Sometimes I want to ask people – professionals – what I am really thinking.

Whaaaat? Are you serious? Did you really just [fill in the blank]. But I don’t. At least not in that manner.

Professionals. People who work in industries and fields with dedicated studies, ongoing field research, and codes of ethics. Yet, sometimes – well, often times – they baffle me. Not only do they exhibit unprofessional behavior, but they completely disregard common courtesy. Here are the top five actions that make me discredit you as a professional, no matter your field:

1. You’re late. It doesn’t make you appear superior, running from one meeting to the next, always arriving five to fifteen minutes late. I can spend my time in more productive ways than waiting for you. I have replied back to the “Oh, sorry I’m late,” routine with, “Glad we can talk now. I have fifteen minutes to discuss…” People who start meetings on time, even with missing attendees, have my respect and usually my next meeting RSVP.

2. You don’t return communications. Whether it is telephone calls, emails, or tweets – when I talk directly to you and you do not reply back, it is rude and unprofessional. It makes you appear unreliable, and it is one of the quickest ways to gain or lose my regard for you.

3. You are not prepared. Anticipate; prepare accordingly. It is painful for all of us when you are not prepared. You are awkward, fumbling, trying to look like you know what you are doing, and we are all inefficient. It is a huge time-waster, and if you think I don’t value my time, see points one and two.

4. You lack self-confidence. By way of the title, professionals are experts. They know what they are talking about, which is why people listen. Even if you know what you are talking about yet you seem timid, it makes me unsure, also. Be certain of yourself – knowledge, experience, and skills.

5. You consistently misspell. I am not talking about misspelled words here and there. That is expected. No, I am talking about routine misspellings throughout emails and hand-written notes. If you paused before hitting the send button or making photocopies, you might have had time to proofread. Or maybe not – you were running late for a meeting, right?

As I look at my top-five list, it strikes me how much of what influences me (and others, I know) is actually unrelated to a professional’s knowledge. Still, proper communication, time-management, and self-assuredness are skills every professional should posses.

What makes you discredit professionals?