Values › Skill › Professionalism
Core value · Skill family
Professionalism
Conducting yourself to a high standard
What does professionalism mean as a core value?
Professionalism as a core value means holding yourself to a steady standard of conduct: prepared, reliable, discreet and courteous, especially when you’re tired or under pressure.
How you do the work matters to you as much as what you deliver. Holding professionalism as a core value means keeping a standard of conduct that holds up when you’re tired, annoyed or dealing with a difficult client. You turn up prepared, keep confidences, answer messages and keep your frustrations out of the room. For you it’s a form of respect: to the people you serve, to your colleagues and to the work itself. Sloppy behaviour probably bothers you more than an honest mistake.
What does professionalism look like in practice?
- You arrive at a client meeting having read the papers, even when others haven’t.
- You stay courteous in a heated email exchange and save the venting for later.
- You keep what a colleague told you in confidence to yourself.
- You reply to the volunteer committee as promptly as you would to your boss.
- You flag a delay early and give a new date.
When is professionalism overplayed?
Polish can become a wall. You keep so much of yourself out of work that colleagues never feel they know you, judge others by their formality before their contribution, or hold back legitimate concerns because raising them feels unprofessional. In a crisis, sticking to protocol can stop you doing what a decent human being would do. Held well, it keeps high standards while letting warmth, humour and honest disagreement in. You could try sharing one small thing about your life outside work this week, and see how people respond.
Often confused with
Professionalism vs Competence
Competence is being able to do the job. Professionalism is how you conduct yourself while doing it: prepared, respectful and appropriate, even under pressure.
Professionalism vs Reputation
Reputation is how others see you. Professionalism is the standard of conduct you hold yourself to, whether or not anyone is watching.
Professionalism vs Respect
Respect is regard for other people’s worth. Professionalism includes that, and also covers preparation, discretion and keeping personal feelings out of the work.
Questions to sit with
- What concern have you kept to yourself recently because raising it felt unprofessional?
- How much do your colleagues actually know about you, and is that a choice?
- Whose work have you judged by how polished they seem, and what did they actually deliver?
More values in Skill
Competence, intelligence and doing things well.
About the author
Matt Rutherford is a Career and Leadership Coach. The Values Finder is the same exercise he uses with his coaching clients. He also writes Stuff that MattRs, a weekly newsletter with practical ideas to help you think clearer and work better.
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