Be Nice to Me, You ... You ... Professional!
by Zube (zube@stat.colostate.edu)
Created:  Mar 26, 2006
Updated:  Feb 8, 2008
http://www.stat.colostate.edu/~zube/professionalism.txt

I have been accused several times of acting unprofessionally.  It
started me thinking about what people mean when they say it.

I work hard at my job.  I work often at my job.  I believe myself to be
dedicated and I try my best.  Am I a professional?  I don't know.  My
job is literally what I do most of the time and is what keeps me
solvent, but "professional?"  It sure sounds funny in my mouth.

When I've been labeled as unprofessional, it has been after I'd been 
angry, upset, mad and either raised my voice or swore so that it could 
be heard (gasp!!).  

[Note:  this is not swearing at people, as in "You <expletive deleted>"; 
this is exasperated swearing as in "Geez Louise" but with naughty words.]

So if I'm not a Professional, am I unprofessional?

Perhaps one might say I'm not professional in my interactions with people.
I don't think this is true in the general case, as I interact with many
people on a daily basis and they don't call me unprofessional.

Perhaps one might say that I'm not professional in my interactions with
people when I'm stressed.  That may be closer to the truth, but I'm already
under a lot of stress and I usually cope fine.

The times I've been upset are when someone has done something so
egregious or so lacking in forethought that I can't contain my
emotions.  I care deeply about what I do, my plate is full, I'm human
and I don't apologize for any of these things.  In addition, I think I
know my limitations.  I try to minimize in-person interactions,
especially when I am upset and the people I might interact with know
this.  Still, they (actively or passively) accost me and end up
surprised, like one might after ignoring a sign that reads "Please
Don't Pet The Cobra" or "Do Not Taunt The Dynamite Monkey."

I don't want to get upset (I really don't have the time for it) just as
the people who make me upset (probably) don't want to do breathtakingly
stupid things.  But if caring deeply means that sometimes my emotions
run high, and if keeping my emotions always in check is a professional
quality, then call me unprofessional all you like.  I'm not a Man
of Measured Merriment and hope to never be one.

When someone takes the unprofessional glove out of his pocket and
smacks me across the face with it, what is this person really saying?

I think he is saying this:

"You hurt my feelings by showing emotion; you should not get upset when
I do something really stupid, even if I do it a zillion times, even if
I do it with malace aforethought, even if you told me not to do it,
even if the consequences are severe.  No error of mine can be so
egregious that it rises to the level of you showing emotion."

Or, shorter:

"Well, sure I burned the house down by replacing a fuse with a penny, but
you don't have to get *upset* about it."

I would reply:

"Well, tough.  Actions have consquences, both intended and unintended.
If the worst thing your carelessness causes is that a no-name,
high-strung *amateur* sys admin curses in your presence or hurts your
feelings, consider yourself lucky indeed.  Someday, a calm and
completely professional Professional may calmly and professionally
evaluate your actions and calmly and professionally show you to the
nearest door.  Rather than focusing on my words, focus on your own
actions."