Understanding Of Appropriate Professional Practice

When we say “Professional practice”, what do we actually mean? This refers to the conduct and work of a person from a given line of profession. Appropriate professional practice focuses on the achievement of a safe and comfortable indoor or outdoor environment while minimizing all the negative environmental impacts. Often, professionalism has not been conceptualized appropriately and ends up being associated with unethical conducts.

All professions are governed by professional bodies that are bestowed with the responsibility of accrediting not only educational institutions but also qualified professionals. There are various designations used in organizing various qualifications including: ‘Certified’, ‘member of…’, ’chartered member’, ‘fellow’, and many more. All professions have specific set out practices well stipulated in a code of conduct. In the built environment, there are some generally agreed upon principles (only to mention but a few) that may be common to most professionals:

• Act with integrity
• An ethical approach to service provision
• Undertake work for which there is adequate competence
• Provide high standards of work
• Be insured appropriately
• Ensure clarity of appointment terms
• Promotion of high levels of trust within the profession
• Ensure the profession is above reproach
• No one should be discriminated against based on any grounds

Appropriate conduct and professionalism should be inseparable, it may be uncomfortable and even against the immediate interests but if professionals don’t do what’s right then they can also get into troubleThis brings us to the discussion on ‘Ethics’Well, just a recap on the definition of this commonly used word; this is a branch of moral philosophy involving the guiding principles and recommended behaviors and conduct. It’s essentially what guides our conscience on what’s good and what’s not, what’s just and what’s not, and so on.

An individual that does not act ethically or acts ignorantly to this fact is a total failure as well as a disgrace to the profession. Again, we cannot be oblivious to the fact that ethical failure has a leadership implication in it. Leadership must promote requisite ethical professional practices as ethics of a person become subsumed among the blatant disregard of professional ethics. This discussion can’t be complete without highlighting the key principles of ethical practice: -

• Integrity: Consideration of the interests of the public.
• Accountability: Provision of relevant information to enhance effective necessary action
• Honesty: Avoid deception that may affect others directly or indirectly
• Reliability: Provide services well in the area one is competent
• Fairness: Avoid treating others unfairly directly or indirectly with the aim of obtaining benefit.
• Fair reward: Avoid any kind of action that will deprive others of fair reward for their good work.
• Objectivity: Discern potential areas conflict of interest and share this information with the parties likely to be affected by such action.