Recently, I had an encounter with someone who insisted that they were a professional.
I really do not have tangible definition for a professional, just a feeling of what is one and what is not. This person was not.

I would judge that the people whose postings I have read on the COVE are professionals.

So what would be a good definition for “professional”?

That would depend...

From a pure standpoint, if someone gets paid to do something, then they are a professional at what they get paid to do. However...

There are professionals who are not professional - that is they do not posess the knowledge or attitude that one would expect of a professional. A professional football player can get away with jumping up and down, cursing, and generally being unpleasant with a side order of nasty disposition.

A quality professional would not be professional (as in paid to work) long if they tried the same approach.

Recently, I had an encounter with someone who insisted that they were a professional.
I really do not have tangible definition for a professional, just a feeling of what is one and what is not. This person was not.

I would judge that the people whose postings I have read on the COVE are professionals.

So what would be a good definition for “professional”?It is a loosely used term. I'd say a "Quality professional" is someone working within their field.

But while it might be tempting to claim they must be white collar people, I disagree with that. There are infinite degrees of technical, organizational and interpersonal operational levels in any of the job descriptions ranging from inspector to manager.

But since I am writing of quality and not presently earning money in the field, does that count me out? Hmmm. Working on it...

I agree with Craig, that there is a big difference between being a professional and behaving professionally.

Have you ever heard of a dictionary? Well that wasn't very professional of me, was it?. :rolleyes:

But seriously, here's a synopsis of what "Merriam" has to say:

One that is professional - an adjective which is defined as such:

1. conforming to the ethical or technical standards of a profession
2. exhibiting a courteous... generally businesslike manner in the workplace
3. gaining livelihood [being paid] in a field (e.g. sports) also engaged in by amateurs
4. having a permanent career in

So, depending on what your perspective was, choose one.

Well, the dictionary I have is a Webster's and though it has two versions as with yours. It also has "a person who is professional." I was always told that a definition can not use the word it is defining.

A dictionary is fine, however the unprofessional can read as well and feel that as long as they follow they impression of the definition then they are professional.

Beyond the dictionary, how would Rob Nix define professional?

As to Jennifer, yours are posts that I look for and I believe from the knowledge base point you are professional. Though I have not read your article yet, I plan to.

As to Craig H., you are why I go by patahaconsulting. I am a Craig H. as well.
Thanks for the responses so far.

For quality professionals, you may want to use the ASQ code of ethics as a starting point (though yes, now would imply "ethical professional")

"Amateurs" do things because they love to do them. Some amateurs are good, some are mediocre, and some are just plain bad. (derived from Latin root word for "Love")

Professionals do tasks they are paid to do at a certain level of competency that justifies being paid.

My gramps had an interesting "working definition" he used to distinguish a professional from a good amateur, besides pay:

"A professional does a good job every time whether his heart is in it or not."

Note this does not preclude an amateur from doing a BETTER JOB than a professional, only that we should be able to expect a consistent level of good work from a professional.

Case in point: two amateur women beat all but one of the field of professional women golfers at last weekend's USGA Women's Open.

Well then! Being an amateur never felt so good. :)

Beyond the dictionary, how would Rob Nix define professional?

Well, if someone said, "so and so is a professional", my immediate thoughts would be that the person has the following traits:
talent in the associated field
experience
strong ethics
proper decorum
businesslike
mentoring predilection, and
reputation

Outside the sports field, pay did not come to mind.

I thought it is a person who gets paid based on his/her OWN expertise, time and efforts.
businesslike
That would be exploiting other peoples' expertise, time and efforts!! :rolleyes: :lol:

Professionals do tasks they are paid to do at a certain level of competency that justifies being paid.

I think I like Rob's definitions. Wes, I really do not think that we can define a professional as someone who gets paid to do a job. Stop to think about fire and rescue personnel, and emergency medical technicians. I would never tell those people that they are not professional (as a whole, there may be the odd case of unprofessional care) and a good many of the rural areas of the country are manned by unpaid volunteers.

Professionalism is pretty much a state of mind. If you act and carry yourself in a manner that will not bring dishonor to you or your "profession", have enough knowledge plus the will to continually learn and improve, that makes you a professional in my estimation. So, it looks like knowledge and ethics make up a good portion of everyone's definitions so far, no?

"Professional" (as a noun) is like "quality"--the definition is in the eyes and perceptions of the beholder, and dictionary denotations be d#mned. I once worked for an utterly humorless guy who characterized a sense of humor as lack of professionalism. Because he was the boss, he got to define the concept. We all sometimes have a tendency to characterize behaviors we disagree with--or perhaps don't understand--as unprofessional. To paraphrase Forrest Gump's mama, professionalism is as professionalism does.

I won't quibble.

When I was a pup (between WWII and the Korean Conflict), "profession" and "professional" were terms limited in practice (regardless of strict definition) to doctors and lawyers. They were said to be "in a profession" while folks like carpenters, stone masons, (and Quality workers) were said to be "in a trade" where they might rank as apprentice, journeyman, or master. "Master" being the one who hired and trained apprentices.

The distinction in the mind of folks holding those opinions was primarily that "professionals" learned their job in a school, while the trades learned theirs "on the job." I never liked that distinction. It is to the credit of "inclusive" thinking that today we can consider the term "professional" to include even folks who do not get paid for their work. That thinking may diminish the strict definition of "professional," but it greatly enhances the esteem of the individuals who are called "professional." doesn't it?
It's interesting to note that members of religious orders were said to be professionals because they had "professed their faith" to their religion.

From the 1913 edition of Webster's Dictionary (public domain)professional
(definition) by Webster 1913
Pro*fes"sion*al (?), a. [adjective]
1. Of or pertaining to a profession, or calling; conforming to the rules or standards of a profession; following a profession; as, professional knowledge; professional conduct.
"Pride, not personal, but professional." Macaulay. "A professional sneerer." De Quincey.
2. Engaged in by professionals; as, a professional race; -- opposed to amateur.
© Webster 1913.
----------------------
Pro*fes"sion*al, n. [noun]
A person who prosecutes anything professionally, or for a livelihood, and not in the character of an amateur; a professional worker.
© Webster 1913.

"Professional" (as a noun) is like "quality"--the definition is in the eyes and perceptions of the beholder, and dictionary denotations be d#mned. I once worked for an utterly humorless guy who characterized a sense of humor as lack of professionalism. Because he was the boss, he got to define the concept. We all sometimes have a tendency to characterize behaviors we disagree with--or perhaps don't understand--as unprofessional. To paraphrase Forrest Gump's mama, professionalism is as professionalism does.


Yeah, I have been around people like that. Here's my take: If someone is so uptight about their work, to me that indicates a lack of confidence. Why are they lacking confidence, then?

There is a time and place for everything, and using a joy buzzer for handshakes in the boardroom is most likely not a good idea (then again...). That said, if I don't enjoy my work at least some of the time, I AM NOT WORKING!!!!

I have a very simple definition, one that would exclude almost everyone on this board. A professional is someone who can be found in the yellow pages. This covers the spectrum from Plumber to Doctor and in between. It misses alot of professions such as quality engineers and athletes, but unless you have a heading in the yellow pages, you are not a professional, but rather engaged in a profession.

(Sarcasm button now off!)

From the 1913 edition of Webster's Dictionary

You know, Wes, they have more recent editions of their dictionary. ;)
That one's pretty old. I wonder if it cites the oldest profession?

By 'professional' I usually think of individuals such as doctors, consultants - typically those who do not have a large organizational back up. (Yellow pages is right, IMO.) Get paid for their OWN work. The moment this person is away from work, the earnings stop.

A few years ago, I was asked this question by a very respected Industrial Engineering consultant here: Do you want to become a professional or a businessman? I said businessman. I still do.

By 'professional' I usually think of individuals such as doctors, consultants - typically those who do not have a large organizational back up. (Yellow pages is right, IMO.) Get paid for their OWN work. The moment this person is away from work, the earnings stop.

A few years ago, I was asked this question by a very respected Industrial Engineering consultant here: Do you want to become a professional or a businessman? I said businessman. I still do.
I guess a liberal interpretation of the sentence "The moment this person is away from work, the earnings stop." means that a professional is just another trade, like carpenter, stone mason, crop picker, etc. who have the same relationship between work and pay.