The Importance of being a Professional off the Clock
Why is it so important to be a professional when you are off the clock? While we all know why you need to be a professional when you are on the clock, what is the point of being a professional while you are on the clock? No one is paying you at that point, and there is nothing holding you back from living your life right?Well, the best thing you can do for yourself is to make sure you are still exercising good behavior when you are outside of work. As Braylon Edwards proved to us the other day, it is still important to make sure that you are staying out of the limelight and not casting any negative light on the people that are signing your paycheck.Do people care about what you are doing outside of work? In a way no, but in another way they really do care. When someone employs you, they expect that you will be responsible and keep out of trouble. They want employees who are going to be available to work and won’t have that ability revoked because they can’t get to work, or because they are hurt.This is why you need to maintain a good reputation outside of work too. If you are seen as an alcoholic, or you do drugs outside of work, it won’t make you look good. What employer is going to want to hire someone who they know engages in risky behaviors that could get them in trouble. Is it worth seeing in the headlines that the director of sales is in jail for 30 days for resisting arrest?The relationships that are developed with customers can be put on the line if a worker gets in trouble. What might happen if Steve gets arrested, or ends up breaking his arm in a fight? Clients might think that Steve has a double life, or at least cannot make good decisions. This might cause clients to think twice about trusting their business and image with Steve.Professionalism is an all encompassing thing that affects you when you are at work, and to a degree when you are not at work. The thing is to keep yourself out of the limelight and not jeopardize your chances of going to work and getting a paycheck. That is the best reason to make sure that you stay out of trouble and maintain a professional attitude off the clock.
