Two Types of Workers
March 29, 2010 by Black Ink Magazine · Leave a Comment
In today’s workplace there are two types of workers: the employee and the professional. The employee is the individual who recognizes himself as someone hired to do a particular job for a particular salary. The professional sees herself as the person within the company who reliably performs to make a difference. The employee focuses on completing the task at hand and receiving compensation. The professional concentrates on how she tackles the job. Both types of workers experience very different results at the end of the day, mainly with regards to passion, motivation, perception and attitude.
The individual who claims, “I am only an employee,” is passionate about arriving at work and completing the assigned task. He may feel increasingly motivated as it approaches payday because he perceives his role as doing a job for a salary. His attitude is to get the job done within the given time. On the other hand, the professional is driven by a passion to perform at a superior level by:
• Taking pride in her work
• Delivering the best service to both internal and external clients
• Always seeking ways to improve
• Helping colleagues excel at what they do
• Being a great team player
The professional is motivated by daily challenges, workplace changes and the desire to make a difference; motivating others along the way. She perceives herself as an important staff member who receives an opportunity each day to deliver nothing less than quality service, adhered to high standards. Her attitude is always positive, focused on meeting her client’s needs, and not on being first to walk out the door at the end of the day.
Most organizations would like their employees to stop working as employees and start working as professionals. Ironically, many organizations do not encourage this shift to take place. Organizations that truly value their employees will embrace and implement strategies that motivate and support their employees, that allow them to feel respected and most importantly, valued. These organizations will produce more professionals than employees.
By: Patricia Hines
