"Professional is not a label you give yourself -- it's a description you hope others will apply to you."

David Maister, author,

“True Professionalism”

I’ve been thinking . . . about a rather philosophical discussion I had with a group of team members. During the conversation, one person asked me: "What kind of employees are bosses most impressed with?"

Interesting question! Three distinct qualities immediately surfaced in my mind.

1. Be Passionate About What You Do.  

This isn't about merely “liking your job” or “enjoying what you do.” Passion goes far beyond phrases of endearment. Possessing an impenetrable passion for achieving results is found in people who are fully engaged in what they do. The willingness to do whatever it takes and then a little more is often the clearest expression of passion. Every successful person knows you will never excel by doing just what is expected.

Passion levels are immediately visible in our conversations, body language, response to requests, approach to challenges, team interactions . . .  you get the picture. Everything you do everyday communicates the level of passion you feel for what you do.

Passionate people get results. It's not about how hard you work but the results you achieve. The world doesn't care how busy you are. The world is being run by tired passionate people. . . people going above and beyond to get incredible results.  

2. Embrace a World Class Performance Vision

The Broadway lyricist Oscar Hammerstein once told the story of seeing the top of the Statue of Liberty from a helicopter. He was surprised and impressed with the incredible detail the artist had sculpted on an area that no one was expected to see. In fact, the Statue of Liberty was completed with no idea that man would someday be able to fly over it.

The artist's attention to detail, even in areas not intended for human viewing exemplifies a World Class performance mindset. Set a standard higher than conventional thinking and then exceed your own standard. This means doing what you do like no one else does it!  

Extraordinary personal standards coupled with unquenchable passion are a formula for World Class results.  

Embracing a World Class mindset involves continually ReThinking, ReImagining, and ReCreating what we do to produce "WOW" results. Do whatever it takes to make your next performance better than your last. Take advantage of every opportunity to activate a “Yes, I Can” attitude.

3. Support Each Other

This is where an Ego Enema might be helpful. Remind yourself, "The success of our team is not about me. It’s the power of ‘we.’” The success of our team is about our desire, ability, and unselfish dedication to fulfill our teamwork commitment.

Leave it to Lucy in the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz to put this in perspective. In one strip, while Lucy swings on the playground, Charlie Brown reads to her, "It says here that the world revolves around the sun once a year."

Lucy stops abruptly and responds, "The world revolves around the sun? Are you sure? I thought it revolved around me."

Understand the world does not revolve around you. Bosses admire team members who truly care for each other, are willing to selflessly serve, and do whatever it takes to help others be successful.

If you want your boss to be impressed with you then support others. Seems ironic, doesn't it? I have a strong need to be confident that my team's relationship with one another is “right” . . . that they have each other's best interest at heart.

There are no doubt countless ways we can impress our boss and other team members. Mastering these three professional qualities will certainly provide a great start.

"Accomplishing the impossible means only that the boss will add it to your regular duties."  

Doug Larson, columnist