Personally Growing in My Profession

1. Personally Growing in My Profession Lynn Lawrence, CPOT, ABOC

2. Overview • Define Professionalism • Elements of Professionalism • How to grow as a Professional • Hindrances to Professionalism • How to get others to see you as a Professional • Opportunities within the Profession

3. Where do we start? What does being a professional mean? • An occupation requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation • Conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession

4. Professions • Have a body of knowledge, scope of practice, agreed upon values, oath or code and accountability to our society for their profession and their professional behavior.

5. Professionalism • Webster: the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or professional individual • Sports, medicine, law, technical skills When you fail, the entire profession takes a hit!

6. Professionalism • Describes a certain type of behavior in the workplace • Based on our values and understanding of our professional roles • Evidenced in our behavior • Becoming an expert

7. Professionalism is: • Having an awareness of how your actions, body language, and words affect others • Being accountable for one’s actions • Learning to master skills of the trade • Leading by example • Having a passion that cannot be stopped

8. Personal Definition • Lynn: someone that has learned a skill, understands it’s importance, and continually strives to improve upon it through education and on-the-job training

9. Compassion • Com( Latin meaningwith or together)…pass means to move from one state to another… ion means condition or action… • Compassion…to spare, to love, especially to find, have, show and to obtain mercy, have pity, sympathy for someone in distress • Passion will drive you there, but compassion will cause you to act and do something…. directed passion with a purpose…you must get outside of yourself, your feelings, it is about someone other than you…

10. Elements of a Profession • Values • Ethics • Reputation • Goals • Knowing your limits

11. Is your profession important? • What are you doing to build your profession? • How are you maintaining your professional status? • Are you involved in your state or national organizations? • How are you as a professional going to move forward as the profession changes?

12. Great Attitudes • Perform each task well • Learn each job to the next highest level • Be passionate and compassionate • Everyone is a business contact • Everything is possible • Words really matter

13. Our relationships with patients: • Therapeutic context • Safety, trust, and ethical behavior are foundational • Relationships have boundaries • Vulnerability of patients and the imbalance of power Treat patients like favorite family members

14. Professional loyalty • Doctor provides opportunity for you to advance • How do you show your loyalty • What effect will your actions have on the overall profession

15. Functional Trust • All people have an equal need for respect • Respect is the basic foundation of all healthy personal relationships • Each team member is equally important • Each team member’s work is equally important

16. Personal Professional Development • Don’t wait for someone else to train you • Work for an office that is professionally supporting your dreams and goals • Don’t make excuses, make plans and stick to them • Get involved in your future…develop career path to success and follow it… • Find others to get involved in your future • Become an expert • Don’t forget, it is your future

17. Being Well-Rounded • Study all areas of your expertise • Focus on your local needs • Focus on your patient’s needs • Understand the staff needs • See the “Big Picture”

18. Look and Think the Part • Dress for success • Pay attention to perceptions • Do you project: team player, team leader, group coordinator, project officer? • Ask others… don’t be self deceived

19. How to grow as a Professional • Education • Dedication • Perseverance • Association • Personal • Local • State • National • International

20. Ways to Develop Your Profession • Examine what you want…be the example • Set clear borders • Teach staff how to learn • Find great examples • Educate, educate… • Express values • Tactical/ strategic thinking • Read, study, and read some more

21. Get Involved Find compassion at any of these levels • International • National • State • Local • Office • Charities • Civic organizations

22. Know you can make a difference • Get focused • Get involved • Find a professional area that is exciting • Find a way to assist the profession • Don’t just sit there • Have purpose • Do your part

23. Developing Those Around You • Ensure everyone is learning • Ensure everyone understands what is expected and what is at stake • Establish efficient lines of communication • Instill an atmosphere of teamwork • Accountability; we are only as strong as our weakest link

24. Determining Professionalism • No one can tell you if you are a professional • You can work in a profession and not demonstrate the traits of a profession • Does not matter what you actually do, you can do it professionally • You determine if you want to be viewed as a professional

25. How a Professional is Judged • Against a set of expectations or standards • From our own personal values set and understanding of what “professionalism” means • May be situational in nature • Strongly influenced by culture

26. A Professional is judged through: • Our Image (dress code: cleavage, belly, tattoos, piercings) • Communication (phone manners, profanity) • Competence • Demeanor • Attitude • Perception from others

27. Interviewing Look for a profession, not just a job! • Learn the basics and make a positive impression • Know who you are and what you can do • Do your homework and be prepared • Answer key interview questions with ease • Handle tough questions with confidence • Follow up • Negotiate a fair salary

28. From the Co-Workers Perspective • Trustworthy • Competent • Supportive • Respectful • Accountable

29. Body Language / Non-Verbal

30. Hindrances • Not knowing your job • Poor communicator • Fail to understand impact of actions • Poor decision making • Poor language • Personal conduct on and off the job • Not keeping current with trends in profession • Dress and appearance • Poor or bad attitudes

31. Professionalism is NOT! • Blaming others • Waiting for others to take the lead • Bringing drama to situations • Losing your composure • Making excuses • Being a know-it-all • Letting your ego take over • Having a bad attitude • Power trips

32. Always being bigger than the problem! • In control, not forceful • Never stooping or lowering your guard • Taking responsibility • Honest, but harmless

33. Others Judge Your Professionalism • Advocate everywhere • Train • Tell, show, watch, agree • Look the part • Speak the part • Communicate the part • Always be aware • Get feedback • Practice at home

34. More professional development • Create an environment that encourages development • Develop a clear advancement plan • Find out about staff’s personal goals • Write down the career path/review quarterly

35. How to Recognize Professionals • Professionals are always learning • Professional conduct demonstrates learning • Professionals are focused on the profession • Professionals connect with the profession • Professionals know what they are doing • Professionals look, talk, reflect their roles • Professionals are loyal to the profession in their actions • Professionals look for ways to advance the profession • You never have to look for a professional

36. Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later. OgMandino

37. Opportunities within Profession • There are opportunities within local, state, and national organizations • Guidelines established by reputable organization

38. On-Line Degree Program • Four Semester Course Plan – Technical Diploma • Not every course of the program is offered every semester. Students enrolled in the online technical diploma program at Madison Area Technical College are advised to follow this course plan. • http://madisoncollege.edu/online-optometric-course-plan-technical-diploma

39. American Board of Opticianry • ABO/NCLE • 28% require certification • 75% hiring preference • 75% higher pay • 40% promotion preference • After 10 yrs of exp, earn $6K more • 90% of states use testing as a reference for licensing

40. JCAHPO • Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel • Mission • JCAHPO's mission is to enhance the quality and availability of ophthalmic patient care by promoting the value of qualified allied health personnel and by providing certification and education.

41. Earn the Optometric Administration Certificate

42. INTRODUCING Optometric Administrative Assessment Based Certificate Program A comprehensive program designed to help candidates develop a solid foundation in managing an optometric practice. The program is intended to parallel the skills and knowledge required on the job.

43. DESIGNED FOR Practice Managers Front Desk Personnel Office Administrators Support Staff

44. Flexible access No time constraints Work at your own pace Affordable AOA Paraoptometric Section Member - $189 Non Paraoptometric Section Member - $229 Test Only - $75

45. Four Separate Units of Training

46. Each Unit Contains: Interactive Content

47. Multiple Unit Quizzes

48. Glossary

49. Index

50. Also Included *Demonstration Videos *Games Drop Down Tab for Attachments Suggested Resource Material for Additional Study Separate Test Booklet and Form *Included in various units