Distinguishing Ethics & Professionalism

Ethics vs Professionalism

Although some individuals use the terms professionalism and ethics interchangeably, they are actually quite distinct. Both terms are commonly used in the corporate sector when referring to the behavior of employees and employers. Ethics can be seen as guidelines imposed on a specific group of individuals, assisting employees in working transparently within a corporate setting. Professionalism, on the other hand, encompasses more than just ethics. While maintaining ethical behavior is a feature of professionalism, it is only one aspect. This article aims to clarify the differences between ethics and professionalism by exploring each term.

What are Ethics?

Ethics are guidelines for individuals, outlining the appropriate actions and behaviors. Ethics exist in many contexts, but are considered particularly important in an industrial setting. In this context, a work ethic is applied to all employees, guiding them to act ethically in all their activities. Ethics includes elements such as confidentiality, respect, honesty, transparency, and competency. For example, counseling is a profession where the importance of an ethical code is very high. A counselor is expected to act ethically throughout their practice to benefit the counselor, the counselee, society at large, and the counseling profession. Competency is one such ethic; all counselors should be competent in practicing counseling, as an incompetent counselor would not be able to assist the client and could even cause harm. This is why an ethical code is established in any profession.

What is Professionalism?

Professionalism can be defined as the skills, competence, and conduct displayed by an individual of a certain profession. It is also expected that such a person maintains a polite demeanor when dealing with clients and fellow professionals. Professionalism encompasses a variety of dimensions, including polite behavior and academic competence, as well as a mixture of other qualities that contribute to professionalism. A professional must possess specialized knowledge in their specific field, which is one of the main characteristics of a true professional. If an individual lacks knowledge, their contribution is minimal. Competency is also crucial; if an individual has all the academic qualifications but fails to work competently, this can be detrimental to both the individual and the organization’s performance. Other traits such as honesty, integrity, and politeness are also important for a professional. This can be seen as one of the great assets of the corporate sector, as it allows individuals to perform well.

Key Takeaways

• Ethics are guidelines that outline appropriate actions and behaviors, whereas professionalism refers to specific traits expected of a professional.
• Ethics are typically imposed, while professionalism is cultivated by the individual personally.
• Both ethics and professionalism are important in the corporate sector, with ethics ensuring transparent and appropriate behavior, and professionalism contributing to an individual’s performance.