Develop Professional and Impression Management as a Life Skill at G.L BAJAJ
Importance
of effective professional and Interpersonal skills can hardly be
overemphasized. Effective Professional skills are essential not only for a
successful career, but also for satisfying relationships and personal sense of
accomplishment with technology playing a pivotal role in converging, our (once)
big world into a small global village, mediocrity is not an option; we need to
be extraordinary in order to survive in today’s fierce competitive environment.
We must possess the ability to grasp information quickly, think logically and
be creative.
Personal excellence is an essential
prerequisite for achieving sustainable growth in any business domain
and any meaningful transformation can be brought about by transforming
ourselves .With technology playing a pivotal role in converging, our
(once) big world into a small global village, mediocrity is not an option; we
need to be extraordinary in order to survive in today’s fierce competitive
environment. We must possess the ability to grasp information quickly, think
logically and be creative. Understanding the benefits of effective
communication for Business professional, which helps companies place focus on
developing a workforce that is able to communicate within the firm and with all
its stakeholders, customers, vendors, international business partners etc. Is
it any surprise then that improving communication skills is the first step
towards enhancing personal excellence?
Daunting
as it may sound, but all these skills are acquirable. What we practice is what
we do and we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a
habit. Personal excellence is directly proportional to the growth of an
individual .Every individual has a preferred learning style-a particular way
that suits him/her the best.
“People
are constantly observing your behavior and forming theories about your
competence, character, and commitment, which are rapidly disseminated
throughout your workplace.”It is only wise to add your voice in framing others’
theories about who you are and what you can
Your
professional image is the set of qualities and characteristics that represent
perceptions of your competence and character as judged by your key constituents
(i.e., clients, superiors, subordinates, colleagues). It is important to
distinguish between the image you want others to have of you and the image that
you think people currently have of you. Most people want to be described as
technically competent, socially skilled, of strong character and integrity, and
committed to your work, your team, and your company. Research shows that the
most favorably regarded traits are trustworthiness, caring, humility, and
capability. Some professionals are stereotyped as technically competent, but
lacking in the social skills required to lead effectively. Despite the
added complexity of managing stereotypes while also demonstrating competence,
character, and commitment, there is promising news for creating your
professional image! Impression management strategies enable you to explain
predicaments, counter devaluation, and demonstrate legitimacy. People manage
impressions through their non-verbal behavior (appearance, demeanor), verbal
cues (vocal pitch, tone, and rate of speech, to identity group differences and
one’s unique cultural background.
A recent
report published in Times of India talks about excellent Professional
skills as key leadership competency. The power to influence others
directly emanates from strong communication skills. Not surprisingly then,
Professional skills are perhaps the most important competency expected of fresher’s.
The report further says, “Those who speak English fluently earn up to 34%
more than those who are not fluent at it”, confirming link between fluency
in the language and growth, both professionally and monetarily. English
fluency, teamwork and presentation skills play a pivotal role in one’s career,
more so in the initial years.
Many
Business School run student-skill enhancement program that enables students to
improvise their Professional skills. They specialize in imparting relevant
skills empowering students with competitive advantage so as to be absorbed in
today’s corporate era. They try to arm students with tools for honing their
personal and professional excellence.
Such
skills includes areas such as communication, interpersonal skills etc. These
skills can be imparted through interactive sessions using handouts, role-plays
and videos of workplace conversations suggesting effective and ineffective
interaction among various levels of hierarchies. A Management student should
possess analytical skills, art of delegation, leadership qualities,
motivational skills etc. All these skills can be acquired by right guidance
Successful
impression management can generate a number of important personal and
organizational benefits, including career advancement, client satisfaction,
better work relationships (trust, intimacy, avoiding offense), group
cohesiveness, a more pleasant organizational climate, and a more fulfilling
work experience. However, when unsuccessfully employed, impression management
attempts can lead to feelings of deception, delusion
As Mahatma Gandhi
said: Be the change you want to see
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