Moving Up to the Pros

What: The author of ‘When the Little Things Count…and They Always Count’ Barbara Pachter says, “How you handle yourself at a business-related social function matters. Your potential employers, customers or upper management…are often looking for self-assurance [and] social finesse. [Because] if you can’t handle the little things at lunch or dinner, why should anyone think you could handle the big things, like the big account or bigger job?”

So What: As we learned in our class presentation, in our reading and in practice at our professionalism party, the seemingly little things demonstrate our ability to communicate and interact with others on a professional level regardless of our position or occupation. Possessing the ability to interact with confidence can determine whether you stay in your current position or move up to the ‘Pros’ in the corporate world.

The positions of leadership that I have held through the years have taught me many invaluable lessons about socializing professionally. While I was once a shy and quiet child who would slink into a corner when around a crowd of people, I have learned how to interact in a crowd of friends and/or professionals. Navigating positions ranging from the corporate world to youth ministry put me in a variety of situations to practice and improve my new found abilities. I have developed a sense of confidence and increasing professionalism in moving socializing with executives of major corporations as well as fellow youth workers.

The area that I need to continue to improve on is not feeling too comfortable with my colleagues and maintaining the atmosphere of professionalism. When I am uncomfortable I use humor to break the ice with others. While this is usually very effective I feel it can also change the feeling of the occasion from being an occasion with colleagues to an occasion with friends. When this atmosphere changes, or seems to change, I tend to relax how I carry myself and interact.

Now What: The lessons we learned about socializing professionally have provided us with skills that can move us from good to great in any field we pursue. Every field requires us to interact with colleagues and/or clients at some time in our career. Additionally, the higher you move up the corporate ladder, the more important these skills become. However, if you do not employ them at the beginning of your career it may take longer to move up that ladder.

In a sea of sameness, something has got to stand out and when you do the little things, you WILL stand out. Imagine being invited to lunch a potential employer for a final interview. You get the job, you learn more valuable skills, you get promoted, and you eventually land the job of your dreams – all traced back to that one little thing.