When we transact at government offices, we expect to receive the best service. Government employees should adhere to the highest professional and work ethic standards. But, this is not true for all government institutions. More often than not, government employees have a bad reputation. Unfortunately, three words describe them: unprofessional, lazy, and inefficient. The image of the government agency they represent also gets a bad rap.

How does a ‘professional’ behave?

Being a professional is not limited to a person’s title, degree, or job position. A professional is someone who is well-groomed, properly dressed, competent, courteous, effective, and knowledgeable. They carry with them a positive attitude all the time and are good communicators. All organizations need professionals in all levels, from the rank and file to the executives.

A client walking in a local government offices expect a level of professionalism from the people they come in contact with. Clients come from different social classes and should receive equal treatment. No client is better than the other. A government employee who shows no partiality creates a positive client experience.

How does a professional look?

Image Strategists often say that you only have 7 seconds to create a positive first impression. So, it is a must to create an impressive one. A professional cares about how they look. Whether they wear an office uniform or not, they should look decent and with authority.

What they wear and how they present themselves reflects their credibility and integrity. An employee with poor grooming is a turn-off not only the client but to the co-workers as well. Wearing the appropriate dress and footwear is a must. Wearing slippers at work diminishes the credibility and respect.

When an employee takes time to manage their appearance, they will look good. When they look good, they will feel good about themselves. Then, this builds their confidence and effectiveness. The more professional they look, they more credible they appear to others.

How does a professional communicate?

There are two forms of communication: verbal and non-verbal. What people say and how it was said affects their image as well. Are you paying close attention to what your clients are saying? Or do you show impatience when listening to their requests?

These nonverbal cues impact the transaction. Misunderstanding often occurs because the employee didn’t take the time to listen. Unfortunately, this adds to the list of negative customer experience.

Clients remember employee who are good communicators. Those who know how to listen attentively stand out. They earn the respect not only of the client, but their colleagues as well. They also practice etiquette and work ethics. Knowing how to conduct oneself in front of a client is a component of a professional communicator.

How can an Image Strategist help?

Attitudes and behaviors come from childhood. Behavior is evident of the person’s core character. That character evident in workplace behavior. Radiance Image Consultancy specializes in professional development workshops that address deep issues. We help the participants who they are and how their character affects their work.

We offer various training programs that empower your employees and change their professional image. They will realize the value of work ethics and professionalism. When a professional image is ignored, problems will continue to rise and negatively affect the reputation of the government agency.

Does your organization have a negative reputation? Do you want to change the way clients perceive your employees and your organization? Consult with a professional Image Strategist to help find the solution to your company needs. When you improve the lives of your employees, your organization’s reputation is changed as well.

Be extraordinary, inside and out