Can We Talk About Professionalism?

Itmay be a taboo topic in some respects, but I still believe lines ofprofessionalism are alive and well. Becoming harder to see and more blurry, perhaps, but still there.  There are just some things you do and do notdo in your professional world. 

Socialmedia, for example.  I do not ‘friend’clients on Facebook; I also do not automatically add everyone in my new officeon the first day.  I am hesitant toconnect with clients and co-workers on LinkedIn.  If I do, it is after a significant period oftime of being acquainted.  Why?  The professional boundary.  The foundation of our relationship isprofessional, not personal.  I want tokeep it that way.

Don’tget me wrong – I come to know my clients and co-workers very personally.  We talk, we share – it’s great.  But there are still lines that shouldn’t becrossed.  As an HR professional, I am privyto a lot of confidential information.  Iam also privy to the hear-say, the assumptions, the stories, the gossip –knowing that, do I want to know even more about the personal lives of those Iwork with every day?  I think not; I knowenough. 

Thebiggest problem with social media is that it creates a false sense ofintimacy.  ‘Friends’ are not necessarily ‘friends.’  People are portrayed as closer than theytruly are, and everyone is shown in their best light.  How many of your Facebook friends have atendency to share too much?  Mine do andthat’s just my immediate family, friends from high school and college, andparents of my kids’ friends.  I have nointerest in adding the drama of my clients and co-workers too. 

Usingthe goods and services of a client or co-worker also comes with itschallenges.  What if you take your drycleaning to a client company or agree to have a co-worker take your sister’swedding photos – and things go horribly wrong? How do you bounce back from that? Just say no.

Thereare a lot of other areas of professionalism that have evolved in recent years –dress codes, language (swearing), alcohol in the office.  For the most part, the changes have been goodand are appropriate to reflect new societal norms.  But there are still lines.  I wish more people would observe them.