The Professionalism Group

Susie Kay

Managing Director

Professionalism for Success

Career Development Group UK National Conference 2010

17th May 2010

Why now?

Grim couple of years for some very public ‘professionalism failures’

An idea whose time has come – professionalism makes a difference!

Perhaps a change to the way we all work together?

Past, present, future

Economy – a difficult time Employability – key to finding or

changing roles Work doesn’t have to be a 4 letter word! We all want quality of life

The challenge

To find ways to make professionalism

work for all of us and the organisations

in which we work

A question

How many of you have ever been disappointed by a colleague at work,

their attitude or their response?

How might it feel to know that this could

be eliminated?

Three questions

1 What is professionalism?

2 Who is it for?

3 How can it help?

How would you describe it?

What would be your definition of professionalism?

Conclusions

Difficult to catch it all in a short phrase What are the elements? Ended up writing my book

I like Frank Tyger’s definition: ‘Knowing how to do it,

When to do it

And actually doing it’

Definition or real world?

No agreed definition No problem

Professionalism is: About everything you are About everything you do At work, in your private life, by yourself Believe it, be it and live it!

What does it look like?

1 First - Choose excellence

2 Next - Combine Attitude

Behaviour

Character

‘Work smarter not harder’

Empathy - how it feels

Personal - how you act

Efficiency - being effective

Expectation - what you do

Empathy

See through the eyes of others We can see the results

of our interactions with others

How would it feel? Would you like being

on the receiving end? Every type, every level

Personal interactions

Oil the wheels Manners matter Belief not

arrogance – inspire Manage

impressions

Efficient and effective

Planning Get organised

Physically mentally

Manage your time To do list –

whatever form it takes

Expectations

Of yourself Set realistic targets Exceed requirements ‘go the extra mile’ Standards, Quality &

results

Of others Expect results Expect ‘extra’ No more ‘just enough

to get by’

CPD

Essential Various Competence = knowledge + skills +

experience Continuous improvement Relevance Useful – who knows – be inquisitive

Your choice

Embracing professionalism is about a commitment to:

Self belief Choosing excellence

Permanent improvementsKnowing you can have a positive effect

‘The best way to predict the future is to invent it’

Alan Kay (1940– ), American computer scientist

Choose to be exceptional

The Professionalism Group

Susie Kay

M: 07968 583098

susiekay@theprofessionalismgroup.co.uk

www.theprofessionalismgroup.co.uk

www.professionalismbooks.com

Blog: www.theprofessionalismgroup.co.uk/blog/

www.professionalismbooks.com

• For individuals– £10.99

• For libraries– Bulk discounts

• For organisations– Bulk discounts– Introduction &

implementation Workshops