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You are here: Home / Leadership Development / Code of Professionalism

Code of Professionalism

May 13, 2012 by Brenda Leave a Comment

Background and explanation

During leadership development courses, I often facilitate the development of a ‘Code of Professionalism’ where the team starts from scratch and through conversation decides what the main points in their ‘code of professionalism’ should be.  Starting with ‘we will at all times’, participants populate their ‘code’ asking ‘what do we really mean by this’?  

I stress the importance of discussing behaviours which are congruent with that principle and those which are contrary to the principle.  Interesting points emerge from the group and members often become aware of how differently others may perceive aspects of their own behaviour.
 
Where courses run over a period of a few months, by sporadically going back to their ‘code of professionalism’ and redefining the main points, we see how the document reflects the rising maturity of the group. 

Athol Davies – Post-matric Director

I’m currently running a communications skills course, emphasising ‘leadership development’ for the 2012 Treverton Post-matric group.  It is interesting how different their updated code now is, four months after the start of their programme.  I’m also fascinated at how different this ‘code’ is from those I have facilitated for teams in the business environment where the emphasis is on behaviour needed to get the job done in the most professional manner.  The Treverton group definitely has a greater emphasis on values and life skills.  And that is appropriate for their needs.
 
Below is their (still draft) ‘Code of Professionalism’ capturing my understanding of their main points from our session this week.  In knocking it into shape, I have needed to incorporate the intention of the various groups and taken editorial licence in adding a few of my own comments.  So, this is a ‘living document’ and may very well be further modified at our next session. It is very interesting looking back and seeing the first stages of developing the ‘code’ four months ago at the beginning of their ‘Post-matric year’ when they were a group of diverse people – and now they are a team working together towards a common goal!
 
I feel they have done an excellent job in developing this code.  And, if you’d like to know more about the Treverton Post-Matric course, please visit their website.  The Post-matric Director, Athol Davies is to be commended on the wonderful way in which he leads this group of young people, achieving magnificent shifts in their ‘way of being’. 
 
Code of Professionalism:  Treverton Post-matric – May 2012

We will at all times:

  1. Behave in an ethical way

Choose to do what is right, not what is easy.  Abide by the rules, working within an acceptable framework.  But, expand your horizons.  Be adventurous by questioning and stretching boundaries where it will cause no harm.  

  1. Show respect

Showing respect to the environment, animals, others and ourselves leads to protecting what is good and consciously doing no harm.  Tidiness (of the environment and self), dressing appropriately, speech, and manners are all part of respect - and so are punctuality, respecting other’s ‘space’ and belongings.  

Respect helps to build positive relationships. 

  1. Lead by example

Self-leadership and leading teams are part of leadership development.  Leadership involves setting a vision, motivating others to achieve the goal and helping others to reach potential.  

Leaders need to set an example for others to follow.  Push beyond current limits both mentally and physically.  Aim at the highest from a head, heart and action perspective thus setting standards of excellence.  

  1. Encourage others

Encourage others by acknowledging their achievements and motivating them to do their best.  In addition, by exposing them to things they would not normally do, they might find something they will be unexpectedly good at or really like. This will help them to grow and reach higher levels and cause a ‘ripple effect’.  

  1. Treat others with empathy

Be mindful of their needs.  Empathy promotes action, enhances capabilities and builds people. It is important to go beyond differences and negative feelings and to ‘tune in’ to the person, their situation and their current needs.   Be nice to others, treat them with kindness and caring. They have the right to be treated with respect. 

  1. Practise tolerance

Be patient.  Accept people and allow their differences.  Tolerance leads to greater understanding.  Try to understand why people think and behave the way they do. Listen to their ideas and accept their choices.  

Looking beyond differences, we’ll find similarities as we ‘share the same space’.  We can use other people’s positive differences (their strengths) to enhance ourselves. 

  1. Listen to others

It is important to go beyond hearing what people are saying. Listen actively.  Validate others – ‘I see you, I hear you and what you say matters’. This shows support and builds relationships, generating further growth. 

Listening promotes understanding of others and is a skill needed for self-growth. 

  1. Cultivate a positive attitude

Be careful of negative self-talk and limiting beliefs.  Consciously see the good in all things and in others.  But be objective.  Look for value.  Cultivate and maintain a positive attitude. 

  1. Be inspired

Believing in something greater than ‘self’ helps to ‘keep you going’.  Look for inspiration.  Being motivated stems from being inspired.  Maintain a level of motivation and results will be better. 

  1.  Keep up appearances

Maintain high standards for the group and individually.  Make sure the ‘outside’ is not a veneer.  Allow your authentic self to shine through.  

And don’t judge a book by its cover. The cover is not the book – the contents may be very different. 

If you are interested in finding out more about our ‘leadership development’ programmes, or any of the other services we offer, you are welcome to contact us directly on brenda@146.66.90.172 or Phone: +27 33 3425432, Mobile: + 27 82 4993311.

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Filed Under: Leadership Development Tagged With: Behaviour, Code of Professionalism, communication, Leadership

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