What is Professionalism

A profession is an occupation, vocation or career where specialized knowledge of a subject, field, or science is applied

Professionalism is the expertness characteristic of a professional.

Interesting question and a number of interesting answers, While i do agree with almost everything that is written about professionalism, I would like to stress here again PROFESSIONALISM surely is not limited to high academic qualifications, any one who does a thorough job from start to finish taking care of every aspect is a PROFESSIONAL , essentially the trait of ATTENTION TO DETAILS. Another widespread misconception in my opinion is the norm that a professional has to be ruthless and lacks warmth and kindness which are considered weaknesses of the human nature. A true professional is a leader who not just leads his team upfront, but has the sensitivity to take them along.
Best cheers.
Kalpana Gopinath.

when i saw ur post...then i started thinking what should be the simplest meaning...n i got this answer . from my mind... hope u like it......
pro.....means proactiveness.....
fessionalism....means...fashion follower......sounds funny naa...but its my way of thinking
in nut shell professionalism means...following fashion of proactiveness ....be it ur personal or professional life...
professionalism doesnt come with professional dressing...it is shown by
ur way of talking
ur way of walking n most important...........
ur way of thinking, ur way of behaving with colleagues, frnds, family....everybody

for example: u r punctual, have gud time management skills, managerial skills...any skill u say...or say u have positive attitude but if u can't talk politely...with ur subordinates...then u think ...wats the use of having so many gud skills.....for professionalism
first u need
behavior skills.....
if u have gud managerial skills only...then u r professional.....but if u have gud behaviour plus mangerial skills then my dear u r a
TRUE PROFESSIONAL.

regards
bhawna

professionalism is extremely difficult to quantify in terms of a standard definition.It definitely does not mean sitting in a high tech office,or simply earning a salary!Professionalism is an attribute concerned with an efficient individual.It firstly means a truely good knowledge of ones job and obviously the ability to impliment the knowledge to max efficiency.Another important aspect of professionalism is the ability to take timely and correct decisions.The best decision if not delivered in time would be disastrous,whereas a not so deeply considered decision, but delivered in time would do the job.A timely decision can save lives!Thats professionalism!It would be pertinant to point out here that professionalism does not mean ruthless efficieny alone.Humaneness and appropriate compassion are a part of being professional.All aspects of professionalism are not imbibable as a training.Some of the attributes are inborn, some imbibed by training, and some come with experience only

Hi everybody,

That's a great stuff. Some points from my end.

The word profession is linked to the specialised works and the word professionalism means the expertise in that work with certain standards of performance like, quality, time, accuracy, gentleness and the art of doing it.

A professional provides services for a pay.

Professionalism is an art of doing things greatly with least effort.

A work done by a professional would be done in the highest quality standards with least efforts. The work could be Couseling, Drafting, Playing Cricket, Performing surgery ........acting on the stage .......etc..

To become a professional, one need to expertise the skill, emotional balance, art/style of doing it.

Santhosh

In very simple words- if you think you can stand in front of the mirror and question your self- Have I earned my today's salary?? and if the answer to this question is YES, then I am sure you have earned. This earning ofcourse has to be being humble, to be able to put yourself in other's shoe and evalute the situation and yes you ofcourse have to have common sense to deal with almost every situation.Summing up this will lead you to be a professional.I do agree with one of the writers who has mentioned that higher eductaional degrees and known institiues do not necessarily make you a professional- at times they do make one arrogant thoughCordially,preet

Professionalism to me means:

1. Being on/before time or being punctual as a matter of daily routine and not just for special occasions.

2. Returning a Call as committed. Always replying/acknowledging to a mail.

3. Getting back when committed that “I’ll get back”.

4. Believes in the dictum “Anything not checked is not done”. So is thorough in any work entrusted to him. That means not allowing any line to remain unchecked. Not leaning all the time on “I thought you checked?”

5. Paying respect to:
a) Other's time more than probably to your own.
b) Other's money / material more than probably to your own.
c) Other's views, without a flinch.
d) Other's road space, not nudging away cyclists, scooterists away.

6. Wearing right clothes for the right occasion. (Wearing cargos/jeans with sneakers during business casual days is not done)

7. Wearing well ironed clothes to work, polishing their shoes everyday.

8. Shaving everyday, if sporting a moustache / beard giving it a trim every 48 hrs at least.

9. Taking a haircut more often than Id.

10. If a pen is borrowed, remembering to return it.

11. Not cracking ludicrous jokes, for cheap popularity.

12. Able to discern between a humor and frivolity and therefore able to maintain gracious of work environment without burdening.

13. Feet firm on ground, not a one to be swept away by seasonal waves. Does not let personal skirmishes affect professional decisions/relations. For Eg: Lets say Anil and Mukesh fight for stocks and shares in open but back home dine on the same table. Howzatt?

14. Endeavors hard to stay updated/upgraded, does not bow down to peer pressure, takes his well informed decisions and accepts good suggestions from juniors too if it benefits all, without letting ego coming in between.


There is more.... but I guess... you must have got the idea!

Pardon me for there might be grammatical errors.

Regards
Ajay

** Professionals are prepared; Period.**

Dear Dinesh,

Hi this is Malini. Currently am working in an IT Company in Chennai for the past 1.5yrs and my Boss is insisting me to take some presentations on Soft Skill. I would be grateful to you if you could send some presentations to this mail id .

Thanks in advance.

Regards
Malini

__________________
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Knowing others is intelligence; Knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; Mastering yourself is true power."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
with regards
from
Praveen Kumar Valbooj

professionalism mean its not important that whats types of work ur doing but important that how ur doing it.

sacheein