Professionalism | Leadership professional knowledge article

Professionalism and leadership

Professionalism is specialization to a degree; knowing how to do job, makes the doing easier.

Professionalism makes the wheels turn around when they would otherwise stop because they need proper greasing at the right time and the right place.

Professionalism has the following characteristics:

• A profession has a body of knowledge in a particular field, e.g., Law, Medicine, Finance, Engineering, which enables us
• To solve problem
• To add value to resources
• To utilize resources in the most efficient manner possible
• A profession, therefore, has its foundation in knowledge and a professional is a "knowledge worker"
• A professional must develop the necessary skill to apply the knowledge, e.g., a lawyer must not only know the low, but must have the skill in analyzing the facts and presenting his case.
• Profession develops an attitude, a frame of mind, an approach to situations.
• Professional knowledge, skills and attitude can be taught and learnt. Professionalism, and the power and benefits that go with it are available to anyone, provided on has the minimum physical and mental requirements for the profession.
• Since professionalism is not only knowledge, but also skill, this can only be developed through continuous practice and application. Knowledge has also to be updated to prevent obsolescence.

Professionalism and leadership success

Professionalism and success are, more often than not, inter-related. If you know the basics of a job, and have a guideline about how to do it, you will do this job. Professionalism has distinct advantages, namely,

• Professionalism generally guarantees employment, and a certain minimum standard of living.
• Professional success need not be equated with financial success, or progressing up the organizational ladder.
• Professionalism, since it is based on the distilled experience of thousands of persons, is more likely to give better and quicker short term and long term results than ad hoc unprofessional action.

Since the experience of the past is both of successes and failures, the approach is more likely to be surer and safer.

Common Mistakes Made by Professionals

• Professionals often do not contribute their professional expertise and, instead, follow instructions blindly.
• They do not openly express the professional point of view at meetings and discussions.
• They do not observant and alert as to how they can contribute even when specifically told to; the show no initiative.
• They give advise and commitments which are palatable to the authorities, but which may not be right or correct.
• They do not exhibit professionalism - employing instead adhocism in careless and unsystematic working with tools and techniques inappropriate to their profession.