Why Everyone Should be Treated like a Pro

No matter what a person does for a living, they must be treated like a professional each and every time you conduct business with them or communicate with them. Face it, some people don’t like what they do for a living and others feel unappreciated, broke and trapped. You could argue that they chose their position in life and you may be right, but even those in intermediate and higher work positions may sport these same feelings.

I met a woman who told me about the receptionist of a large organization who was told by the president on a daily basis that she was the most important person in the company because it was her job to greet everybody who phoned in. He was sincere in his remarks and she looked forward to seeing him every morning that he came through the door. She was a professional receptionist.

A person who gets paid to conduct a work activity is, by definition, a professional, if it truly is their ‘profession’. A professional knows how to do the work better than anyone because they do it on a daily basis. A professional should be proud of their profession, no matter what it is and not feel as if they are being ‘looked down upon’ by others, whether customers or CEO’s.

So, if we stop looking down at those in the lower ranks, be courteous and treat them like the professionals they are, they will undoubtedly feel less trapped and more appreciated. Then , perhaps, customer service would not suffer nearly as much as it currently does.

One more reason to treat everyone like a pro - you never know who they know and courteousness goes a long way when networking, no matter what you are seeking. For example, a janitor may know a plumber who can save you money, a security guard may know a mechanic they know and trust or a cashier may do accounting for small businesses on the side. 

You truly never know who is who or who knows who. That being said, sporting a smile or being polite could open doors you never knew existed.