What's in a word

laptopWHAT’S IN A WORD?

 Have you ever played the game where you try to find as many words as possible from one larger word? The resulting list is always a surprise isn’t it? Somehow there is always one more word that you hadn’t noticed before.

Take a look at the word PROFESSIONALISM - that’s 15 letters in total. How many words do you think it is possible to extract from such a big word? The answer may surprise you - I will tell you at the end of the article!

Pushing the point just a little further, held within the definition of professionalism is a wide range of essential qualities that contribute to what professionalism truly means for any one of us. This range of qualities makes it easy to understand how choosing to adopt and live by its various requirements will deliver huge benefits for individuals and for the organisations with which they work.

CHOOSING EXCELLENCE

We are all used to the idea that society applauds excellence in a variety of ways. We see award ceremonies for the ‘best of’ everything, from films to books, from holiday companies to advertisements; we hear about prestigious prizes for inventive or ground-breaking ideas; we understand that reaching the top of your profession can attract a larger salary.

Excellence is also the root of professionalism. It is about putting in maximum effort, not just to get something done but to achieve the best possible result and to do it with passion! An individual’s choice not to accept second rate or second best for themselves or those around them means not just looking at the big ideas and issues but paying attention to the little things too. They all make a difference. We can’t deny that the big issues, such as maintaining standards and always behaving ethically, are incredibly important but the smaller signs of excellence, apparent in the way we treat other people and in the way we behave each day, are just as important.

 MAKING A START

Striving for the professionalism ideal is not enough by itself. That ideal needs to translate our thoughts and attitudes into actions, words into deeds, to make a difference. All great endeavours need a jumping off point. In your journey towards professionalism you also need to make a start and that starting point is your decision to choose excellence. This is your first and most important choice and it will colour everything you do from this point forwards. There is a very old saying ‘if something is worth doing, then it is worth doing well’. Take it further and let’s say that it is worth striving for and delivering excellence in everything you do.

With excellence as your eventual goal, and the pursuit of excellence as the companion on your journey, you will find that you will: 

  • Enhance your own performance
  • Maintain the quality and accuracy of everything you do
  • Bring enthusiasm and passion to all that you do
  • Develop a ‘can-do’ response to tasks and challenges
  • Take ownership of problems and be a creative problem solver
  • Use your initiative to act on opportunities whenever possible
  • Seek and not fear responsibility
  • Look for areas which can be improved
  • Not hesitate in suggesting and introducing improvements
  • Go the extra mile, the extra effort that makes a difference to the outcome
  • Respect and appreciate the contribution of others
  • Encourage others to do more or better
  • Continue your own learning in all areas

These extracts are from my newly published book “Professionalism: the ABC for Success”, designed to further an understanding of what professionalism is and how it can have very positive effects in all areas of your life. In it you will find descriptions of each of the essential qualities which contribute to professionalism and how they are interwoven to produce real benefits in both your private and working lives.

Just in case you really want to know, it is possible to extract no less than 435 words of 4 letters or more from PROFESSIONALISM – so I think we can agree that it really is a big word in every sense!

** “Professionalism: the ABC for Success” by Susie Kay

Published by Professionalism Books at £10.99; ISBN: 978-0-9565401-0-2

Now available from:

 

Susie Kay is Founder and Managing Director of The Professionalism Group, an advice and consultancy organisation working with individuals, students, businesses and professional institutes, focusing on the concept and ideals of professionalism (www.theprofessionalismgroup.co.uk)

Read The Professionalism blog at www.theprofessionalismblog.com

She is a speaker and writer and is happy to run workshops within your organisation.

 

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