Professionalism: What’s Your Definition?

Professionalism Definition: What’s your definition of professionalism? A dictionary defines it in the words below. Mine is way more and than the attributes of a sector or the way I earn my living. My definition is about loving what I do and all of that it encompasses.

“1: the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person 
2: the following of a profession (such as athletics) for gain or livelihood”

My professionalism definition is confidence. The confidence to take calculated risks on the grounds that I have the confidence in rectifying my mistakes. Confidence in working in the moment with whatever shows up. Confidence to ask for help when I don’t have the answer myself. The confidence to pause and ‘not know’ until I do. The confidence to change my mind or quit or redesign that it if it no longer works. The confidence to fall apart and get up and pick up the reigns once again the very next day. The confidence to show up and show willing, whatever else is happening in my world. The confidence to know that I am very good at what I do. Equally, it’s the confidence to admit that what I did was either wrong or didn’t work and to learn from that, instead of being decimated by that knowledge. It’s the confidence in those who support me and indeed in those that I support. I cannot coach someone who isn’t ready to be coached. I am way more choosy about those I will work with because I cannot do that work for them.

It’s the confidence to engage with each process and let go of the outcome. Because when it comes down to it, each and every outcome is a total, joyous, surprise to me.

My Professionalism Definition is…

It’s the confidence to really engage with the person sitting before me; whatever their seniority because this is not about power, it is about honesty and collaboration. It’s the confidence to be vulnerable myself for, if I am rigid with fear, then I learn nothing. If I learn nothing then I will soon be redundant and not fit for purpose anyhow.

Professionalism is about wanting to try, wanting to learn, wanting to work at the edges of my comfort zone. It’s about confidence in responding and loving every minute of it.

That’s what professionalism is to me… thank you for tolerating my rambles about how good my job is. How’s yours..?

You can find Rebecca here at the Daemon Career Coach