Creating Your Own Definition of Professionalism

Introduction: Whose Standards Are We Following—And Who Do They Serve?

We’re taught early on what “professionalism” looks like:

• Neutral tone
• Polished language
• Controlled emotion
• Predictable behavior
• One identity, one lane

But for many of us—especially women, expats, creatives, multi-passionate professionals—these rules don’t just feel outdated.
They feel limiting.

Because professionalism, as traditionally defined, often prioritizes uniformity over authenticity, hierarchy over humanity, and compliance over creativity.

So I stopped trying to fit into someone else’s idea of what a “professional” should be.
And I built my own.

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1️⃣ Professionalism Isn’t Neutral. It’s Cultural.

The rules of professionalism are not universal.
They’re shaped by:

• Class
• Gender
• Race
• Geography
• Industry norms
• Historical bias

What’s considered “professional” in one context may seem cold, distant, or performative in another.

I’ve worked across Brazil, the U.S., Ireland, Denmark, and Hungary—
And I’ve seen firsthand that professionalism is not a fixed language.
It’s a code—and it often needs translation.

📌 If you don’t match the code, people may see you as “unpolished.”
But often, you’re just bringing a different kind of intelligence to the table.

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2️⃣ The Problem with Pretending We’re All the Same

Too often, traditional professionalism asks us to:

• Flatten our accents
• Tone down our emotions
• Edit out our cultural context
• Dismiss personal priorities
• Compartmentalize our identities

But what do we lose when we do that?

We lose:

• Relatability
• Creativity
• Perspective
• Truth

📌 Uniformity might feel safe—but it’s not where bold thinking comes from.

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3️⃣ What I Choose to Redefine (And What I Keep)

Here’s what professionalism means to me now:

✅ Clarity > Formality
I choose communication that connects—not just impresses.

✅ Presence > Performance
I don’t need to “act” professional. I show up with focus, empathy, and purpose.

✅ Boundaries > Availability
Being always-on doesn’t make me more professional—it makes me less strategic.

✅ Credibility > Conformity
My authority comes from lived experience, not just credentials. From results, not rituals.

✅ Respect > Rigidity
I hold space for multiple voices at the table, not just the loudest or most traditional ones.

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4️⃣ Why This Matters for Leaders

As someone who leads teams and manages business across cultures, I know this:
The next generation of professionals won’t tolerate outdated models.

They want:

• Realness
• Flexibility
• Values-alignment
• Psychological safety
• A place where their full selves are seen—not just their resumes

If you’re still clinging to 1990s office norms, you’re not leading—you’re limiting.

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5️⃣ How to Model Modern Professionalism

If you want to build environments that are innovative, inclusive, and high-performing:

• Unlearn default behaviors that were never meant for everyone
• Create space for expression—language, culture, identity
• Name your values clearly, and live them visibly
• Trust people to be whole humans, not just roles in a system

📌 Because professionalism isn’t about perfection.
It’s about respect, reliability, and relevance.

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Final Thought: We Don’t Need to Perform Professionalism—We Can Redefine It

I’m not less serious because I lead with empathy.
I’m not less strategic because I’ve worked in creative fields.
I’m not less professional because I wear color, ask big questions, or have a nonlinear CV.

I’m just not trying to look the part.
I’m building a new one.

And if you’re reading this, you probably are too.