Catherine Hernandez

What Exactly is Professionalism?

“Professional: A person willing to play the game with every intention to win and willing to accept defeat.” – Chinmai Swamy

Professionalism is the conduct, behaviour, and attitude of someone in a work or business environment. It is defined by a certain set of rules that you must abide by to be considered professional.

Having high professionalism in your workplace means demonstrating personal accountability, time management skills, and acting responsibly with the larger community’s interest in mind. Other aspects of demonstrating high professionalism include interacting with others appropriately and respectfully, communicating clearly and directly, and having good interpersonal skills.

Professionalism leads to workplace success, a strong professional reputation, and a high level of work ethic and excellence. Everyone has a role to fill in any organization, and professional behaviour helps separate business from the personal.

Another counterpart of Professionalism, intimately linked with this notion, is leadership. The success of one very much affects the success of the other. Professionalism entails acting in a manner that’s in the best interest of the project: being efficient, keeping a focus on business, and separating your personal life from your working life. Acting as a leader means taking and accepting charge and control of the project, as well as making sure that your team members are fulfilling the tasks they’ve been given. It is very difficult to be an efficient leader if you are lacking in professionalism, and vice versa.

How to Demonstrate Professionalism in Your Internship

We’ve covered that professionalism doesn’t just concern how you look. It’s mostly about how you speak, how you behave and even how you think – these are all undeniable variables to a successful and professional workplace. And, needless to say, there is great payoff and gratification in maintaining a professional workplace.

Therefore, to demonstrate some professionalism, start by showcasing your understanding of workplace rules and expectations. You will of course have a hierarchical superior to supervise you, but you will demonstrate initiative and self-management skills. An employer expects you to work independently so they can focus on their own work, on their end.

This leads to responsibility in the workplace – you need to own it! Personal responsibility is critical to your success in the workplace. Your personal responsibility represents the level of commitment you have in identifying and achieving your goals. Another way to put it, your responsibility means being responsible for your actions, words and, ultimately, your performance at work. You’ll have to take credit for your successes, the easy part, and ownership of your failures, the harder part.

And responsibility itself leads to workplace ethics. It is as important to be ethical in day-to-day life as it is mandatory to be ethical in the workplace. Ethics correspond to moral principles that guide you when deciding between right or wrong. Ethics are tacit rules you refer to during any decision-making process. Exercise ethics in the workplace to assert your professionalism skill!

Last but not least: Mind. Your. Language. 

There is a reason your mother kept telling you when you were growing up to be polite and address people the proper way. Language is the single most important notion of communication – whether you are conversing with a colleague or with a client. Exercise using language that is proper for the workplace in your day-to-day discussions – this way, you get into the habit of sounding professional. Note that many people are denied a job because of their language level, written or oral!

Our 7 Tips for Achieving Professionalism

There are many ways to demonstrate professionalism in your working life. We’ve put together this list of seven ways that you can achieve this goal in your internship and future career!

1. Show Respect

• Showing respect to others is one of the ultimate ways to show professionalism. Respect should be offered to everyone – your superiors, your co-workers, and those who work below you. You also need to show respect for the people you serve, they are your harshest critics, after yourself!

2. Communicate Effectively

• Most disagreements, misunderstandings and arguments have a root problem: lack of communication. Good communication takes practice, but can, and will, save you from misunderstandings. Your ability to communicate effectively must be on par for you to keep operations fluid and running smoothly.

3. Be Proactive

• Being proactive means anticipating needs, issues or changes before they arise. This is a great trait of professionals. Rather than reacting to events and getting flustered, you can try to anticipate what will happen and be prepared in advance. Professionalism is very much so linked with proactivity, and you can only be considered professional by also being proactive.

4. Be Positive

• All jobs have their advantages and disadvantages. Try your utter best to limit or get rid of your complaints. Very few people want to work with someone who complains all the time. Rather than complaining, be a problem-solver who comes up with solutions for matters that are frustrating. If you need help with this, check out our Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving blog!

5. Remember Your Manners

• A simple “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” go a long way to showing that you are a professional and human being. Being polite is the best antidote to rudeness and will set a perfect tone for teammates around you to follow. By taking the time to think of others – holding a door open or offering a hand – can earn you a great amount of respect and appreciation.

6. Keep Learning

• Learning never stops, don’t forget that! Most career paths are continuously evolving and shifting. There are always new things to learn about in your field, as new discoveries are made. If you are well informed about your field of work, you can become a valued go-to person for your team members.

7. Forget About Your Screens

• People get so sucked in and absorbed by their mobile devices that they forget to interact with other people, even when they are right in front of them. Demonstrate your professionalism skills by resisting that temptation. Of course, you can check your texts and email, but only a few times a day and during the appropriate moments. Remain present in the moment and provide your teammates with your full attention – it goes a long way.

Online Courses to Improve Your Professionalism Skills

Employability Skills

This course aims to improve employability skills through self-awareness, skills awareness, and enhancing career readiness. This course will equip the individual with the tools to identify their current skill set, understand those that need development, and transfer their skills to different job specifications using personal examples to showcase these. The aim of this course is to build confidence when applying for the next career step as well as provide a broader set of skills and attributes to ensure success throughout their working life.

By completing this course, students will be working towards the following key competencies: #Professionalism #CareerDevelopment and #Leadership!

Digital Competency

This course introduces the fundamentals of digital networking, digital marketing, and digital presentation skills. This course will introduce LinkedIn features and making the most of the LinkedIn profile, key differences and benefits between a variety of social media platforms, basic knowledge of SEO and SEM and techniques, and improving public speaking skills in a digital context.

By completing this course, students will be working towards the following key competencies: #Professionalism #CareerDevelopment #Teamwork&Collaboration and #DigitalFluency!

Additional Sources & Resources

1. TEDx Talk: Professionalism, start small! – Dr Kyi Kyi Thinn
2. TEDx Talk: Being a Professional – Dale Atkins
3. TEDx Talk: Bring Your Whole Self to Work – Mike Robbins
4. TEDx Talk: Own Your Behaviours, Master Your Communication, Determine Your Success – Louise Evans
5. What Does Professionalism Look Like?
6. The Limits of Professional Behavior
7. 3 Traits of a Strong Professional Relationship
8. Professionalism and Leadership: Be the PM That Has Both Skills
9. Professionalism: Tips for Being Your Best on the Job

What is Career Development?

“You can’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You’ve got to get out there and make it happen for yourself.” – Diana Ross  

Career development refers to identifying and articulating one’s skills, strengths, and experiences relevant to personal career goals.

Students and employees with career development skills should be able to independently navigate and explore job options, as well as self-advocate for opportunities in the workplace.

Individuals that have these skills are more likely to move into roles where their skills are most suited and their aspirations are best met. Employers also invest in career development because it prevents employee turnover within organizations, and leads to higher engagement and productivity. 

Career development can also be defined as a process that spans the entire lifetime of an individual. From early childhood through retirement, our career aspirations and identity are constantly evolving.

Why is it Important? 

On the individual level, career development is a significant factor in developing a successful career. By focusing on opportunities for growth, learning, and progression, individuals are more likely to meet their individual career goals. Without a focus on career development, it is more likely that employees may become stuck in roles that offer little advancement, leading to higher employee burnout and dissatisfaction. 

Career development is quickly becoming important for organizations as well. This is because organizations are now aware that career development initiatives benefit their needs as well as the needs of their employees. 

Here are some more reasons why career development is so important!

Identifying and Resolving Business Needs

• With career development, organizations can plan more effectively with regular audits that highlight any potential need for internal restructuring. These company forecasts allow organizations to identify which skills are lacking in their operations and subsequently offer additional training to up-skill their employees.

Ensures a Steady Supply of Qualified Talent

• Quite often, the most qualified and aspirational job seekers tend to apply to companies that are known for their career development and progression programs. Thus, when organizations prioritize career development, they will inevitably attract some of the best candidates.

Guaranteeing a Good Fit Between Employer & Employee

• Different careers require different skillsets. To advance in their career and perform the job well, employees must pursue their own career development. This will ensure the best fit between the company and the employee.

Enhanced Job Satisfaction & Productivity

• When organizations prioritize and encourage career development, employees will feel more supported and motivated. They will often stay with a company longer since there are opportunities for growth and career progression. This stability and upward mobility can lead to higher rates of overall job satisfaction and productivity.

Promotes Equity in the Workplace

• Career development programs in the workplace provide equal opportunities to employees to improve their skillsets and advance their careers.

The Career Development Process

There are many different stages and steps in the career development process, and knowing these stages can help you to ultimately be successful in reaching your goals.

1. Self-Assessment: Before the career development process can even begin, we must first develop and identify our personality and self-concept. This stage commonly spans from childhood through young adulthood and is a time when we explore our interests, career values, skills, abilities, limitations, and work styles. By assessing these qualities, we can develop an understanding of which occupations match our unique preferences.
2. Career Awareness: This stage involves learning about the career paths that are available to us. Each career requires a certain set of skills and knowledge that can be gained through experience, education, and qualifications. We must learn about the opportunities that are available to us, as well as which next steps to take.
3. Goal Setting: Once we have sufficient background knowledge of ourselves and our chosen career, then we can begin to set specific goals. Consider developing a career action plan with an outline of the steps you must take to achieve your short and long-term goals. In addition, a vision statement can help you articulate your overall purpose and mission.
4. Skill Development: Now for the fun part! Developing your skills is an ongoing process that begins before employment starts and should continue throughout your entire career. UC Berkeley suggests a 70-20-10 rule for skills development:
   1. 70% should come from on-the-job direct experience
   2. 20% should come from interactions with others (such as with a mentor)
   3. 10% should come from training, classes, conferences, etc.
5. Career Management: As your career progresses, it is important to build relationships and create a network. In addition, continuous career planning and goal setting are common as priorities change. The career development process is not always on a straight upward trajectory, and in fact, that is quite rare! Career development is typically a lifelong journey with many unexpected twists and turns along the way.

Career Development Tips

“The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they can’t find them, make them.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

You probably have a better understanding now of the career development process and why career development is so important for both individuals and organizations. As a student, graduate, intern, or employee, there are so many different ways to develop your career and advance yourself professionally. Here are some of our top tips for your career development:

Make a Plan, and Write it Down

• We recommend setting aside some time to think about your career goals for the next 5 years, as well as the steps you must take to achieve them. The most important thing is to write down your plan! You will remember your goals and priorities much better if you take the time to put pen to paper.

Become More Self-Aware

• Self-awareness is one of the most important aspects of your career development. There are many different ways to cultivate self-awareness, but the first step is introspection. Set aside time to be alone with no distractions – perhaps by taking a walk outside, doing some stream-of-consciousness journaling, or mindfulness meditation. The goal is to objectively understand your strengths and weaknesses so that you can set the right intentions moving forward. Personality tests and asking for honest feedback from someone you trust can also be helpful. But don’t solely rely on these methods, as introspection is still the most important tactic for developing self-awareness.

Expand Your Network

• Consider joining a professional association relevant to your chosen career field. Attend conferences and events to meet your peers and stay up to date with the industry. 

Find a Mentor

• Your mentor can be a current or past manager, co-worker, or someone within your professional network whom you look up to. They can provide you with the experienced perspective that will help you define your career goals. Monthly meetings can focus on sharing accomplishments and establishing career milestones.  

Pursue Opportunities to Develop Your Skills

• Look for opportunities both within and outside of your company. There are a variety of online courses and certificates that can be useful to your career development if you aren’t sure where to start. For example, Pagoda Projects offers our Employability and Digital Competency Skills courses!

Take Advantage of Career Centers

• If you are a university student, chances are that your campus has a career centre that can assist you with career development planning, resumes, mock interviews, job applications, and more. Take advantage of these resources if they are available to you!

Overall, career development is a lifelong process that requires intention, vision, and purpose. While your goals may adapt and evolve throughout the course of your lifetime, understanding the fundamentals of career development will aid you in every professional endeavour.

Additional Sources & Resources

1. What is Career Development?
2. 5 Tips to Improve Your Career Development
3. Self Awareness: How to Be More Self-Aware
4. Five Career Development Tips: Be Your Own Best Advocate
5. TEDxTalk: How to Find the Person Who Can Help You Get Ahead at Work – Carla Harris
6. TEDxTalk: The Secrets of People Who Love Their Jobs – Shane Lopez
7. TEDxTalk: Why Some of Us Don’t Have One True Calling – Emilie Wapnick

Leadership Explained

“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” – John Maxwell

Leadership skills are the skills you use when organizing other people to reach a shared goal. Effective leaders use their empathetic and interpersonal skills to guide and motivate, organize, prioritize, and inspire others to become their best selves. Leadership is an important professional skill because it empowers others, and encourages teams to reach their highest potential. 

Good leaders practice active listening, empathy, strategic thinking, and effective communication with their teams. Students demonstrate leadership skills when they care about and listen to the thoughts and concerns of others in their group.

What is often misunderstood about leadership is that you don’t even have to be a CEO, director, manager, team lead, or mentor to demonstrate leadership qualities. While we often hear and use phrases like “…he/she is a natural-born leader…”, the reality is that leadership is not some magical innate quality that you’re either born with or aren’t. True leadership is a set of skills that can be learned and a mindset that anyone can acquire. However, it takes commitment to develop and master these skills, and developing leadership skills is a lifelong learning process. The best leaders remember to “exercise” their leadership muscles daily, and receptive skills like listening and learning are an integral part of this process.

Important Leadership Qualities

What exactly are the qualities that make someone an effective leader? Knowing how to be a good leader starts with discovering the specific skills and qualities that you need to develop. It is important to remember that there is a difference between leading and managing others. While the best managers surely possess leadership qualities, many more are lacking in their leadership skills. Effective leadership is more difficult and time-consuming to cultivate than simple management of others. However, the payoffs are richer and can lead to happier, more effective teams.

Being a People Person

• The best leaders are people-oriented and take the time to get to know their team
• Leaders take a genuine interest in their colleague’s needs and overall mood, knowing that relationship-building is a vital component of success

Making Difficult Decisions

• An effective leader can help offer guidance when faced with difficult choices and inspires trust in their team by taking charge and determining the best course of action
• Being able to handle complex issues under pressure, whilst utilizing creative problem-solving

Inspiring Confidence

• The best leaders remain positive, optimistic, and confident about their team’s efforts
• Leaders must facilitate confidence in their team and can do so by publicly celebrating milestones and successes, while privately discussing potential criticisms and areas for growth

Visionary Thinking

• Leaders must have a vision and purpose to inspire their teams
• Through a clear mission and vision, leaders can develop strategic thinking that allows them to stay focused on their future goals
• Mission and purpose will imbue leaders with the strength to overcome obstacles and challenges

Leading by Example

• The best way to lead others is to set an example that they can follow, and leaders who are looking for a specific quality within their team would do best to exhibit that quality through their actions
• Effective leaders also realize that training and education are paramount to achieving their vision, whether that means by pursuing additional knowledge themselves that can later be shared, or by facilitating collaborative learning opportunities for the wider team

Growth Mindset

• One of the most important indicators of whether a business will scale and succeed is the mindset of its leaders
• A growth mindset is different from a fixed mindset because it focuses more on the process and progress of a company than solely on the outcome
• Leading with a growth mindset creates a healthy atmosphere where colleagues are allowed to develop their talents, abilities, and skills in a supportive environment
• A fixed mindset hurts organizations by creating a culture of fear that stifles creativity and innovative risk-taking

Effective Communication

• Leaders must be effective communicators who speak clearly and correctly, with no issues getting straight to the point
• An important aspect to effective communication as a leader is also knowing how to listen and ask for feedback from their team

How to Demonstrate Leadership

Now that you understand the basics of leadership and the qualities needed in an effective leader, let’s review the ways that you can develop and demonstrate leadership skills in the workplace.

First and foremost, the will and desire to take on more leadership roles and responsibilities is the number one prerequisite to developing your leadership qualities. It is possible to be an effective leader without a strong desire to lead, but this can be an incredibly difficult and draining task. That is not to say that it is impossible. As Joelle Charbonneau states, “…sometimes the best leaders are the ones who have no interest in leading. Those are often the ones who are most interested in doing what is right, not what is popular.” Ultimately, the desire to make a difference will generate the most fruitful leader. Remember, being a leader doesn’t necessarily mean you are directly responsible for managing a team.

1. Think Positively and Be Solution-Oriented: When something goes wrong or miscommunication occurs, leaders don’t dwell on the negatives or assign blame. Demonstrate your leadership capabilities by creating a positive atmosphere at work or in your internship host company, as well as thinking up solutions to any potential problems.
2. Listen and Learn: Great leaders listen to others and understand that collaboration and teamwork yield the best overall results. Remain open to new ideas and listen to your coworkers, boss, peers, and customers to understand the bigger picture. 
3. Find a Mentor: Think about your career goals and find a mentor in your company or industry who can share professional knowledge and insights with you. Many successful leaders started with a trusted mentor. For example, Bill Gates, the world’s richest billionaire, credits his success to the guidance of his mentor, Warren Buffet.
4. Master Your Work: Focus on your duties and constantly find ways to improve your efficiency and output. The best leaders lead by example!
5. Understand Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Self-awareness is key to developing your leadership abilities. Spend time reading books and articles about self-development topics that interest you, set aside time to journal or meditate, ask for feedback from others, or take a personality assessment or two. Myers-Briggs’ 16 personalities is a great free resource to start with! Gallup’s StrengthsFinder is another popular test, although there is a small fee.

Another great resource you can use to develop leadership skills is by taking one of Pagoda’s online Skills Courses! Our Employability Skills course is a great place to start and is full of relevant activities, examples, videos, and additional resources that will aid you in developing and improving your employability, career development, professionalism, and leadership skills.

Why Are Leadership Skills Important?

“Leadership listens, inspires, motivates, and gives a direction, a common goal to aspire to.” – Jerome Taillard

Leadership matters because when more individuals take initiative, show interest, and pursue their personal mission to serve a greater purpose, society can benefit from solving its most complex problems. Good leadership benefits the individual as well as the collective. With the many different problems facing humankind today, we need more leaders who are motivated to make a positive impact.

Sources & Additional Resources

1. How to Be an Outstanding Leader
2. 8 Qualities and Skills to Develop for Effective Leaders
3. Growth Mindset: Why It’s Needed for Successful Leadership
4. 18 Best Ways to Improve Leadership Skills in the Workplace
5. Three Famous Billionaire Entrepreneurs and Their Mentors
6. 10 Ways to Demonstrate Leadership at Work
7. Why is Leadership Important?
8. TEDxTalk: How Great Leaders Inspire Action – Simon Sinek
9. TEDxTalk: Listen, Learn…Then Lead – Stanley McChrystal
10. TEDxTalk: A Life of Purpose – Rick Warren

What are Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving?

“We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.” – Albert Einstein

Critical thinking and problem-solving are core skills that teach students to question or reflect on their own knowledge and information presented to them. These are essential skills for students working on assignments or conducting research. They are the ability to actively use reason to analyze issues, make decisions, and ultimately overcome problems.

Developing critical thinking skills in the workplace is important because it helps students, interns, and employees more effectively diagnose problems and identify possible solutions that aren’t entirely obvious at first. It encourages curiosity and is one of the most valuable skills when it comes to working on a team.

Problem-solving consists of using more general or more precise methods in an orderly fashion to find solutions to problems encountered in life or work. The phrase has a varying meaning depending on the discipline it’s acknowledged under. For example, it is a cognitive process in psychology and a computer-operated process in computer science.

Solving Different Types of Problems

There are two types of problems: imprecise and explicit. Of course, different problem-solving methods are required for each. Explicit problems have specific aims and clear solutions, while imprecise problems do not. Explicit problems permit much better planning and preparation than imprecise problems. Solving problems revolves around dealing with pragmatism, the way that context contributes to meaning, and semantics contribute to the clarification and interpretation of the problem.

The ability to understand what the objective is, and what rules must be implemented represents the key to solving your problem. Sometimes, the problem requires abstract thinking or coming up with a creative solution.

7 Ways to Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills

1. Ask basic questions
   1. Most of the time, seeking a solution becomes more difficult and complex than the question or problem originally is. Keep going back to the root of it all and keep yourself grounded on that original issue for better clarity.
2. Never assume
   1. When unsure of something, set aside your assumptions and question them. That is exactly where innovation and ground-breaking discoveries happen! Ask Albert Einstein!
3. Be aware of your mental processes
   1. The human brain naturally uses mental shortcuts to interpret our surroundings. A critical thinker is aware of this cognitive bias and how it evidently influences decisions and solutions that originally appear to be objective and neutral. We all have biases in our thinking process. Being aware of those is precisely what makes critical thinking possible.
4. Think in reverse
   1. A fun yet efficient way to find a solution to an issue is to try and reverse things. It may appear crystal clear to you that A causes B, but what if B caused A? Even if you end up noticing that the reverse isn’t true, nor is it a solution, considering it can still help you on the right path to discovering a solution.
5. Evaluate the existing evidence
   1. When trying to solve an issue, it’s always insightful to look at other people’s work previously done in the same discipline or area of expertise. There’s no purpose to start solving a problem entirely anew when the groundwork has already been laid out for you! Mind you, no copying, only inspiration!
6. Think for yourself
   1. Thinking for yourself is one of your most powerful tools, yet not so easy to do, precisely because of the outer influences we are constantly subjected to. Of course, do rely on outer sources when lost and in need to build up your knowledge, but remember to do your thinking on your own as well: it is essential in order to answer your difficult questions.
7. Remember: you can’t think critically all the time
   1. You can’t critically think all the time and that is perfectly fine. Critical Thinking is merely a tool you whip out when needed: for difficult problems and important decisions.

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotle

7 Tips for Effective Problem-Solving

1. Clearly identify the issue
   1. Understanding your problem clearly is the key to solving it. But that’s not all, you also need to consider that your teammates will have different perspectives on this same problem. Your first mission is to be crystal clear on your issue at hand.
2. Identify and understand everyone’s interests
   1. This is a critical step that is very often forgotten! Interests represent the needs you want to be satisfied by any sort of solution. Hence, the best solution to your problem is the one that satisfies everyone’s interests. The point here is to understand everybody: where they’re coming from and where they’re going.
3. List your options
   1. This is brainstorming time! Let your creativity run wild and list all the solutions coming to mind. There are no good or bad answers, only solutions that work out or don’t.
4. Evaluate your options
   1. Now that you’ve listed your options, you’ll need to analyse them. Honestly, review all your proposed solutions but mind not to step on the selection of your options! Here, you are only discussing which option is best and balancing the scales.
5. Select your option(s)
   1. Scale your elected solutions: which is best? Can they be jumbled together to better solve the issue at hand?
6. Write it down
   1. While this may seem like a very simple tip, you can’t rely only on memory, as it is a very fickle thing! Better to be safe than sorry and write your solution down. Besides, it will help you finalize the details.
7. Mind contingencies, monitor, and evaluate
   1. Last but not least, you will need to think up some contingencies because circumstances may change: plan for the foreseeable future. You also need to think up how to monitor the efficiency of your solution, and finally, evaluate this same solution: does it need to be better tailored, or rather widened?

Improve your Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills with a Course!

Skills Course: Workplace Basics for Graduates (Now Available!)

This course is designed to equip all students and recent graduates with the basic skills needed when entering the workplace. There will be a large focus on understanding how to adapt from in-person to remote work in regards to productivity and time management, communication and the use of digital platforms. The course will also provide learners with the skills needed to identify their current skillset, recognise the skills they’re lacking, and provide actionable examples of how to improve these and meet employer’s demands.

Sources & Additional Resources

1. TEDx Talk: Encourage Critical Thinking with 3 Questions – Brian Oshiro
2. TEDx Talk: Critical Thinking: The Next Step in Human Evolution – Vegard Møller
3. TEDx Talk: How Languages Shape the Way We Think – Lera Boroditsky
4. TEDx Talk: The Surprising Secret that Solves your Problems Quickly – Collins Key
5. TEDx Talk: Find Problem, Solve Problem – Arian Glantz
6. TEDx Talk: Working Backward to Solve Problems – Maurice Ashley
7. What is Critical Thinking?
8. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Critical Thinking
9. 3 Simple Habits to Improve Your Critical Thinking
10. What is Problem Solving?
11. Seven Steps for Effective Problem Solving in the Workplace
12. The Skills of Problem Solving
13. 7 Ways to Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills

Digital Fluency is the knowledge and skills that every person needs. But what kind of knowledge and skills are we talking about? This question, in the era of digitalization, is important for almost every person.

Today we are all in one way or another surrounded by a huge number of gadgets and Internet services, which are designed to simplify our life and make it more efficient. Just think, what a huge part of our life is spent online or using any digital devices (at work, at home, in transport and other public places). But are you sure that you know exactly how to behave on the Internet or when using digital technologies? How to solve your problems using services quickly and efficiently? How can you protect yourself, your data, and your digital devices? How to recognize online fraud? The answers to these and many other questions are at the core of digital fluency.

What Do We Mean By Digital Fluency?

Very often, when speaking of digital fluency, people equate it with computer science, computer literacy, or even programming and other specialized knowledge and skills that IT professionals have. But they are wrong. Of course, digital fluency includes knowledge from the field of computer science, computer, and media literacy, but to equate it with only these concepts is fundamentally wrong.

Digital fluency is a basic set of knowledge and skills that are necessary for every person (not only an IT specialist) in order to safely and effectively use digital technologies and Internet resources for solving their problems. 

Here, for example, we are talking about working on a computer (creating presentations, text documents and spreadsheets); using online education services; online appointments with a doctor; communication in social networks; about making purchases in online stores. And this is just a small fraction of the tasks that involve digital fluency.

Let’s talk about the structure of digital fluency in more detail. What does it consist of?

Every person’s digital fluency is built on three key dimensions:

• Digital consumption
• Digital competencies
• Digital security

What is Digital Consumption?

In a broad sense, this is the use of various digital resources, as well as the availability of basic knowledge and skills of computer literacy. It is important to understand that consumption is not limited to online shopping and online financial transactions. Digital consumption occurs at the moment when you want to solve some of your problems and use technologies for this. What can be attributed to digital consumption? For example, using search engines to search for information, using social networks to run communities and organize events, using cloud services for storing photos, downloading mobile applications, using mobile subscriptions, and more.

What Competencies Are Considered Digital?

Here we are talking not just about use, but about skills and abilities to select and apply technology in different areas of life confidently and effectively.  Like with digital consumption, if we have a problem, we ask ourselves the question: what service or technology should we use to solve it? When we talk about digital competencies, we ask ourselves the question: how should we use this service or technology to solve our problem effectively?

Digital competencies, for example, can include skills in using search engines, social networks and instant messengers, digital mail services, mapping and navigation services, a public service portal, skills in online financial transactions and online shopping (including online stores, product aggregators, etc. services, message boards and mobile applications), skills in content creation and distribution, as well as the critical perception of information received on the Internet.

What Do We Mean About Digital Security?

A combination of all those tools, precautions, and habits that users need to ensure their safety in the digital world. If we formulate the question like the two previous aspects, here it will sound as follows: how do we solve our problems using digital technology not only efficiently, but also safely?

Digital security skills include the ability to protect personal data, the skills to recognize phishing sites and messages, the ability to protect accounts in social networks and instant messengers, and skills to counter cyberbullying, etc.

Why is it Important to Pay Attention to Your Digital Fluency?

Digital technologies and services have not only become an integral part of our life, but they are also very dynamic, especially in the formation and development of a digital economy. 

The digital world is constantly changing and expanding, and at the same time, it forces us to change too. Thus, it’s necessary to constantly improve your digital literacy in order to remain in demand at work. Here we are not even talking about a possible replacement by AI, but about remaining a competent specialist who is ready to think flexibly and quickly learn new necessary skills. For example, new digital tools are being created every day that can help us accomplish simple and time-consuming tasks with more efficiency. Through implementing these tools, we can free up time to spend on more important tasks.

The main problem that arises for a person who wants to develop his digital competencies is not understanding what it is and where to learn it because this is not taught in schools and universities (except for a few). Therefore, the main tool for teaching now is online and offline courses on certain aspects of digital fluency. Therefore, we urge you not only to improve your digital fluency, but also to share this knowledge with your colleagues, friends and loved ones (children, parents, grandparents) so that they, just like you, are not only unafraid to use digital technologies, but so they also do it as efficiently and safely as possible.

Tips For Developing Digital Fluency

Whether you are completing an online course, remote internship, or simply applying for jobs – digital fluency will enhance both your skills and overall success. In many ways, 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic marked the beginning of a remote work from home movement that is showing no signs of slowing down. We want to share some of the best tips we have that will help you develop a digital fluency necessary for success in the “new normal” as well as beyond into the future. 

Familiarize yourself with common digital tools

• Messaging apps like Slack, Skype, Discord, and Microsoft Teams help teams stay connected while working remotely
• Video conferencing tools like Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet are commonly used for meetings and training sessions
• Learn how to use Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Excel at the bare minimum

Practice your digital communication skills

• Once you are familiar with the tools available to you, begin practicing with those tools in order to learn their best uses
• Create and share original content online through social networks like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook

Learn a new skill online

• There is an abundance of digital skills that can help you in your future career, whether that be in web design, programming, IT, CRM, or something more specific to your unique career path. Look at some internship or job descriptions that you’re interested in to learn what other skills are in demand in your field
• The great news is that there are a variety of free and low-cost online resources available to help you learn new digital skills. For example Udemy, YouTube, Lynda, edX, Grow With Google, and more!
• Pagoda Projects also offers four online skills courses!

Never stop learning

• The truth is, technology will always be changing and improving throughout your lifetime. The best way to stay digitally competent and fluent is to remain a lifelong learner

Sources & Additional Resources

1. 6 Practical Tips For Improving Your Team’s Skills
2. Digital Literacy in Practice
3. Articles on Digital Literacy
4. The Uses of Digital Literacy
5. Digital Literacy Practice Test (Quiz)
6. Digital Literacy Multiple Choice Test (Quiz)
7. Digital Literacy (Quiz)

What are Teamwork and Collaboration?

Life is a team sport, and the professional world is no different. Teamwork is all about effective collaboration with others, usually to come up with new ideas or make decisions together to complete a goal.

Good team players have achieved a mix of interpersonal, problem-solving, and communication skills. They are able to work, negotiate, and manage conflict within a team structure. Teamwork and collaboration skills are important in the workplace because teamwork solves problems – by working together, teams build morale and help organizations operate more efficiently.

Teamwork and collaboration also take into consideration intercultural management, all cultural differences, and deals with them. An efficient and healthy team makes for better work, increased productivity, strong interpersonal relations, and mostly, less conflict between colleagues.

Both teamwork and collaboration require a group of people to operate together to fulfill a common objective. The key difference between collaboration and teamwork is that teamwork merges the individual and single efforts of all team members to complete an objective, whereas collaboration has team members working together – collaboratively – in order to complete a collective project. In collaboration, there is usually a sense of community; people tend to work together as equals to come up with ideas and make decisions. Meanwhile, in teamwork, leaders emerge. They oversee the projects’ advancements and delegate tasks to team members in order to reach the team’s end goal.

Ways to Develop Your Teamwork & Collaboration Skills

The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.
― Phil Jackson

Set Team Goals and Rules

• First and foremost, it is important to set a strategic overview of your team’s goals and objectives. Having clear team goals, discussing them, and adapting them is what allows for the team to stay focused and smash the objectives!
• Basic rules are also unmissable when it comes to teamwork. The same way parents usually impose a “no-phone-at-the-table” rule, so can you! Discussing rules with your team and implementing them will create clear expectations and boundaries, making it comfortable for all!

Listen More Than You Talk

• Listening is important because it allows for you to leave enough room for quieter team members to voice their opinions and creates a safe place to share ideas. Listening is also about reading the room and being aware of everyone’s personalities in order to understand your teammates.

Communicate

• Communication is paramount. Keep in mind that communication is a two-way street: getting your idea across clearly is as important as clearly getting a teammate’s message. Don’t hesitate to use silly drawings or pictures to clarify your point and bring down possible barriers!
• Communication is most efficient when it is anticipatory as well. Presenting your ideas in advance of any calls/meetings so that your team can better understand your aims in advance will make discussion and decision-making much easier.
• Vary your communication mediums. Everyone is different and everyone has preferences. Playing on those preferences and juggling between different communication modes can satisfy everyone. Zoom calls, text messaging, in-person meetings… Take your pick!

Strong Sense of Group Commitment

• Group commitment is essential: without it, teamwork becomes virtually impossible because team members’ individualities will eventually get the upper hand.

Play to Your Team’s Strengths

• Recognising your team’s strong skills, planning around them, and then splitting the workload equally will allow your team to operate smoothly. Ensuring a clear role for everyone whilst playing to their strengths is a recipe for success!
• Keep in mind, however, to be open and encourage diversity in tasks!

Creativity and Innovation Are the Norms

• Innovation at the service of teamwork can open unsuspected fields: you can innovate on various aspects in order to always push the cohesion further.

Check-ins and Team Cohesion

• Check-in with your team regularly, formally or informally! It is important to do so and it builds trusting relationships with team members.
• Sharing successes, celebrating, and being open-minded will create team cohesion! To further the cohesion, you can go for team-building exercises as well.

Solve Teamwork Problems and Conflicts

• Problems and conflicts are lethal to a team. If you don’t address issues when they arise, they will make your team implode in the long run.

Practice Participative Leadership

• Participative Leadership is the tip you want to implement: by allowing your teammates to participate in executive decisions, you demonstrate the trust you have in them.

Be Flexible!

• When it comes to teamwork & collaboration, being flexible and adaptable is essential. Whether it is flexibility with colleagues or situations, adapting to anything and rebounding further develops teamwork skills.

Feedback

• Ask for feedback and give some! Feedback isn’t critiquing, but an improvement process: it allows you to learn and outgrow mishaps.

An efficient and healthy team makes for better work, increased productivity, strong interpersonal relations, and mostly, less conflict between colleagues.

Developing Teamwork & Collaboration Skills During Your Pagoda Projects Programme

During your programme, regardless of the type of programme you are on, there are ways to develop your teamwork skills.

• On a Skills Programme: Why don’t you team up with some of your fellow participants to put together a group challenge entry?
• Working with Colleagues on a Project: Is your communication working well? Have you set clear expectations that you can all hit in terms of deadlines? Have you established some team rules? 
• Completing a Remote Internship Programme:  Make sure to ask all the questions you need during your time with your Host Company!
• Paired with a Cultural Mentor: Express yourself clearly for a successful shared cultural experience! Don’t forget teamwork is based on communication.
• Struggling with a Course whilst Completing a Skills Programme: Create a study group and play to each other’s strengths!

Develop Teamwork & Collaboration Skills Through Our Courses

Digital Competency

This course sets out to develop your digital skills and gives you the basics to learn, work, and interact efficiently using digital tools. As interaction is a huge part of teamwork & collaboration, this course is essential to build up your skills in different online collaboration softwares.

• Pagoda Competencies: Teamwork and Collaboration, Professionalism, Digital Fluency, Career Development

Intercultural Fluency

This course sets out to develop your cultural fluency and adaptability when working in a multicultural environment. When it comes to teamwork & collaboration, understanding how to work with your colleagues from different backgrounds will make for great collaboration skills. With this course, you will gain an understanding of what cultural fluency is and how to apply your knowledge of working across cultures to different workplace scenarios.

• Pagoda Competencies: Teamwork and Collaboration, Intercultural Fluency, Communication

Workplace Basics

This course is about providing you with all the workplace skills needed to meet your employer’s demands. In terms of teamwork & collaboration, you will gain a clearer understanding of how to communicate effectively within a professional team.

• Pagoda Competencies: Teamwork and Collaboration, Communication, Professionalism, Digital Fluency, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Sources & Additional Resources

1. Understanding the Differences Between Teamwork and Collaboration
2. 10 Tips for Better Teamwork
3. Teamwork & Collaboration Skills
4. TEDx Talk: Cultivating Collaboration: Don’t Be So Defensive! – Jim Tamm
5. TEDx Talk: Teams Start With Human Connections – Matt Eng
6. TEDx Talk: How to Turn a Group of Strangers Into a Team – Amy Edmondson
7. TEDx Talk: The Power of Collaboration – Dr. Shelle VanEttten de Sánchez
8. TEDx Talk: How to Build Teams That Win – Prakash Iyer
9. Shannon Waller’s Team Success Podcast: This podcast series is all about teamwork. Shannon Waller, a leading team expert with Strategic Coach since 1995, hosts and offers her expertise: from switching your worry into creativity to strategies in order to nail collaboration within a team. She tells us everything.
10. Outback Talks – The Employee Engagement Podcast: This is a great resource for business professionals who want to better understand how to build an engaged team in the workplace. Each episode is filled with tips and advice on team building. There are some interviews with experts in business as well.
11. The Secrets of Great Teamwork
12. Teamwork, collaboration, coordination, and networking: Why we need to distinguish between different types of interprofessional practice
13. The Impact of Collaboration among Members on Team’s Performance