"Gracious Professionalism"

[Billfred]

This is a topic I have to wrangle with every once in a while. Woodie says it very well in the manual, to the point I used this quote verbatim as the second or third slide in 4901's first meeting:

FIRST celebrates high-quality, well-informed work done in a manner that leaves everyone feeling valued. Gracious Professionalism seems to be a good descriptor for a big part of the ethos of FIRST. It is one of the things that makes FIRST different and wonderful.

Gracious attitudes and behaviors are win-win. Gracious folks respect others and let that respect show in their actions. Professionals possess special knowledge and are trusted by society to use that knowledge responsibly. Thus, gracious professionals make a valued contribution in a manner pleasing to others and to themselves.

In FIRST, Gracious Professionalism means that we learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. We try to avoid leaving anyone feeling like they have lost. No chest-thumping barbarian tough talk, but no sticky sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, pride and empathy comfortably blended.

(Six-by-six rule for slides? Ain't nobody got time for that!)

It seems like the further you reach in FIRST, the more likely it is that someone will frown upon your work and make it known loudly. (It's happened to me twice in recent years, and both times it was a punch in the gut. I don't know how Simbots manage it.) Gracious Professionalism is a test of yourself in these situations. If they smoked a motor, do you give them your spare? If they've got the other color bumpers on, do you still loan them the ballast so they can play better defense? If they stop moving in Finals 2, do you call your alliance's timeout before Finals 3?

The answer had better be yes. Be great, let others be great, and get as much dirt off your shoulder as possible.

[mman1506]

I think GP is the line where FRC becomes less of a competition and more of a common goal. We run a mobile machine shop that has won us a number of GP awards. A big part of it is making sure no team or person has priority (including ours).

[Alpha Beta]

When I think about what it means to be gracious, the following quote comes to mind, along with some of my own musings from 2010.

"We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours."

Translated from the Latin Book Metalogicon, written in 1159 AD by John of Salisbury

When we find ourselves honored above our peers we have two obligations to that lofty position. The first is to acknowledge the unseen giants that have aided our ascent. The second is to join those giants in lifting up others to even greater heights.

Aaron Bailey, 2010

Some other thoughts I've had on what it means to be Professional.

• Professionals take responsibility for solving the problem, not punching the clock.
• Professionals know their limitations and don’t promise more than they can deliver. They do however deliver more than they promised. They also know when to ask for help.
• Professionals are constantly improving their skill-set by staying current with developments in their field, and by observing or working with their skilled colleagues.
• Professionals know how to collaborate. They use language that encourages a flow of ideas between colleagues. This includes giving credit to others and avoiding offensive comments that would diminish the contribution of others.
• Professionals pay attention to the details. They know the cost of sloppy work, and the beauty of good design.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

For me I use the grandma is watching analogy. However, I modify it be saying that you have to act as if "my grandmother is watching you." My grandmother was 98 1/2 when she died. Nena was an Italian grandmother with a seventh grade education in a pre-arranged marriage that lasted 66 years until my grandfather's death. Her idea of good behavior was pretty well defined. You are either good or not. You are either acting in a way that would make her proud or you're not. There is no in between. If you are not pleasing Nena you are not acting with gracious professionalism.
Thanks, Nena.

[pfreivald]

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

...and kick robotty rear-end."