5 “Professionalism-isms” for the young Kinesiology professional

Jenny O, Ph.D.KRG Seminar

November 14, 2014

What does it mean to be a health “professional”? (Cruess et al., 2004)

• Primary and altruistic interest in serving the public

• Specialized knowledge and expertise used to service others

• Governed by a code of ethics • Committed to competence, integrity and

morality, altruism, and promotion of the public good

It is harder to be seen as a ‘professional’, today

• Deprofessionalization hypothesis (Haug, 1973)

– Control over your specialized knowledge becomes challenged (more educated public, technology boom – more technical information is readily available to general public)

– Public is less willing to defer to your expert knowledge

It is harder to be a ‘professional’, today

• Proletarianization thesis (e.g., Oppenheimer, 1973; McKinlay & Arches, 1985)

– Rise of capitalism and corporate elite (capital is gaining control over professionals)

– Technological sophistication = Rising cost of providing health care services

– Professionals are losing professional autonomy and the ability to self-regulate due to the ‘cost of doing business’

Professionalism: Then

• Content expertise; ‘hard skills’• Altruistic focus• Those with superior “soft skills” became

managers, leaders…”game changers” (big and small)

Professionalism: Now

• Content expertise; ‘hard skills’ AND• “21st Century Skills” (NRC, 2012)

– Critical thinking and problem solving– Creativity and innovation– Communication and collaboration– Scientific and numerical literacy– Cross-disciplinary thinking– Adaptability and flexibility

• Those who also have an altruistic focus are becoming the managers, leaders, and game changers

YOU (our CSUEB KIN students)

• Have/are developing your content expertise• Have an altruistic focus

KRG and GFSF experiences focus on developing these as well, but primarily, we focus on using research and service experiences to develop

your 21st Century skills

5 Professionalism-isms

1. Follow through.

• Manage others’ impressions of you (Leary & Kowalski, 1990; Neuberg, 1989)

• Believe in your innate ability to learn• Create a realistic and timely game plan for

success• Let ‘er rip!

YAH, IT’S IMPORTANT.

• Few mistakes = sub-optimal learning and performanceFear of Failure (Conroy, Willow, & Metzler, 2002):

1.Fear of diminished reputation2.Fear of self-presentational failure3.Fear of demonstrating poor ability4.Fear of a lack of personal control5.Fear of having an uncertain future6.Fear of important others losing interest7.Fear of upsetting important others

2. Make mistakes.

Fear of Failure often leads to procrastination (e.g., Solomon & Rothblum,

1984) and sub-optimal learning and performance (e.g., Tice & Baumeister, 1997)

3. Show your passion.

• Find your voice (e.g., Brooks & Brooks, 2005; Leary, 1990)

• Establish a personal presence through regular communication

• Encourage & support the voices of others

4. Show your self (literally).

• Make some personal sacrifices (e.g., Pillai & Williams, 2004; Sosik, Avolio, & Jung, 2002)

• Reciprocate assistance and mentorship• “We” versus “I” thinking and doing (e.g., Brawley, Widmeyer, &

Carron, 1998)

5. More is not more.

• Quality versus quantity• Be a name, not a number• Make others feel like they are a name, not a

number, to you!

(ERI Model; Seigrist, 1996)

5 Professionalism-isms:

1. Follow through2. Make mistakes3. Show your passion4. Show your self5. More is not more

• Critical thinking and

Problem solving• Creativity and

innovation• Communication and

collaboration• Scientific and

numerical literacy• Cross-disciplinary

thinking• Adaptability &

Flexibility

21st Century Skills: