you need to feel good about your work, to feel like you’re doing your best, without someone having to tell you that… Compliments, of course, are always welcome, but you shouldn’t expect them long all.

“We live in times where people are not necessarily more productive, but incredibly busier. Some people don’t have the time or priority to smile, interact, truly praise. And waiting for someone to motivate us is dangerous”, emphasizes the expert.

5. Good communication

Having an effective communication refers to the need to know how to express yourself, both when speaking and writing. It is also related to the ability to know how to listen and, consequently, to speak “at the right time”, respecting the “space” of the other.

“Communication moves people. Communicating correctly is one of the keys to success,” recalls Auad.

“One point to consider is that the quality of communication is related to how the message is received and understood and this responsibility of the one who communicates. Making yourself understood is a challenge. Keep in mind that words are the simplistic expression of a possibly profound experience. Each word carries in itself more than its meaning, it carries an experience. Recognizing this and practicing with reading, for example, is a great way”, adds the coach.

6. Know how to work in a team

One of the most common demands today is precisely knowing how to work as a team, as Auad highlights. “Companies have discovered for some time that the sum of the parts can be greater than the whole. Having teams with multidisciplinary attitudes and skills is one of the tools to put the company ahead of the competition. In this context, knowing how to deal with the various skills of the people around and recognizing that not all knowledge resides in you and that everyone has something to learn and to add is something very valuable nowadays”, he explains.

7. Honesty/Responsibility

It seems obvious that every professional should be honest and responsible: for example, don’t lie about being sick to miss work; who use their working hours to actually work; that he fulfills daily what he has committed to do; not to abuse flexible hours, if applicable; that you do not touch things that are not yours; who has no desire to harm the service of a colleague, etc. But it is always good to emphasize the importance of these qualities that, in fact, are essential, both in personal and professional life.

However, as Auad points out, assessing whether a job candidate is really trustworthy/honest is one of the most complex and subjective activities that HR has to perform. “I believe that there is no accuracy in this assessment, it is now possible to find evidence that a candidate is reliable. Group dynamics are instruments that can facilitate the process. There are dynamics that can put candidates in situations where reliability can be proven”, comments the specialist.

8. Professionalism

Professionalism can be summarized here as the “characteristic procedure of good professionals (seriousness, competence, responsibility, etc.)”, thus bringing together several qualities (including some already mentioned).

However, it is always good to emphasize the importance of being professional. Not exclusively in the sense of “being competent in the work you do”, but rather, taking seriously everything you do while you are working; to strive to do the best; to dress properly (according to the needs of your job); to respect others; to recognize that everything has its time (for example, working hours are not the time to stay on the phone solving personal problems); not to take confidential information outside the company, etc.

Auad points out that, in general terms, professionalism is related to the ability of a person to carry out their work productively and in accordance with what is necessary and foreseen. “It is possible to see if a person is a good professional when he is faced with a possibly ethical conflict. How she behaves in a situation where what is necessary professionally conflicts with what she would like to do if she were not in that position. A professional acts as the professional needs demand at that moment. If what prevails is the professional need, you may be facing a good professional”, she comments.

9. Be friendly

Not everyone is aware of this, but it’s very important to be friendly with other people at work.

Being a friendly, reliable, flexible person puts the professional on the front line (…)

“Interpersonal relationships are the grease that moves the complex gears of society and the corporate world. Being a friendly, reliable, flexible person puts the professional on the front line. The better and deeper the relationships, the simpler a person’s life will be. We have to remember that before we interact with businesses, machines and processes, we deal with people”, highlights Auad.

Here, too, comes the question of good humor: of course, no one can smile 24 hours a day, but it is important to strive to be a pleasant person, who does not “take out” his problems and his frustrations on his co-workers; who always remembers to use words like “please”, “thank you”, “good morning”, “good afternoon”; who is willing to help others when asked, etc.

10. Leadership

“The ability to lead is something that multiplies a person’s potential and productivity. If you evaluate carefully, you will realize that there is a limit to the ability to absorb and practice knowledge. If a person can be an expert in a subject, it does not mean that he will be a leader because of that knowledge. Exercising leadership requires more than academic and formal knowledge, it requires knowing people, their needs and desires”, highlights Auad.

“Getting the best out of each professional creates a scenario where potentials are realized and ordinary teams become extraordinary. Developing leadership is a daily challenge and extremely rewarding”, adds the coach.

One way to try to develop your leadership potential, in addition to taking advantage of your daily experiences and the (good) relationship you have with your co-workers, is to bet on some courses (in person or online) and lectures that deal with the subject. Here’s the tip!

Finally, it is worth remembering: professional success is also very much related to working with what you like. This will be the starting point for you to develop or improve various skills, which will make you a competent and admirable professional.