Professionalism As A Policy

Whatever happened to professionalism?

Most people agree that professionalism is something that we used to encounter regularly, but in modern times, too often, many of us don't experience truly professional interactions. Surveys show that professionalism is evanescent in customer service, retail, offices, and political settings. 

Yes, we live in a world - and workplaces - where authenticity is more celebrated than professionalism, but professionalism doesn't have to negate authenticity. You can, and should, be who you are when working; bringing your "whole self" to what you do without compromise...as long as your authenticity doesn't jeopardize your professionalism or status as a professional. 

It's a contemporary notion that some don't necessarily buy into, but others believe is a component of the psychological safety that employees now value. Being yourself at all times is a challenge, and highly commendable when achieved. But can we not say the same of professionalism and its merits?

And what exactly is professionalism? Professionalism is the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person. The principles of professionalism cannot be ignored or modified, that's why professionalism should be a policy.

A policy is a deliberate system of principles used to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent, and is implemented as a procedure or protocol. Policies are powerful instruments of influence, but their efficacy lies within the outcomes they were designed to achieve.

We all know that the common workplace isms (sexism, racism, and ageism) are dealt with daily, but lack of professionalism is just as rampant, and often gets dismissed as an innocuous offense.

It's hard to be prejudiced when being professional.

Renewed interest (and in some cases training) in professionalism - how we treat, interact with, and act around others - is a worthwhile pursuit that can put backbone in any DEI initiative. It can also increase civility and productivity among professionals. If professionalism as a policy is observed and put into practice in every professional setting it will abate discrimination, racism, and prejudice. Oh yeah, it will also help people become more...professional.