Coherence between verbal and non-verbal makes us more authentic. If the verbal message is in contradiction with the non-verbal expression, we tend to first trust our impressions and base ourselves on the non-verbal message, as our brain automatically registers these significant hints.

The term « professional » is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as « characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession. »

This means that you should always behave in a manner which reflects favorably your profession. If you wish to establish credibility and gain respect from your peers, this code of conduct should address all exchanges and meetings you participate in, and not only within your job. You should avoid behaviors which undermine your profession.

When you are good at what you do – persist!

Many really good hardworking people don't get lucky on their first shot at success/promotion/recognition, or the second, or even the third time around. It becomes so easy to conclude that if you're not lucky, you're not good. These failures of recognition for what you do are opportunities to get really good. So persistence becomes an essential element of good, because without persistence, you never get a chance to get lucky.

When in a delicate situation, resist the urge to send a message right after writing it. Save your email in your draft folder and let a few hours pass before you send it. Give yourself some time to think about it, reread and make corrections, as it’s impossible to backtrack once you hit Send.

When dealing with a difficult customer give them your undivided attention. Ask open-ended questions; your customer will feel heard and more inclined to consider what you have to say.

Online communication is not a substitute for human communication. It does not replace meeting in person, a detailed letter or an interactive conversation.

The 10 Most Frequent Phobias

1. Social Phobia - Fear of interacting with people
2. Agoraphobia - Fear of crowds
3. Emetophobia - Fear of vomiting
4. Ereutophobia - Fear of blushing in public
5. Amaxophobia - Fear of driving a car
6. Hypocondria - Fear of disease
7. Aerodromophobia - Fear of flying
8. Arachnophobia - Fear of spiders
9. Zoophobia - Fear of animals
10. Claustrophobia - Fear of closed spaces

(Source: British National Health Service)

It’s hard to believe but we are actually more afraid of interacting with people and of blushing in public than we are of spiders and disease. From an interpersonal behavior perspective, it’s quite surprising!

Ever walk into someone’s office and forget why you came? Blame the doorway. Research has shown that doorways serve as "event boundaries": because the brain associates certain memories of events with locations, entering a new room can make it hard to recall information you had in another room. So office cubicles might be a great workplace strategy after all!

Endocrinologists call it "Postprandial dip", you may call it the "mild coma" that usually occurs 2 hours after a meal. It is caused by a drop in our glucose levels and a shift in our "body clock". Our brain starts to operate slower and our body temperature starts to drop and we naturally start to feel somnolence, drowsiness and lassitude. When possible, try avoiding scheduling or attending meetings during this time frame, unless you want to start drooling during your boss’s PowerPoint presentation.

"Choose what is best; habit will soon render it agreaable and easy." 

- Pythagoras 

Find common ground with your opponents. Instead of swimming against the current, swim with it and redirect it. 

Don't take complaints personally - process them professionally! The client is not angry at you; you are rarely directly concerned. He is andry at a situation. You are, however, the person who can solve the problem and he is turning to you.