Professionalism for Business Communication – Final EssayProfessionalism is the conduct, goals, or qualities that characterize a professional person. This concept encompasses a number of different attributes such as responsibility, integrity, accountability and excellence. Failure to conduct yourself professionally at work can lead to disastrous consequences in your career. This essay analyzes several unprofessional behaviors of the protagonist in the film “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006) and shows how she can actually improve the situation with a more professional approach. The film is set in the office of a magazine called Runway with the main character, Andrea Sachs, taking on the job of personal assistant to the editor-in-chief. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay To begin with, specialized knowledge is a key attribute of professionalism, which is not seen in Andrea at the beginning of his career. As Emily, the first assistant, says in the film, “Runway is a fashion magazine, so interest in fashion is key.” However, Andrea's initial performance shows no expertise in fashion. He has never heard of Miranda Priestly, a leading figure in the industry; he doesn't know how to spell Gabbana and has no idea what a rehearsal is. Mastery of specialized knowledge plays a fundamental role in maintaining a professional image (Mind Tools). To achieve success, professionals must acquire a stable core of knowledge in their field and keep that knowledge constantly updated. In this sense Andrea does not live up to professional expectations in the workplace. The situation could be improved if she spent a lot of time researching to gain a proper understanding of fashion before entering this billion dollar industry. Furthermore, on the first day of work, Andrea does not comply with the professional dress code for his job. He wears an old, rumpled jacket and his unruly hair shows a lack of care for his personal appearance. The next day is no better. A blue wool sweater and a knee-length plaid skirt are acceptable to a certain extent, but considering Andrea's work environment, it seems completely inappropriate. One of the fundamental values of professionalism in the workplace is appropriate clothing. According to Heathfield (2015), a human resources expert, the standard of dress for a formal work environment is “a suit, jacket and trousers or skirt, or a dress paired with appropriate accessories”. Ironed and not wrinkled clothing is mandatory. Judging by these rules, Andrea obviously misbehaved professionally at work by not respecting the formal dress code. One way to redeem yourself is to adhere to the formal dress code guidelines and try to meet the dress requirements of such a prestigious fashion magazine. Furthermore, Andrea's lack of responsibility is another manifestation of his lack of professionalism in the workplace. When she fails to comply with Miranda's order and is scolded, she begins to complain that her efforts are not recognized. It is Nigel, the magazine's designer, who enlightens Andrea and convinces her to admit her work mistake. Professionals hold themselves responsible for every action they carry out at work, in particular for their own mistakes (Small Business). The concept of responsibility refers to the ability to recognize mistakes and try to find solutions to correct the situation instead of complaining or blaming other colleagues. In Andrea's case,.
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