Are you "Up to Snuff" or Unprofessional?

Accepting a job means that you are qualified and you are a professional. You fit into the company's mission and you are a team player. Being professional means you are truthful, have knowledge, experience, are timely, organized and respectful among other things. Do you fit into this package?

Doing it my way is fine for Frank Sinatra, but when you throw your colleagues and supervisors under the bus, it is very unprofessional. Triangulation is extremely dishonest and self-serving. Wearing that proverbial smile while you are stabbing someone with your words is neither charismatic or ethical.


When you trust someone you expect the same in return. The exception to this rule is when there is a crisis or a medical issue that must be reported. In this case, you are the responsible one. Trust is one those foundations for a strong and caring relationship.

Do not bad-mouth your boss! That is definitely unprofessional. You accepted the position and you need to be true to the company's mission however the boss rules the roost. If you cannot do this, find another job. Sharing your feelings with colleagues will eventually target you as a complainer and you will be ignored. After all, your colleagues have a voice too. While you threaten to leave, you also do your job with a smile and this is definitely a two-faced, unprofessional action. As the old saying goes, love it or leave it.

Professional behavior is expected of you and your co-workers. Anything less is a signal for dismissal. Unprofessional behavior, like reprimanding a colleague or supervisee in front of others is definitely not in your best interest. Mistakes are made by all, but there is a diplomatic manner to assist the worker by your example, not your ire. Once the air has cleared, monitor the situation carefully, if after close monitoring, the worker continues the same behavior, then you can decide if he/she is suited for the position.

Reactionary decisions only confuse the staff. It is unprofessional to act before you think. This is meant for everyone from the CEO to the worker bees, and should be taken into consideration for a smooth running operation.

When you commit to a plan, whether it is responding to those who have been interviewed or seeing a project to its final stage, do not make excuses for your lack of reasonable timing. Finish what you start and do not blame others for not finishing a project. The exception to this is working with a team that will not adhere to time management.

Ask yourself one question, "Are you the one holding up the process"? If so, you are treading on shaky ground and either change your behavior or admit that you cannot do the job.

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Gloria M. Reiske is an MSW, LCSW with more than thirty years experience in education, administration, social work, and coaching. She has authored many articles and is published in local media, having written a men and grief manual for training purposes throughout Virginia and an article for children and grief.

Ode To Karen

Karen Garland friend and former graphic artist died on May 30, 2015.

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Gloria M. Reiske is an MSW, LCSW with more than thirty years experience in education, administration, social work, and coaching. She has authored many articles and is published in local media, having written a men and grief manual for training purposes throughout Virginia and an article for children and grief.

Disruptions in the Workplace

When the workplace is disrupted by a new owner and changes are made, much of the time is spent firing or letting go of good workers. They are replaced by the new owners team. There are financial changes too. Salaries are increased and because of their own personal reasons, some of the old staff remains.

The infrastructure is shuffled around and a new infrastructure is established. Influenced by their own past and beliefs, the new owners intentions are two-fold. One is to abide by the new rules or leave and two is to follow the path of the new integration and to make others believe that growth is the bottom line.

Actually, the revenue is the bottom line and the workers are far removed from the company's transparency. The workers are only told what the upper echelon wants them to know.

Today, we are infiltrated by everything from acts of overt and covert behaviors to neglectful and improper behaviors. From politics to injustices in everyday life, there is a great loss of respect. The arrogance of those who believe they are knowledgeable and are denying their lack of experience are often in leadership positions. When are we going to come to our senses and stop promoting those who lack skills as leaders.

The workers who have the experience and knowledge are often ridiculed as though they are new to their positions. This is one disruption that forces the truly skilled to apply for other positions. The change in personnel that occurs is often distracting to the staff and causes the hiring of less than qualified personnel.  I would ask the CEO's of companies to hire those who will increase the growth and have knowledge and experience, not those still in training pants. Stability needs to be the key word. CEO's who reactively hire those they like instead of looking at how they would fit with the staff are just causing themselves more stress.

How does one monitor other workers when the unskilled are responsible for that task? At this point, we have experienced workers who literally are frustrated and insulted by the lack of a supervisor's knowledge. Where is the supervisor who listens and learns?

Granted there are errors made by workers, but diplomacy can only build a good relationship. If supervisors are new to the position, have them build relationships, not act like tyrants.

Look at the supervisor's mode of operation and check out the behaviors that will inevitably cause problems. Sometimes the new supervisor needs to carefully identify his/her inadequate behavior.


Good leadership begins at the top and if that is not happening, look for another position. Leaders can run into walls of steel if actions are not planned diligently and precisely. One can be blindsided quickly by not thinking ahead and how it affects the staff when you make reactive decisions. Arrogance and the belief that you are God's gift to the world has its repercussions.