Business Etiquette: If You Aren’t Managing Your Professional Image, Someone Else Is

Competence, character, and commitment are the key characteristics people use to form your professional image according to Laura Roberts a professor in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School.

In her Q&A interview re-published in the Harvard Business School (HBS) Working Knowledge e-mail newsletter, she elaborates by commenting that her research shows the most highly regarded traits are trustworthiness, caring, humility, and capability. Professor Roberts’ premise is that if you are not actively managing your perceived professional image with these key characteristics in mind, others will.

She suggests that you look at the signals – direct and indirect – that co-workers are giving you regarding your professional image. Such as job assignments, referrals and recommendations.

Roberts concludes that by actively understanding and managing your professional image the personal and organizational benefits may include career advancement, client satisfaction, better work relationships, group cohesiveness, and a more fulfilling work experience.