Irving ISD Practicum Course

1. 1
CHARACTER
Practicum in Irving ISD

2. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 2
Character
 A person’s character is who they are
 It tells what they are to are not capable of
becoming

3. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 3
Character
Desirable character traits
 Responsibility
 Loyalty
 Honesty
 Trustworthiness
 Dependability
 Reliability
 Initiative
 Self-discipline
Instructors require evidence
of character traits from their
students
Employers require evidence
of character traits from their
employees

4. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 4
Character
An instructor expects students to work along and
together toward achieving success in the course
The wise student should work with the instructor
to achieve educational success
An employer expects employees to work together
toward achieving the objectives of the company
The wise employee interested in having a good
relationship with an employer helps employer
achieve success

5. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 5
Character
Students to develop certain desirable traits that
help them perform their work well so that the
student succeeds academically
An employer, in return for salary or wages and
fringe benefits paid to employees, expects
employees to develop certain desirable traits that
help them perform their jobs well so that
company succeeds

6. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 6
Character
Loyalty
 Firm expects loyalty from employees
 Communicate with supervisor with any problem
or complaint
 Solve internal problems internally
 Do not criticize goods or services outside
company
“If you don’t like something about our company, tell me. If there
is something you really like about us, please tell others.”

7. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 7
Character
Loyalty
 Employees are goodwill ambassadors for
company
 Keep strategies within company
 Be proud of work company does and work you do
for company
 If you cannot feel faithfulness and allegiance to
company, seek another job

8. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 8
Character
Honesty
 Reputation for honesty important in developing
a good relationship with employers and co-
workers
 Honest employee extremely valuable to
businesses – a big problem is dishonest
employees
“How does taking a couple of $1 pens home with me damage my
company? A $7 stapler? $2 out of the petty cash fund for a coke
and some crackers? A $5 tool? My company can afford these little
things, can’t it?”

9. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 9
Character
Honesty
 Supplies Theft
 Need honest employees: not steal anything from
them, not even office supplies
 If you take these items — which is really stealing —
you have taken around $14 from company
 Assume company has at least 30 other employees
and each pilfered same
 A loss of $420 occurs. If this thievery goes on every
week, company loses equivalent of one employee’s
salary

10. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 10
Character
Honesty
 Time Theft
 If scheduled to work 8 hours a day with two 15-minute
breaks and a 1-hour lunch break, need to work 8
hours a day … many people don’t stay on task, arrive
late to work, and take extra breaks during day
 Eating on the job
 Extend break or lunch times or spend too much time
socializing with co-workers or personal callers
 Take company’s money to sit around while
company pays them to work … Stay on task!

11. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 11
Character
Honesty
 Phone Abuse, etc.
 Personal long distance calls on company phone
actually steals money from company
 Charge these calls to home telephone
 The more money you lose for your company, the
more money you will lose
 You might not only lose money but also lose your job
completely!

12. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 12
Character
Honesty
 Truth
 Tell the truth in all work matters
 Never lie on job application, timesheets, or expense
statements
 Never cheat a customer, another employee, or
employer in any way
 Tell employer and others the truth when questioned
 As an honest employee, be on way to acceptability
and good human relations in any business

13. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 13
Character
Trustworthiness
 When employer trusts an employee, means that
employer can ask employee to do something
beyond the call of duty and expect employee to
accomplish it
 Closing up business at end of day
 Supervising others
 Handling company money or keeping a tool room or
supply room requires trust
 Complete a task like these earns employer’s trust

14. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 14
Character
Dependability & Reliability
 Related to trustworthiness
 Agree to carry out a task under agreed-upon
procedures
 Handling positions and situations of
responsibility are observed
 Doing a job well and completing on time builds
reputation for being dependable and reliable
 Valuable to any employer

15. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 15
Character
Initiative
 Willing to take the first step in seeing that work
gets done
 Motivated to do well and enthusiastic about job
 Industrious – hard worker – diligent about
completing responsibilities
Suppose that you have caught up on your work for a short time.
Rather than sit and wait for someone to tell you what to do next,
take the initiative to find another task: take inventory of tools,
reorganize the supply cabinet, clean, and so on.

16. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 16
Character
Initiative
 Sees job or task that needs to be done and
does it without being asked … going beyond call
of duty
 Although hired for specific type of work or job,
situations arise in most companies that require
helping out beyond immediate responsibility
 Employees become ill or have family emergencies
that require absence, but work still has to be done
 Co-worker has an unforeseen overload and
really needs a hand to get a project completed

17. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 17
Character
Initiative
 Willingness to pitch in and help out displays
initiative
 Overall attitude of helpfulness makes the
company run more smoothly and improves the
work situation

18. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 18
Character
Self-Discipline & Responsibility
 Decide to do things because they are profitable
and best choice among the alternatives
available to help toward goals
 Accept responsibility for self when motivated to
accomplish goals
 Being self-disciplined is a part of accepting
responsibility for own actions
 Structure time to cultivate and use talents and
abilities for betterment of company and self

19. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 19
Character
Self-Discipline & Responsibility
 Learn to handle emotions
 Emotional, childish outbursts and unreasonable
displays of anger cause others to question
maturity
 Avoid irrational assumption that you have to
express all your feelings
 Control of feelings
 Anger and irritation can be changed without
compromising integrity.

20. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 20
What is Character?
 Maintains honesty
 Is trustworthy
 Is dependable
 Is reliable
 Initiates project/works without being told “what”
to do
 Self-disciplined

21. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 21
Loyalty
 Go to appropriate personnel with problems or
concerns
 Remember that you ALWAYS represent your
company/business
 You have a sense of pride
 You are able to keep company “secrets”

22. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 22
Honesty
 Being honest makes you valuable
 You do not take supplies that you do not need
for work
 You take appropriate amounts of time for lunch
and breaks
 You come to work on time and leave on time

23. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 23
Trustworthiness
 You will go beyond the “call of duty” if asked to
 You successfully complete your work tasks
 You Work while at work

24. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 24
Dependability and Reliability
 Carry out tasks under the agreed upon
procedures
 You are able to handle a position of
responsibility
 You make sure that your job is done well and in
a timely manner

25. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 25
Initiative
 You are willing to take the first step
 You are motivated to take on new tasks
 You “help out” when needed

26. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 26
Self-Discipline and
Responsibility
 You make appropriate choices
 You accept responsibility for your own actions
 You structure your time wisely
 You use all of your talents and abilities to
complete a task

27. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 27
Top Eight Behaviors That Cause
On-the-Job Difficulties
1. Dishonesty and lying
2. Irresponsibility, goofing off, and attending to
personal business on company time
3. Arrogance, ego problem, and excessive
aggressiveness
4. Absenteeism and lateness

28. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 28
Top Eight Behaviors That Cause
On-the-Job Difficulties
5. Not following instructions or ignoring company
policies
6. Whining or complaining about the company or
the job
7. Absence of commitment, concern, or
dedication
8. Laziness and lack of motivation and
enthusiasm

29. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 29
Watch your thoughts
…
they become word.

30. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 30
Watch your words
…
they become actions.

31. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 31
Watch your actions
…
they become habits.

32. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 32
Watch your habits
…
they become character.

33. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 33
Watch your character
…
it becomes your destiny.
--Frank Outlaw

34. www.gvtc.org/workethicsonline 34
CHARACTER
Practicum in Irving ISD