What it means to be a professional in the workplace
Professionalism is at the forefront of success for any company, whether a large
corporation or small business. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the first known use
of the word was in 1856, but professionalism has been a significant dynamic for the workplace
since the beginning of time. Even passages of the Bible represent professionalism in work. 1
Thessalonians 4:11-12 says “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life…and to work with your
hands…so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders…” (Miller, 2006) and Colossians
3:23 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart…” (Miller, 2006). Both have
representations of what we deem examples of professionalism in today’s work environment.
Professionalism is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the skill, good
judgment, and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well.” It
