CHAPTER III

PROFESSIONAL
CONDUCT
What do you understand by professional
conduct?

It is a professionally accepted standards of

personal and business behavior, values and
guiding principles. Codes of professional ethics
are often established by professional
organizations to help guide members in
performing their job functions according to
sound and consistent ethical principles.
 What is Professional Conduct?

Professional conduct is the field of regulation of

members of professional bodies, either acting
under statutory or contractual powers.

Historically, professional conduct was wholly

undertaken by the private professional bodies, the
sole legal authority for which was of a contractual
nature. These bodies commonly established codes
of conduct and ethical codes for the guidance of
their members.
What would you do if you saw someone cheating
on a test? What if that person was a teacher?

Most of us would agree that a teacher who cheats

does not belong in the classroom, right? That's a
pretty clear act of unethical, or morally
unacceptable, behavior.
What if a teacher promoted a student to the next grade
when the student did not meet the requirements for
promotion? We would likely say that this is not
professional conduct for a teacher.
Professional conduct is behavior that meets or
exceeds ethical expectations for a given profession.
Teaching is a field in which professional conduct is
extremely important. After all teachers serve as role
models for youth. Most states have published
principles of professional conduct for teachers
Professional conduct is the accepted manner in
which a professional will act.

Example: Lawyers are held to strict ethical

standards and rules of professional conduct
enforced by state and local bar associations
Professional conduct translates into a functional work
environment. Civility and mutual respect, commitment to
organization, job satisfaction, productivity, synergy,
minimal absenteeism, minimal turnover, communication.
All of these qualities that you present at your workplace
will help you build a positive reputation. Making yourself
reliable and trustworthy will give your employers a good
vibe about you, which can result in earning greater
responsibilities with the company.
 IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL
CONDUCT

Professional conduct involves ethics, morals, and

standards of behavior. Being a professional, it is
necessary for the person to maintain his/her ethical
behavior and to have good professional conduct.
Professionalism is the conduct, aims or qualities that
characterize or mark a profession or professional
person; it implies quality of workmanship or service.
Every organization knows that a professional
reputation is the difference between success and
failure and they seek to keep their most professional
staff.

Most professionals have internally enforced codes of

practice that members of the profession must follow
to prevent
In cases where professional bodies regulate their
own ethics, there are possibilities for such bodies to
become self-serving and fail to follow their own
ethical code when dealing with renegade members.
This is particularly true of professions in which they
have almost a complete monopoly on a particular
area of knowledge. For example, until recently, the
English courts deferred to the professional
consensus on matters relating to their practice that
lay outside case law and legislation
What is professional conduct in the workplace?

Professional behavior is a form of etiquette in the

workplace that is linked primarily to respectful and
courteous conduct. Being conscious of how you treat
co-workers and clients, and ensuring a positive
workplace attitude can help you to improve your
productivity and effectiveness in the workplace.
Twelve (12) Professional Behavior Tips

Professional behavior is a form of etiquette in the

workplace that is linked primarily to respectful and
courteous conduct.
Believe it or not, professionalism and ethical
behavior can benefit your career and improve your
chances of future success
1. Honesty: always act openly. Never share
confidential privileged or client information
unnecessarily, and don't tolerate or justify dishonest
conduct by others. Report any conflicts of interest
immediately.

2. Respect: maintain a respectful attitude to others at

all times, even during stressful times. Don't lash out
at colleagues or disrespect anyone (senior or
otherwise), Always use appropriate language
(verbally and in writing) and don't swear. Apologize
for errors or misunderstandings, and keep your
personal opinions of others private.
3.MEEETINGS

A meeting is a defined real-time gathering of two or

more people for the purpose of achieving a common
goal through conversation and interaction.
DO’S
Pay attention to the one who is speaking at the front.
Take notes.
Make a contribution.
Have a appropriate attire.

DON’TS
Don’t take over when someone else is trying to talk.
Don’t ask inconsiderate question.
Being late
PURPOSE OF MEETINGS
Information Sharing: Meetings are platforms for
disseminating information, sharing updates, and
presenting reports.
Problem Solving: They provide a space for
brainstorming ideas and finding solutions to
challenges.
Decision Making: Important decisions often
emerge from the meetings, influencing the course of
action.
Feedback and Evaluation: Performance review
and feedback sessions are essential for personal and
professional growth.
4. COMMUNICATION
Means of sending or receiving information.

Ways to have an effective communication:

Speak clearly and language everyone can
understand.
Act courteously and use good manners.
Read information before asking.
Listen to others when they are talking.
Don’t engage office gossip.
Be careful with your tune when speaking.
 Importance of Effective Communication

Building Relationships: Clear and empathetic

communication fosters trust and intimacy in
personal relationships.
Conflict Resolution: Effective communication is key
to resolving conflicts and reaching compromises.
Career Advancement: Strong Communication skills
are often a prerequisite for leadership and career
growth.
Innovation: Teams that communicate well generate
more creative ideas and problem solving solutions.
Global Connectivity: in our interconnected world,
effective communication bridges cultural and
linguistic divides.
5. Time Management: don't be late to work, instead
arrive a few minutes early to settle, get your coffee
and greet co-workers. Follow lunch and break
schedules by leaving and returning on time. At the
beginning of every day, review your schedule so you
know what time you have to be where, and what
workload you have on that day.
6. Integrity: act ethically and do the 'right' thing
at all times, always report suspicious people in
the office, misconduct, or other violations of
company policy Remain impartial keeping any
personal bias and intolerances out of the
workplace.
7. Safety: understand the company safety policy and
report any maintenance or other hazards
immediately.

8. Corporate Goals: have an understanding of your

company's missions, goals and objectives and the
role that you play in achieving those.

9. Dress: dress in clean, appropriate clothing.

Follow any dress code standards or guidelines and if
there aren't any, avoid clothing that is revealing,
provocative, or includes offensive language or
pictures.
10. Accountability: take responsibility for your work and
actions, do what needs to be done, and don't leave it for
others. Be honest if things go wrong, or you don't finish
something on time, then work out an effective
resolution to move forward. Seek help early if you need
lit.

11. Teamwork: you often need to work with people that

Jub you may not necessarily like. Set aside differences
to work well with others since teamwork sometimes
even outweighs performance - with people who work
well with others often advancing based on that aspect.
12. Commitment: dedication and a positive action to
your role and the organization can carry you a long
way. Plus, dedication from employees is often
contagious with others being inspired to go the
extra effort themselves.