One of the things I recall myself saying when being interviewed for a position in an organization is what one of my expectations are from the organization in the event that I am offered the job.

I say to the panel, “I expect that the organization is conducive for professional relationships and discharge of functions.”

Lately, I have been asking myself whether a professional work environment is a right or obligation, depending on which party in the relationship is being addressed. I have been fortunate enough to very rarely find myself in a position where I feel that professionalism must be respected and restored in the work environment. With that out of the way, the few occasions I have felt like that and responded to the absence of professionalism, this is what I have observed can happen and I invite you to share some of your experiences as well as we learn;

1. Shock – considering that is a primary expectation, and in one’s mind may be a no brainer, shock or surprise at unprofessional behaviour or environment may be a most natural reaction.

2. Pain – especially if one suspects that it may be a deliberate ploy to set them off. Why would anyone deliberately act in or create an unprofessional environment? Don’t they know the rules? Is it because they dislike you that they would enjoy causing you such discomfort?

3. Urgency to restore good relations – because you believe in professionalism and also that the other person believes the same, you may wish to highlight the urgency of the need to fix behaviours and the environment so that success at the functions and goals can be best achieved.

4. Retaliation – How dare somebody acts so unprofessional and also contaminate the working environment? …. you ask yourself. One may suit up in arms and go in for the fight to protect their integrity and ethics.

In all this, I am of the view that both parties to a professional relationship have rights and obligations towards each other to be professional. The person responsible for ensuring a professional environment has a duty to maintain it so that the one who is invited into the space can act professionally as they discharge the function. As a professional with clear terms and conditions of service has a right to treatment as a professional as per their engagement terms. They also have a duty to perform their functions professionally as it is the right of the creator of the environment to a professional service.

How can we do a good job at being professional as different stakeholders in organizations?