Association of Female Executives of Trinidad and Tobago

Are You a Professional?

By Ram Ramesh

Trinidad Express - Wednesday, May 13th 2009

Last month we celebrated Administrative Professionals week. These individuals are indeed the lifeblood of an efficiently run executive office.

Without the help of these and other business professionals many executives will be completely lost.

But then who is a "professional"?

What is the difference between a professional and an amateur?

"A professional gets paid, whereas an amateur doesn't," is the immediate reply, you may think.

If we adopt the "laddering technique" and ask the next why, "Why does the professional gets paid while the amateur does not?"

You may say, "Because he is good."

"Why is he good?"

Remembering the tennis pros that you are familiar you may say, "Because he practises hard."

"Why does he practise hard?"

"Because he wants to earn lots of money?" Obviously!

You are immediately reminded of Tiger Woods or Brian Lara.

Many in the working world want to earn "lots of money" like Tiger Woods or Brian Lara. But do we have what it takes to be a "professional" like these great names?

More importantly, do we know what makes a Pro, a Pro?

Pros get the job done

First, what distinguishes a professional from an amateur is that a professional does whatever it takes to get the job done, however hard it may be or however tiring it might be.

The professional keeps his eye on the goal and never wavers.

When he was much younger, the legendary Roger Federer used to lose his cool often in the courts, which led him to lose focus and thus lose the match.

He was told by his coach that unless he overcame this weakness he can never be a Pro.

He worked on this weakness tirelessly, so much so that, when he became a Pro, he was not only a master of the game, but he was also the master of his emotions, for he never lost his cool on the courts.

(Of late this has changed though, and you can see his winnings also decline).

In other words a Pro does what it takes to get the job done, regardless of his own likes and dislikes, or emotional state of mind once it is not unethical or injurious to anyone.

Pros stand by their work

When the offices of CMMB were built about nine years ago, we had engaged mas maker Brian McFarlane to design the offices.

As it was getting built I noticed that Brian's men started to paint the office in bright purple.

I was alarmed and called Brian to complain that his men were doing "dottishness".

He calmly assured me that the colour scheme, when finished, would look very good.

I was rather skeptical but went along with his assessment.

To my and everyone's amazement when the job was done it was beautiful and to this day people visit simply to admire the offices.

A Pro knows what he is doing.

And she does not back down just because somebody thinks differently.

Pros deliver superior value against all odds, including the objections of their own clients.

On the other hand an amateur does not hold true to his profession.

Recently I came across a research report on customer preferences that made some drastic conclusions based on a very small sample size. I asked the researcher why he chose such a small sample size to do the study and how he came to the conclusions based on such a small sample size.

His answer was the budget only allowed such a sample size and he was guided by the client's instructions.

A professional would never put his name to something that does not have the quality that he believes in.

Pros don't accept mediocrity

When you watch a Pro you know he/she is a class act. What makes the Pros a class above the rest is the fact that they don't accept mediocrity in anything they do.

Pros set very high personal standards for themselves.

A Pro does not hit the home run occasionally. He aims to hit a home run or score a goal every single shot he takes and gets most of them in.

While many languish in habitual mediocrity, Pros revel in routine excellence.

They hone their skills by repeatedly aiming for the higher bar.

Even when they are on top of their game, and especially when they are on top of their game, they work harder to maintain the high standard that they have achieved.

To some this would seem strange as to why someone who is a celebrity needs to expend so much energy to maintain her game at that level.

But Pros know that, that is the only way to remain on top of their game.

Pros strive to have an internal locus of control

Pros also know that there is a downside to being a Pro, and that is, oftentimes you will be walking a lonely path.

While others are taking it easy, the Pro is still hard at work, honing her skills and building valuable experience.

She often has to draw on her inner resolve and sense of self. While it pays in the long run, it is a long and hard road to being a Pro and unless you are patient and willing to pay your dues, you will be banished to be an amateur.

Are you a Pro or an amateur?

Management Mantras will focus on tips and techniques for managing self and the organisation in challenging times.

Ram Ramesh has more than 22 years of management experience and has brought some innovative management thinking to the work place. He can be reached for comments at rr2803@gmail.com."