The word “professional” (or its shortened version of “pro”) is thrown around quite often in our culture, but what exactly does it mean? When you say: “professional” perhaps the vision of suit-clad, brief-case toting men going into a tall building made of glass and steel. Then again, maybe that’s not what you envision. Professional might also mean someone who gets paid to do something, thus making them a professional whatever it is they are. Let’s go to the old cliché of looking up what Merriam-Webster has to say:
professionalism
noun pro·fes·sion·al·ism \prə-ˈfesh-nə-ˌli-zəm, -ˈfe-shə-nə-ˌli-
- 1 : the skill, good judgment, and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well.
- 2 : the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional (see professional)
- 3 : the following of a profession (as athletics) for gain or livelihood.
Enlightening to be sure. I’m sure there aren’t any enlightened persons sitting on mountaintops musing on the nature of professionalism; more than likely they are independent consultants with large offices, a good view out their window, and people lining up to pay them for the secret of being professional. But there is no need to go to the mountain to get this knowledge, for it is right here and I shall give it to you, and it will cost you but a few moments of your time.
Timeliness—Being on time to appointments, submitting work before the deadlines, and keeping track of your workflow are the key ingredients to this facet of professionalism. It does you no good to labor over a masterpiece that no one will see because the window of opportunity has closed. Instead, create your masterwork, submit it before the deadline, and let it speak for itself.
Respectfulness—Rodney Dangerfield lived a life devoid of this quality, and he always bemoaned his lot. But this need not be the case with you. There is an axiom declared that if you treat others with respect, they will treat you with respect. This has been proven true time and again, but there are some details that can clear up any misunderstandings surrounding this seemingly difficult concept. Speak in calm tones, take time to listen, use polite language, address people by their preferred name or appropriate title, and give deference to those who are in a station higher than you. Seems simple enough, but grave blunders follow those who cannot remember these tips. Do not let that person be you.
Preparation—If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear (Doctrine and Covenants 38:30). Completing the assignments before the appointed class time, doing the required reading, and understanding the material are all vital to being prepared to succeed in the CWMFA program. It is also the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared.
Alertness/Attentiveness—Paying attention to what is going on is a vital skill our ancestors honed in their fight for survival. From keeping quiet during the hunt so the prey would not escape, to reading the weather signs to know if there was going to be rain, being alert and attentive were essential to success. Similarly in online classes you should keep abreast of the discussions and changes in assignment content or due dates. Paying attention can save you, and others around you a bit of embarrassment.
Compliance—This word can be taken in a positive or negative way depending on how you phrase it. Saying something like: “your lack of compliance will be noted and reported to the Regime Reeducation Administration.” is never a positive thing. Conversely, knowing the grief that can follow non-compliance in class, such as plagiarism, cheating, and other similarly unsavory and unethical behaviors, compliance to the rules will definitely have a positive outcome.
I hope this brief review of professionalism has given you the impetus to keep up the good work and continue being professional. Excelsior!
A bastian of writing 