Professional Behavior What Supervisors Need to Know

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Session Objectives Recognize the impact of your behavior Maintain professional relationships Act properly in all work situations and make proper employment decisions

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Recognize the Impact of Your Behavior on the Job Your success depends on your professional image Your behavior affects: Employees Colleagues Superiors Customers and others outside the organization

Relationships with Employees Treat employees with respect and courtesy Be fair and consistent Provide clear expectations and guidance Focus on performance, not personalities Communicate effectively Provide information and training

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Relationships with Employees (cont.) Encourage input Provide honest feedback Offer support Recognize achievements Value contributions Respect confidentiality and privacy

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Set a Good Example For Employees Come to work on time with a positive attitude Follow policies, rules, and regulations Make ethical choices Demonstrate a proactive approach Accept change

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Set a Good Example For Employees (cont.) Minimize absences Don’t take long breaks or leave early Keep personal business to a minimum Demonstrate loyalty

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc NEVER: B ully, belittle, or make fun of employees D iscriminate against or harass T alk down R eprimand in public, yell, or use offensive language G ossip B ad-mouth Avoid These Very Unprofessional Mistakes

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Relationships With Colleagues Be honest and keep your word Cooperate Be informed and share information Keep colleagues up to date Take responsibility Avoid abusing your authority

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Know your stuff Keep superiors informed Identify and solve problems Admit and correct mistakes Be honest and respectful Follow orders intelligently Relationships With Superiors Know your stuff Keep superiors informed Identify and solve problems Admit and correct mistakes Be honest and respectful Follow orders intelligently

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Remember that you represent the organization Follow policies and procedures Promise only what you can deliver Be courteous and cooperative Don’t exceed your authority Remember that you represent the organization Follow policies and procedures Promise only what you can deliver Be courteous and cooperative Don’t exceed your authority Relationships With Outsiders

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Professional Relationships: True or False? Since you’re the boss, you don’t have to follow the same rules as employees. Yelling at employees establishes credibility and authority. You must be well informed when dealing with superiors. When dealing with other supervisors, never give them the edge by sharing expertise.

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Do you understand: The impact of your behavior in the workplace? How to maintain professional relationships with: Employees? Colleagues? Superiors? Customers and other outsiders? Do you understand: The impact of your behavior in the workplace? How to maintain professional relationships with: Employees? Colleagues? Superiors? Customers and other outsiders? Professional Relationships

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Hiring Compensation Discipline Training and development Professional relationships Ethics Hiring Compensation Discipline Training and development Professional relationships

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Ethics (cont.) Personal integrity Employee privacy Discrimination Performance evaluation

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Communication Think before you speak or write Organize your thoughts Be precise Be concise Pay attention to other people’s communications Consider your reply

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Credibility and Communication Speak from experience Back up your statements with compelling evidence Speak with people, not at them

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Criticism Do it in private Begin with a positive statement Criticize the work, not the person Explain what needs to change and how Be clear about your expectations End on a positive note

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Always follow the policy Respond to violations immediately Use discipline only for genuine violations Discipline similar offenses in the same way Discipline Always follow the policy Respond to violations immediately Use discipline only for genuine violations Discipline similar offenses in the same way

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Discipline (cont.) Make the discipline appropriate Let employee correct the problem

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Discrimination Base decisions on job-related criteria Don’t discriminate in day-to-day activities Don’t make assumptions about people Be objective

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Don’t ask discriminatory questions Don’t ask personal questions Don’t let superficial impressions influence your decision Interviews Don’t ask discriminatory questions Don’t ask personal questions Don’t let superficial impressions influence your decision

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Interviews (cont.) Be aware of stereotypes Focus on job-related issues Ask only for information you need

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Create an agenda Distribute a memo Come prepared Encourage participation Summarize results Define future action Create an agenda Distribute a memo Come prepared Encourage participation Summarize results Define future action Conducting Meetings

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Participating in Meetings Be on time Come prepared Listen and take notes Speak briefly and to the point Offer constructive feedback Perform follow-up responsibilities on time

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Elements of Professional Behavior Quiz: Is it ethical and professional to ask employees to lie for you? a. Yes a. At people To establish credibility a professional supervisor speaks: Is it professional to discipline top performers less severely than other workers for the same offenses? b. No b. With people a. Yes b. No

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Do you understand the connection between professional behavior and: Ethics? Communication? Discipline? Discrimination? Employment interviews? Business meetings? Elements of Professional Behavior Do you understand the connection between professional behavior and: Ethics? Communication? Discipline? Discrimination? Employment interviews? Business meetings?

© Business & Legal Reports, Inc Key Points to Remember To be successful you must be professional. Conduct yourself professionally with all employees. Make appropriate decisions in every situation.