Ask any manager what separates thriving teams from chaotic ones, and the answer often comes down to professionalism. A recent survey by ResumeBuilder.com of 626 managers sheds light on this.
When asked to compare remote and in-person employees, 76% said in-person workers are easier to train and tend to show stronger professional skills. Only 15% believe remote workers are more trainable. The rest saw no real difference.
This survey suggests that the way people work, not just where, can shape how their professionalism in the workplace is perceived. Before we dive into solutions, let’s take a step back and understand what professionalism in the workplace really means and why it plays such a key role in making a positive first impression.
Definition and Importance of Professionalism in the Workplace
Ask five different people to define professionalism, and you are likely to get five different answers. That is because professionalism in the workplace is not a fixed rulebook but a set of unwritten expectations shaped by culture, identity, industry, and history.
According to Mark Davis, a scholar at Smith College, professional behavior is defined by how someone dresses, talks, behaves, and even emotes in ways deemed competent or appropriate by their peers or supervisors. Professionalism in the workplace includes everything from a person’s clothing to their tone of voice. In other words, workplace professionalism signals the attitude, values, and skills that make others trust you.
Professional Norms Are Not One-Size-Fits-All
However, not all professional workplace norms are created equally. Professionalism in the workplace can sometimes reflect outdated or biased standards. For instance, a brightly dyed hairstyle might be a badge of expertise in a tattoo studio but seem out of place in a law firm.
In healthcare, wearing scrubs is part of the dress code and essential for patient safety. In any setting, learning how to dress appropriately shows awareness of your environment and signals alignment with team norms.
What is considered “appropriate” shifts dramatically depending on the organization and context. Still, there are common threads that tie it all together: integrity, respect, reliability, and a commitment to clear communication.
Why Professionalism Matters More Than Ever
These traits matter more than they might seem. Workplace professionalism helps employees create successful interpersonal relationships, build trust with colleagues, and boost overall success. A shared standard of conduct reduces misunderstandings, improves communication skills, and supports a healthier workplace culture.
In fact, teams that align on professional norms are more likely to retain talent, resolve problems quickly, and deliver consistent performance. This is especially important for organizations navigating today’s diverse and multigenerational workforce.
When Professionalism Breaks Down
On the other hand, when professionalism in the workplace breaks down, the ripple effect touches everything, including team morale and reputation. These lapses often surface as a human resources challenge: turnover increases, tensions rise, and productivity dips.
In short, workplace professionalism is a powerful tool for shaping how employees interact, how leaders guide, and how an organization grows. When understood in full, professionalism in the workplace becomes the framework for a thriving, trustworthy, and resilient team.
Common Signs and Examples of a Lack of Professionalism
When professionalism in the workplace breaks down, so does productivity. It starts small: an email ignored here, a comment taken the wrong way there. Before long, it chips away at team trust and collaboration.
Over time, these lapses can damage workplace morale, stall training outcomes, and make good employees walk away. Recognizing the signs is the first step in fixing them.
Below are some common patterns that show what a lack of professionalism in the workplace really looks like and why it matters.
Poor Communication
Poor communication shows up fast. A passive-aggressive message, a vague response, or worse, complete silence are common in the workplace. Poor communication sends the signal that someone either does not care or is not tuned in. Both can make the office environment tense.
Low engagement often shows up as poor responsiveness and a lack of focus. Whether it is a failure to reply to important updates or simply zoning out during meetings, inattentiveness signals a disconnect. Employees who do not respond clearly or promptly can come across as distant or even disrespectful, even if that is not their intention.
Therefore, listening attentively is a core part of workplace professionalism. When people actively listen, ask questions, and stay present, it builds mutual respect and keeps colleagues on the same page.
Disrespect and Bias
You can have all the talent in the world, but if you treat others poorly, it will be evident. A lack of respect, especially when it is rooted in micromanagement, exclusion, or unfair judgment, can make even the most skilled employees feel unwelcome.
Disrespect sometimes hides behind “professional standards.” Brittany Noble, a former news anchor, was told her natural hair was unprofessional, even after receiving prior approval.
This kind of biased behavior reinforces harmful stereotypes and also signals to others that conformity is valued more than authenticity. When expectations are based on biased norms, it creates a culture of fear rather than trust.
There is a fine line between encouraging polish and enforcing control. Workplace professionalism should never be used to suppress identity. It should reflect integrity, not uniformity.
Toxic Competition and Gossip
Some tension at work is normal. However, when colleagues start sabotaging each other, stealing credit, or spreading gossip, it turns the workplace into a toxic atmosphere. This can disrupt projects, create distrust, and force teams into survival mode.
Toxic office politics can quickly spiral into full-blown conflict. That is why knowing how to avoid escalation matters. Teams thrive when they solve problems together, not when they compete to tear each other down.
Real training in emotional intelligence and communication can help reverse that trend before it spreads.
Unprofessional Online Behavior
The line between our personal lives and professional ones can get blurry, especially online. However, when employees overshare, vent about work, or accidentally leak sensitive information, it crosses that fine line.
Turning personal matters into public content, especially on social media, can backfire quickly. People notice, and the work culture suffers.
Some organizations have company policies around digital behavior, while others expect self-awareness from their teams. Either way, posting complaints or breaking confidentiality, even unintentionally, can erode trust. Professionals should always pause before they post.
Lack of Accountability and Emotional Control
Missing meetings, not meeting deadlines, and reacting defensively to feedback are the warning signs that someone is struggling with accountability. A responsible person owns their mistakes, learns from them, and stays calm under pressure. But that takes work.
Humility is a powerful marker of workplace professionalism. Professionals accept criticism without lashing out. They know how to reset after a bad day rather than letting their attitude spill into their behavior.
Displaying professionalism is not just about staying composed—it is about being reliable even when things are hard.
Strategies to Address and Improve Professionalism
Professionalism in the workplace is not something people are just born with. People can learn, practice, and improve it over time. This means that organizations do not have to settle for poor behavior or inconsistent standards. With the right mindset, training, and culture, teams can grow together and thrive.
Below are practical strategies to help managers, leaders, and employees develop a strong foundation of professionalism and actually stick with it.
Set Clear Expectations & Model Professional Behavior
People cannot hit a target they cannot see. If an organization does not define what behavior looks like in the workplace, employees will fill in the blanks based on past jobs, assumptions, or their own comfort zones. Therefore, leadership must do more than talk about standards. They need to model them.
Traits like humility, consistency, and emotional control should be emphasized. A true professional shows up on time, delivers what they promised, and treats others with respect, even under pressure.
When managers behave this way, others follow. On the other hand, if leaders bend the rules or lash out, those actions send a louder message than any policy memo ever could.
Clear standards are not about micromanaging. They are about creating fairness. Everyone deserves to know the rules of the game.
Promote Inclusive Professionalism
Not every suit fits every person. Traditional ideas of professionalism, including dress codes and email tone, often carry cultural and generational bias. As a result, modern workplace leaders must rethink what “professional” actually means.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers four steps:
- Observe: Pay attention to what colleagues say and do.
- Reflect: Reflect on how your expectations might be shaped by your own background.
- Empathize: Make room for different perspectives, especially around self-expression.
- Let Loose: Loosen the grip on norms that do not serve your team’s real values. Authenticity and respect can exist side by side.
When teams redefine professionalism through inclusion, they raise the bar for connection, understanding, and employee engagement.
Offer Feedback and Foster Accountability
Accountability is about developing people. Managers and peers alike should offer feedback that builds confidence and growth. Still, timing and tone matter.
Encouraging self-awareness means guiding someone without embarrassing them. One proven method is the “feedback sandwich.”
Start with something specific and positive, follow with constructive criticism, and end with a forward-looking suggestion. This keeps the focus on improvement, not blame.
When handled well, feedback helps communicate care. When avoided, it creates distance and confusion.
Teach Communication and Conflict Skills
Being professional is not just about what you do. It is also about how you communicate. Teaching communication skills, such as active listening, clear boundaries, and assertive speech, can shift how teams solve problems.
A responsible person does not just express frustration. They also explain it calmly and seek solutions. These are skills, not instincts. With structured training, teams can build habits that reduce tension and support productivity.
When employees are equipped with the ability to communicate clearly, their attitude shifts from reactive to proactive. That is what separates the average team from one that consistently meets or even exceeds expectations.
Establish Work-Life Balance and Boundaries
Professionalism is not just what happens during work hours. If people are burned out, checked out, or constantly wired into work, their patience and performance will suffer. That is why healthy boundaries matter.
Encouraging employees to disconnect after hours, limit nonessential meetings, and respect others’ time off can all make a significant impact. Modern professionalism includes the ability to separate work from personal lives. When people have space to recharge, they show up with more focus, empathy, and clarity.
Organizations that maintain balance see more sustainable success. They do not just function—they thrive. And in today’s world, that is what a true professional environment looks like.
Role of Conflict Resolution in Enhancing Professionalism
Conflict and professionalism are more connected than most people realize. In every organization, some level of conflict is inevitable. However, how we handle it makes all the difference.
When employees are trained to navigate tension with respect and clarity, it builds trust, strengthens communication, and creates a more professional work environment.
How Conflict and Professionalism Work Together
In a professional environment, people do not avoid hard conversations. Instead, they engage in them thoughtfully. They know how to express frustration without attacking, how to offer criticism, and how to listen without interrupting.
When we teach teams to handle conflict professionally, we see major changes in the following ways:
- Communication becomes clearer
- Accountability improves
- Colleagues feel safer speaking up
- Team dynamics become more productive
- Mistakes become learning opportunities
On the flip side, when conflict is ignored or mismanaged, it spreads. People disengage, gossip increases, and trust fades. Even high-performing employees begin to check out when they feel unheard or disrespected.
Our Approach to Conflict Resolution
At Pollack Peacebuilding, we specialize in helping teams move from tension to trust. Through our conflict resolution services, we guide organizations toward stronger, more respectful cultures. We offer:
- Private interviews to understand each person’s perspective
- Facilitated dialogue sessions to rebuild understanding
- Follow-ups to ensure new habits are sticking
- Conflict coaching for individuals and leadership teams
We believe that professionalism grows when employees feel seen, heard, and supported during challenging conversations. Our work focuses not just on resolving issues but on building lasting interpersonal skills that teams can use every day.
Employee Training Programs Offered by Pollack Peacebuilding Systems
Professional growth takes good intentions, the right training, feedback, and support. That is where we come in. Our employee training programs are designed to help teams not only maintain professionalism but also develop a culture where it thrives.
Conflict Resolution Training
Our conflict resolution workshops go beyond surface-level advice. We teach the following:
- How to give and receive tough feedback
- How to recognize and de-escalate rising tensions
- How to lead problem-solving conversations that move people forward
We include real scenarios, coaching exercises, and tools your team can apply immediately. The goal is not to avoid conflict but to handle it like a true professional.
Communication Skills Training
Many conflicts begin with unclear or defensive communication. That is why we also offer workshops focused on the following:
- Active listening
- Managing difficult personalities
- Delivering constructive criticism
- Practicing empathy in high-stress moments
These interpersonal skills help employees communicate more effectively, which in turn reduces tension and boosts collaboration.
Organizational Assessments
Sometimes, the biggest roadblocks to professionalism in the workplace are baked into systems, not individuals. That is why we offer full organizational assessments to uncover what is working and what is not.
We help your team:
- Align on clear expectations
- Increase employee engagement
- Identify friction points across departments
- Create actionable roadmaps for improvement
We also include presentations and surveys to make sure everyone has a voice in shaping the changes ahead.
Coaching and Leadership Development
Strong leadership is key to sustaining a professional work environment. Through coaching sessions, both individual and group, we work with hiring managers and team leads to:
- Build emotional regulation skills
- Model professional attitude and respectful behavior
- Deliver feedback that promotes growth
- Lead through transitions with calm and confidence
We believe that leaders set the tone. When they invest in their own development, the entire organization benefits.
Why It Matters
Whether you are managing customer service reps, healthcare workers, or tech professionals, one thing is always true: People perform best when they feel respected. That starts with training, but it also requires consistency, modeling, and a culture that supports growth.
We help organizations foster respectful, productive, and professional workplaces. Contact us to explore tailored training and support for your team.
