The title of being a professional therefore is not in the certificates, degrees, awards, diplomas we collect but rather in how we behave. I have heard some employees refer to their bosses as a true professional and others referring to their supervisors, managers, leaders as not professional. I refer to my personal doctor as a true professional. From the very minute I enter his practice to when I leave, the experience makes me conclude that he is a true professional worth talking about. The way he talks to me, the depth of his knowledge about medicine, the way he carries himself, the choice of words, the way he explains what may be happening in my body all speaks to his ability as a true professional. I contrast my current doctor to the former one and can say that though he qualified as a doctor and knows his subject, I left his office feeling that I need another doctor. I believe you know what I am talking about because you have experienced different medical doctors. We can say the same about teachers or any other profession. Professionalism speaks to the standards of behavior and attitude of a person in each profession. Professionalism is necessary for your long-term success and business.
Will you say you are a true professional. If I were to interview your direct reports, team members or employees can they all unequivocally say that you are a true professional. I was facilitating a workshop and asked the leaders the leader they admire the most in their organization. I gave them a piece of paper to write the name of this person on and give it back to me. The name Kevin came up. All the leaders except 2 mentioned another name. I asked why Kevin? They said Kevin is a true leader and professional. He leads from the front, has open door policy, truly cares, talks to you with respect, inspires his team, clearly articulates his expectations, handles conflict constructively, treats everybody with respect, and works with the team to achieve results. Now this is where it gets interesting. I met another group of leaders the following day and asked the same question and the same name Kevin came up with similar descriptions of Kevin. This is what I believe and have noted over the years, true professionalism is in the person and not in the title, position, diploma, or certificates. So, who is a true professional? I am glad you asked, and I am very eager to tell you.
Being a professional in your chosen field means much more than wearing a coat and tie or possessing a college degree and a noted title. Professionalism has to do with how you conduct yourself during your business affairs. True professionals possess several important characteristics that can apply to virtually any type of business. Professionalism is the way you conduct yourself at work to represent both yourself and your company in a positive way.
In this podcast, I unpack what a true professional is and to give you the opportunity to introspect and answer the question ARE YOU A TRUE PROFESSIONAL? Have a fantastic week.
