MAKING OF A PROFESSIONAL

Professional

“Following an occupation for a livelihood or gain"

“Any person who earns their living from a specified activity”

Skillful , Compete …. few other similar definitions ..

burial of the dead

Professional is someone who have the ability to work unsupervised and

the ability to certify the completion of one's work

Whenever Mahadeva picks up the corpse , it goes straight to the burial group no placed else. he competes the task with the

urgency it demands. And he certified his own completion of the task: between the dead and the living , there is no one to question

him.

Truth

“There is no god higher than the truth” – Gandhi

integrity

Integrity precedes professional competence. Leaders in every profession need to demonstrate high personal integrity and then

personally deliver the message to their organizations.

Let us understand what integrity means in the professional context::

We follow the rules Where rules do not exist , we use fair judgment

When in doubt , we do not go ahead and do what suits us ; we seek counsel

Finally , faced with dilemma ,we ask ourselves : can my act stand public scrutiny without causing embarrassment of me and family?

Self awareness where competence ends and professionalism

takes over

Story of two African American men ( O J Simpson and Arthur Ashe )

source: NY Times

source: ABC News

To be a great Professional, it is critical to develop the qualities of self awareness Without it, we fail to balance ourselves through the ups and

downs of life, haveproblems in accepting reality and often do not know what is good for us.

As a result we end up making wrong professional choices that have a downward impacts.

Always remain aware of where you have come from and where you have reached today. Being rooted is the key require-ment for carrying success on your shoulders without being

burdened by it.

Being authentic

A true professional has no need for add-ons off experience, mentioning connections, or being plain fake. Being authen-

tic might sometimes get us to a ‘no’, but that is better than a situation that causes shame of being unmasked.

The Professional world really craves authenticity ; do not dismiss it as old fashioned.

Being comfortable

A professional does not need to hog the limelight. If you cannot add true value, then you must not add to the problem with your false reasons or

explanations. The more you pretend, the more naked you become.

Sometimes stating your ignorance can be the simplest solution. Others can take it upon themselves to explain

technical jargon in easy to understand language.

Seeking Help

Take a look at that poster print for a second. Now,

question– when’s the last time you asked for help?

Each one of us may have the education and training that make us compe-tent at our jobs. There are our strengths, and we must build on them.

There is always bound to be a gap in our training and knowledge to do all the things our jobs may require , and in such situations , admitting igno-

rance is just one step. Actively seeking to bridge the at gap is the next important step in becoming self-aware.

Seeking help from someone – a peer , a mentor , your supervisor , even a junior is not a sign of the weak. Don’t be ashamed in signing up for the help – in matters of work , or in matters of

mental and physical well-being.

Not suffering false comparisons

Every professionally qualified person makes comparisons with colleagues , peers , se-

niors , even juniors some time or the other.it arises because of a competitive spirit that is built into us , often through a ruthless social system and educational

system that teaches us to falsely interpret the meaning of success in material terms.

It is futile to make such comparisons. They cause unnecessary pain based on superficial knowledge and

vague understanding of the other person’s journey to reach that position.

Having a reasonable view of the future

Do we all know with certainty where we are headed? Probably not. Are you living your living by design or by default?

Professionals seem to know where they are going; they acknowledge ground reality , they are in command of the

situation even as they face the indeterminate challenges of the future.

To be continued ….

Thank You