This document discusses the importance of image and professionalism. It defines image as how others perceive you based on your appearance, behavior, posture, and voice. Maintaining a professional image is important for three reasons: taking pride in your work, earning others' respect, and opportunities for career success. The key aspects of a professional are their attitude, attire, character, work ethic, competency, and keeping a well-organized work area. Following etiquette rules is also important for positive interactions with coworkers and customers.

1. PSYC 126
PERSONALITY ENHANCEMENT
Chapter 4 IMAGE
Perception – process of attaining awareness or understanding based
on sensoryinformation—andimmediate reaction of the senses.
Image – the set of qualities and characteristics that represent
perceptions of you as judged by others.
 Appearance – wardrobe; facialexpression; the condition
of your hair and hands;your overall fitness; your posture
when walking, sitting, and standing; whether you have
tattoos or body piercings; and your behavior.
- Is the finished product of how you look when you
walk out the door to attend class, go to a social
function withfriends, meet a first date, interview for
a job, or leave for work.
 Behavior
o Appreciate the needs of others andtreat others
with respect.
o Use good manners, including proper table
etiquette.
o Always strive to be polite and courteous.
o Respect the privacy of others.
o Control you temper.
 Posture
o Confident people walk tall, sit up straight, and
stand erect.
o Confidence shows up as a comfortably erect
posture without too much effort.
 Voice
o Pitch – how high or low your voice sounds.
o Volume – howloud or soft your voice sounds.
o Inflection – rising and falling of your voice
o Enunciation – pronouncing all the sounds in a
word clearly.
o Pronunciation – saying a word correctly.
o Vocabulary– sum ofwords usedby, understood
by, or at the commandof a particular person or
group.
Three reasons you shouldstrive to be a professional and act in a
professional manner in the workplace:
1. Taking pride in you work
2. Earning the respect of others
3. Beingrewarded with opportunities for further success
HOW DO YOU SPOT A PROFESSIONAL?
1. Attitude
 Professionals are team players
 Professionals recognize organizational structure and
individual roles
 Professionals are persistent and determined
 Professionals want to be helpful to others
 Professionalsare always onthe lookout for unmet needs
 Professionals use good judgment.
2. Attire
 Dressing appropriatelyis necessaryfor success in
every line of work.
 Appropriate dress differs based on the
occupation, location, andcompany preference.
 Select your wardrobe for the workplace with
care.
 Feel comfortable about the way you look.
3. Character and Work Ethic
 Character, which refers to your personal
qualitiesor personal traits, goes hand in hand
with work ethic.
 Work ethic is a set ofvalues based onthe virtues
of hard work, diligence, and caring about your
work and your coworkers.
 Trustworthiness is a signal to others that you are
dependable.
 Honestyincludes being sincere, honorable, fair,
and genuine.
 Responsibility is being accountable for your
conduct and obligations.
 Diligence means conscientiously giving total
attention to each task you are given.
4. Competency
 Professionalswork toward excellence in their
fieldof work. Theycontinually find new, better,
and faster methods of doing their work.
5. Work Area
 Your work area, like your personal appearance,
says a lot about you. The arrangement of your
work area affects your efficiency and
productivity.
Etiquette refers to the customs or rules of behavior regarded as
correct in social and work life. Etiquette in the workplace focuseson
rules of conduct (written or unwritten) designed to facilitate
interactions between coworkers, customers, supervisors, and
suppliers.
 Do unto others as you would have others do
unto you.
 Obey company rules and regulations.
 Be on time.
 Watch your language
Etiquette in the Electronic Age
 Avoid making andreceiving personal calls during business
hours.

2.  Take care when working withconfidential information to
make sure that it is not accidentallyavailable to wandering
eyes.
 Work-related e-mail correspondence should be
professional.
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
 Perceptionis the immediate reaction from the senses.
Others form opinions about your competency, character,
conduct, and attitude basedontheir initial perception of
you.
 Your image is one ofyour most important assets. Image
includes personal appearance, behavior, posture, and
voice.
 Build the image you want to project to others first by
determining what others thinkof you. Askdirect questions
that will provide specific information that may be of
benefit to you.
 Reasons for having a professional image inthe workplace
are:Pride from withinwhena job is completedto the best
of your ability, the highregard in which others holdyou as
a professional, and potential opportunities that could
come your wayas a result ofdemonstrating professional
qualities.
 Professionals are identified by their attitude, attire,
character, work ethic, competency, and work area.
Character and work ethic include the qualities of
trustworthiness, honesty, responsibility, and diligence.
Reference:
Masters, L.A., et al. (2011). Personal Development for Work and Life.
Cengage Learning Asia Pte. Ltd.
Prepared by:
Mrs. Maria Angela L. Diopol
Instructor