What it Means to Be a Professional

Professional.

I hear leaders talk about this often, as in “I want my team to be professionals” or “Why can’t they be more professional?” Stated in conversation, others will knowingly nod in agreement.

I typically ask a question like . . . “What do you mean by professional?”

To which I typically get stumbling answers that aren’t very clear or helpful.

It is completely fine that you want your team members to be professional. What isn’t fine is saying that to them without a clear picture of what you mean. Because if the picture isn’t clear to them, how can they possibly deliver that behavior?

This article then, is designed to give a description of what it means to be a professional. It is my description; and yours might be different, which is completely fine. My goal is to get you to think about your definition, clarify it in your mind, and use it as you coach your team members to greater success.

Professionals are . . .

Personally accountable. Professionals recognize their role in activities and results around them. They recognize and take responsibility for their actions, words, choices, words and more. They know they can’t control others but they can influence. They aren’t victims, but take ownership to create the best possible results.

Able to see the big picture and adjust their actions based on that vision. Professionals see their role in the big picture of their team and work. They operate based on that vision, so they rarely create silos and participate in ways to move the entire organization towards those desired goals.

Willing to help, even when it’s not “their job.” Professionals see themselves as part of a team, so they are willing to help, but not take over. In part because of their big picture view, they recognize and look for ways to help; because they view their job as more than the restrictions of their job description.

Able to work well with others. Professionals know they are part of multiple teams and in order for them to succeed, the team must succeed. This means they focus on working well with others and building the relationships to help make that happen.

Trusting and trustworthy. Professionals realize the importance of trust in the workplace. Team and working relationships can’t become very strong without trust, and so they build trust by being trustworthy first.

Committed to building their skills to excel at their job today and in the future. Professionals value their job and are consistently and intentionally working to get better. They pursue improvement through deliberate practice, training, study, observation and more. They possess a mastery mentality – with the goal of becoming the best they can be.

My list could be longer, and I’m sure yours could be too. My goal wasn’t necessarily to be complete, but as I said earlier, to get you thinking, and hopefully taking action. Use this list to spur your thinking. Compare your behavior to this list, compare your team’s behavior to this list. Most of all, if you are going to use the word professional, be willing and able to share what you mean when you say it.

That’s what a professional would do.