Professionalism In the WorkplaceWhat does it mean to be a professional in Early Care and Education

Goals Identify what makes a professional in

ECE

Identify ways that you can support each other to become more professional

Top 10 Clues You Are An ECE Professional…10. You leave work everyday with paint, glue, markers, play dough, glitter and other unidentifiable items on your hands and clothes.9. You can recite the theme song to any show on Disney or Nickelodeon.8. You know how to build a zoo, garage or house with only a few blocks and scraps of paper.

Top 10 Clues You Are An ECE Professional…7. You can speak in acronyms and forget there are those who do not know what a PDR is.6. 4 out of 5 pairs of your pants have worn out knees because you spend so much time on the floor with the children.5. You know the words to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Green Eggs and Ham and Where the Wild Things Are without looking at the books.

Top 10 Clues You Are An ECE Professional…4. After using the restroom at a restaurant you catch yourself singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” to ensure you are washing your hands long enough. 3. Some of your most prized possessions include pipe cleaner jewelry and finger paint pictures. 2. The people who work in the Dollar General know you by name.

Top 10 Clues You Are An ECE Professionals…1. You find yourself hoarding old newspapers, bottles, buttons, paper towel rolls, shopping bags, egg cartons, pens, pencils, butter containers, cell phones, t-shirts, wall paper scraps, shoe boxes, baskets, tissue boxes, purses, clothes and calendars for future classroom projects.

Golden Rule of Professionalism

The client is always right.

Even when they are wrong.

It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages.Henry Ford

Secrets of the Trade First impressions may be the only

impression you get to make.

If you don’t know, it is okay to admit it.

Perspective is the difference between attitude and gratitude.

Learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

Communication

The problem with communication ... is the illusion that it has been accomplished.

George Bernard Shaw

Communication StylesHow do/would you

Arrange a conference with one of your families?

Sell your car? Organize a night out with friends? Talk to your supervisor about concerns

with a child? Discuss a confusing policy with a co-

worker?

Tricks of the Trade Express empathy for the other person. Apologize for the way they are feeling, if

not the specific incident. Use I statements. Listen for truths and facts. Restate problem to ensure you

understand the issue. Express thanks for bringing the issue to

your attention.

What do you see?

The greatest challenge and opportunity for growth is how you react to CRITICISM.

Or in the world of ECE…

Well, you can’t never let anything happen… Then, nothing would ever happen…Not much fun...

Dory

How do you respond to Criticism? Know that everyone can improve. Be grateful that someone was honest enough to

share. Accept the challenge. Get excited to become a

better professional. Be approachable. Open and honest conversation can

only take place when others feel they can come to you.

Listen for the message. Critical wording may sting but that does not make the statement invalid.

Reflect without defensiveness.

Role Play Partner Up! Practice responding to the criticism by

using I-statements, empathy, rising to the challenge and be grateful for the feedback.

Practice giving the criticism in the most constructive way.

Goal Planning Staying focused requires an endgame

for professionals. Now is a time for you to create your endgame.

Work out a system to find support and celebrations for completing on the goals.

Thank You Sara Bosley

sbosley@childcareconsultants.org 717 771 8538 717 309 9556