Professionalism
Have you ever wondered why some people are referred to as being “very professional?” What sets them apart from other people in the workplace? Why is it that others seem to look-up to them: give them respect? Why do they appear to get more opportunities for advancement?
Webster’s dictionary defines a “Professional” as “one that engages in a pursuit or activity professionally” whereas as “Professionalism” is defined as “the conduct, aims, or qualities that mark a profession or a professional person.”
Professionalism does not depend on your title or position in an organization.
Being a Professional is about the way you behave: the way you conduct yourself.
I have known many senior executives in organizations who certainly could not be regarded as acting in a professional manner. On the other hand, I have known plenty of individuals in the lower ranks of an organization who definitely displayed the characteristics of a true Professional and who were regarded as very professional by their fellow workers.
So Professionalism is not about who you are in an organization. It is about your character and characteristics. It is about the way you behave: the way you conduct yourself.
