Posted on Jan 5, 2014
What is the def. of professional and what is unprofessional? Seems to be pretty subjective based on the responses I read on this site.
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I'm curious to what everyone's own definition of professional is. (Without googling it) What is your honest definition of the word. How do you decide what is and is not professional?<div>For example, some people think hands in pockets is unprofessional vs other who don't. What makes you decide this? What is the basis or standard that you measure professionalism against?</div><div>I think we should have some very interesting and variant responses to this question.</div>
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Responses: 18
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At this point in my life, I ask myself what can I live with or without. We all go through some sort of Spring cleaning, however we are creatures of habit. With these habits, we bring a social and emotional part of ourselves to the table.
To be professional is to ask the same question; what can I live with or without?
Then I can ask; where is my moral compass pointing to?
For decisions I ask myself, am I consulting the team for the greater good or am I making the executive decision because I am in charge? When I was in the military, being a leader too can be a lonely job and it requires those hard decisions, good, bad or indifferent.
In those cases, I have made my decision and stuck by them. I have learned that changing a decision in mid stride confuses people. Learning from mistakes is part of the leadership process.
Like marching troops, follow your own steps in cadence and everybody will follow too, eventually. They may growl when your step is not consistent with theirs but nevertheless, those marching troops are in charge of the formation being led.
Out in civilian life, moreover I need to keep a lid on my military leadership style and adapt to whatever the free society norms are.
To be professional is to ask the same question; what can I live with or without?
Then I can ask; where is my moral compass pointing to?
For decisions I ask myself, am I consulting the team for the greater good or am I making the executive decision because I am in charge? When I was in the military, being a leader too can be a lonely job and it requires those hard decisions, good, bad or indifferent.
In those cases, I have made my decision and stuck by them. I have learned that changing a decision in mid stride confuses people. Learning from mistakes is part of the leadership process.
Like marching troops, follow your own steps in cadence and everybody will follow too, eventually. They may growl when your step is not consistent with theirs but nevertheless, those marching troops are in charge of the formation being led.
Out in civilian life, moreover I need to keep a lid on my military leadership style and adapt to whatever the free society norms are.
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Sir, may I pose a question? Can you be professional without having a profession?
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SPC Christopher Smith
Yes,
One can be professional without being in a profession. The term professional covers those who are in a profession, and the ideal way a person carries themselves in a work place (my opinion without looking up the definition, trying to play by the rules).
Example: A Pastor is a Professional under Theology, and he lives (usually) under that image.
The Cashier at McDonalds should have a professional status under the guidelines of the company culture, although it is not a lifestyle.
(Again examples made up with no research, this is harder than it sounded.)
One can be professional without being in a profession. The term professional covers those who are in a profession, and the ideal way a person carries themselves in a work place (my opinion without looking up the definition, trying to play by the rules).
Example: A Pastor is a Professional under Theology, and he lives (usually) under that image.
The Cashier at McDonalds should have a professional status under the guidelines of the company culture, although it is not a lifestyle.
(Again examples made up with no research, this is harder than it sounded.)
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The act of being "professional" or "unprofessional" can be based from interpretation. Simply laughing loudly in uniform in the commissary with my wife might be considered "unprofessional" to a person who thinks nothing is funny and everything is serious. I was once told my made-into-shorts FR ACU shorts by a professional tailor were unprofessional while wearing a shirt with Jimi Hendrix on the front was unprofessional by a Private who I quickly admonished.
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LTC (Join to see)
Exactly. Soldiers don't like something and so they throw out the word unprofessional and watch other soldiers immediately get defensive but they don't really know what they are getting defensive about other than their belief that the word unprofessional has a negative connotation to it.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
Is that not one of our Leadership traits? That's one of those inherent aspects of our job..
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Some time ago a judge stated he could not legally define PORN - but that he knew porn when he saw it. The same thing with Professional and UNprofessional. Many things in life are subjective, it takes a moment to decide which side of the line you are standing on.
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Excellent question SSG Burns
Some years ago I ran across an article on this topic written in the Harvard Business Review. The author was the Dean of the Masters Program at Harvard and had this to say. (Summarized key points) To be considered a "professional organization" and a member of such, three things must be in place.
1. There must be a requirement for members to have an education or specialized training that is not otherwise available to the general public.
2. Members are required to take an oath (ie. office, allegiance)
3. A professional organization must be self policing. (Be able to police itself within)
Members of the U.S. Military can be considered professionals and members of a professional organization using the above definition. Ultimately, it is up to the individual and in the manner in which they conduct themselves.
Some years ago I ran across an article on this topic written in the Harvard Business Review. The author was the Dean of the Masters Program at Harvard and had this to say. (Summarized key points) To be considered a "professional organization" and a member of such, three things must be in place.
1. There must be a requirement for members to have an education or specialized training that is not otherwise available to the general public.
2. Members are required to take an oath (ie. office, allegiance)
3. A professional organization must be self policing. (Be able to police itself within)
Members of the U.S. Military can be considered professionals and members of a professional organization using the above definition. Ultimately, it is up to the individual and in the manner in which they conduct themselves.
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I define being professional as constantly doing the right thing in both word and deed.
I keep it simple for a reason. In my opinion, those 10 words cover just about everything that one can think of when it comes to defining a professional.
I define unprofessional as not doing the right thing in word and/or deed. Again, 10 words. In my opinion, those 10 words cover just about everything that one can think of when it comes to defining unprofessional.
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