This is the end of “professionalism” as we know it.
News anchors are working from home with their kids as their co-hosts. Conference calls have kids screaming or dogs barking in the background.
The only way to continue working right now is by working from home. The speed at which these circumstances happened has left people unprepared to create proper set ups and with the kids home from school or daycare and no in-home childcare as an option, it’s almost impossible to keep work and personal lives separate right now.
It’s momentarily uncomfortable, but this will break down barriers. People are showing their true selves online like never before. The era of pristine professionalism is finally over.
Maybe you’re hosting classes and lessons from your living room virtually. You clients are dealing with their dogs and their kids at the same time.
(If you’re not, you should be, snag my 2 hour crash course/workshop on running virtual dog training lessons.)
Growing up, I was taught that I had to keep my true self to myself, true opinions private, and certainly not post anything I’d “regret” on the internet. *gasp*
With parents that are in Human Resources and Engineering – being professional was taught as a requirement to being a part of the “real world.” And it’s only in the last few years that I’ve started to break down those beliefs. If you’re part of my Facebook Group, you’ve seen me step up this past year and teach loads of live trainings on Facebook Lives. I’ve been slowly letting the world get to know who I am as a human, not just a business coach/teacher/educator.
I’m not going to lie – its been uncomfortable, but I’m thankful these efforts have been mostly met with open arms. And I’ve created real, offline relationships with people because of it!
People need connection. And while it’s easy to fake your personality online, it’s becoming more and more acceptable, expected and welcome to show your true self – flaws and all – online. I believe it is actually bringing us all closer together as everyone is realizing that everyone else is human, too! And that’s it’s okay to be yourself.
What I’ve learned, and what I want you to realize too, is that you can be yourself AND be regarded as an expert AND be friends with clients. That is the future of work that is sustainable, fulfilling, and flexible. Sure, you absolutely have to have policies and boundaries to protect your mental space, but the walls are being torn down – especially right now.
Being overly professional, like I used to be, is now – for certain – a thing of the past. People need connection and just because you’re there to help their dogs doesn’t mean you can ignore the human relationship. People will want to work with you now and in the future because of their relationship with you – not for what you can do for their dogs.
As a service-based, dog business owner, you’re in your client’s daily or weekly network and community. The world can be a lonely place and we all have seen how dogs can bring people together. Take careful consideration of this as you grow your presence online or in-person when we’re able to do so again.
You still have to be a skilled expert in your field. People can easily tell if you know what you’re talking about, but what I’m saying here is that that isn’t the only thing that matters anymore.
Let me know in the comments – what is it that your clients love most about you?! (Find out if you don’t know…)
