A specific form of leadership emerges with the common idea of the "professional." A professional is often external to the organization, but performs a specific leadership function, or consults leader about their decisions. A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialized set of tasks and to complete them for a fee.
Doctors, Lawyers, Educators
Social workers, Psychotherapist
Public Accountants, CPA's. Financial Advisers.
Professional basketball players, etc.
About 11% of American workers – 1 in 9 – were self-employed in 2009. Of those, approximately 36% are incorporated with some kind of business or professional license. (From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review, September 2010 (2009 data).
The professional/client relationship is central to the definition. it is primarily a relationship of trust.
The professional brings a set of skills, plus a code of conduct that differentiates him or her from a regular worker. S/he is characterized by a higher degree of autonomy and responsibility in relation to the profession.
There are official codes of conduct and formalized legal/ethical obligations for different professional specializations. The State oftentimes formalizes the profession through a licensing process. This process subjects the professional to public scrutiny.
Expert and specialized knowledge in field which one is practicing professionally.
Excellent manual/practical and literary skills in relation to profession.
High quality work in (examples): creations, products, services, presentations, consultancy, primary/other research, administrative, marketing, photography or other work endeavors.
A high standard of professional ethics, behavior and work activities while carrying out one's profession (as an employee, self-employed person, career, enterprise, business, company, or partnership/associate/colleague, etc.). The professional owes a higher duty to a client, often a privilege of confidentiality, as well as a duty not to abandon the client just because he or she may not be able to pay or remunerate the professional. Often the professional is required to put the interest of the client ahead of his own interests.
Reasonable work morale and motivation. Having interest and desire to do a job well as holding positive attitude towards the profession are important elements in attaining a high level of professionalism.
Appropriate treatment of relationships with colleagues. Consideration should be shown to elderly, junior or inexperienced colleagues, as well as those with special needs. An example must be set to perpetuate the attitude of one's business without doing it harm.
A professional is an expert who is master in a specific field.
A strict public /private distinction applies.
Confidentiality (but: limits: Duty to warn, mandatory reporter.)
Relationship as "container".
Dual Relationship
Informed Consent (goals and methods of treatment)
Malpractice insurance
Licensing issues
Third-party PayersConsultation, CEU's?
Degree of self-disclosure?
What is required of patient (or client)?
Professional judgement against scope of license?
Treating people with whose actions you thoroughly disagree? How do you reconcile your own judgements and standards with your work?