Professionalism and Protocol

Professionalism creates credibility in several ways. I really like the quote that was brought up Wednesday that read, "You only have one chance to make a great first impression." This is so true! When we are professional, we are proving ourselves worthy of the trust and credibility that we want. When we dress and act professionally (avoiding sloppy dress, slang, etc.) we show those with whom we are communicating that we take the opportunity seriously. Anytime you behave unprofessionally, your credibility goes way down because if you can't act the part, how can you perform? Another aspect of professionalism we talked about in class is knowledge. If you aren't knowledgeable about what you are doing, then that gives the other people involved less reason to trust your decision. Also, when you take the time to research and find out information prior to a meeting, it shows those involved that you are willing to put forth the necessary effort and that you are serious about what you are doing.

One time that I experienced protocol was when I met Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor. There were many things about this experience that were true to the lessons we learned on Wednesday. First, we all were asked to dress in business professional attire. This showed our respect for her position and the time she took out of her busy schedule to talk to us. When she walked in, we all stood and were seated when she invited us to be seated. Also, when we were allowed a question and answer period there was a very specific way for us to ask questions. We said something to the effect of "Justice Sotomayor, thank you for taking the time to come and speak to us. My name is Mallory Brugger and I'm from Idaho. My question is..." This protocol made things very organized and professional. She is an important person in our country's justice system, and this protocol helped us to give her the respect that her title deserves.