Professionalism

Professionalism can be seen as the embodiment of proper ethical and social practices in the workplace. However, I believe that professionalism transcends the job description. My previous supervisors have always advocated that “you never know who is watching”. This is true especially in Higher Education because individuals are heavily connected across institutions. The person you least expect could serve on the search committee of your next interview. As professionals we should try to understand the sweet spot between rigidity and unprofessionalism in the workplace. It is common knowledge that things like using inappropriate language, producing poor quality work, and engaging in negative conflict are not acceptable in the workplace. As an upcoming Higher Education and Student Affairs professional I need to be conscientious of how to be my most authentic self while being professional. In summary, I believe the way individuals carry themselves can deter or encourage others from wanting to work with them.

In my opinion the field of Higher Education and Student Affairs embodies professionalism with flare. This field is at times identified as fluid and fun in comparison to other career paths. There are sectors in Student Affairs that are not as rigid as others. For example, a professional in student activities may not be subject to the same professional standards as a senior administrator or director. It is important to remember that even though some roles in this field are more flexible than others, we need to comply with ethical standards and remain professional when providing services to our students. In my opinion being professional does not take away from providing support to students, being vulnerable or authentic. Professionalism exists to provide guidance and structure for professionals in our field so that we may perform duties in a legally abiding way.

As an individual from a minoritized background who assimilated into American culture I have always felt the need to prove myself to others. This is especially true in a professional field that follows white western ideals (Gray, 2019). Being that I am a person of color in a predominantly white field, I strive to prove myself through my work and professional interactions. My working style is grounded in organization, structure, and analytical qualities. I am detail oriented and thorough when completing projects or planning initiatives. Many of my organizational qualities are reflected in my DiSC profile. DiSC assessment alludes to one’s behavioral and personal styles. My assessment profile is 75% Conscientiousness, which means that I have a critical, cautious, and skeptical personal style. My behavioral /personal style also alludes to my need for structure and organization in various aspects of my life, especially in the professional realm. In my various leadership roles I seek structure and I strive to provide it if necessary. Now I that I will be entering the field of Higher Education and Student Administration full-time, I will look towards ethical practices and will heavily rely on professionalism to provide structure in my new workplace. Even though professionalism constructs can seem antiquated to newer professionals, scholars are revising professionalism values so that they may reflect modern perspectives and include professionals of color like myself (Gray, 2019; Wilson, McCallum and Schupp, 2020).

Gray, A. (2019, June 4). The bias of 'professionalism' standards (SSIR). Stanford Social Innovation

Review: Informing and Inspiring Leaders of Social Change. Retrieved March 5, 2022, from

https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_bias_of_professionalism_standards#

Wilson, A. B., McCallum, C. M., & Shupp, M. R. (2020). In Inclusive supervision in student affairs: A

model for professional practice. essay, Routledge.