Gracious Professionalism

[4throck]

How fortunate I am, Cheif Delphi! When I ask you for the one of gracious professionalism, you present me with a swarm of them, which are in your keeping. Suppose that I carry on the figure of the swarm, and ask of you, what is the nature of the bee? And you answer that there are many kinds of bees, and I reply: But do bees differ as bees, because there are many and different kinds of them; or are they not rather to be distinguished by some other quality, as for example beauty, size, or shape? How would you answer me?

Jowett translation

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by 4throck

Suppose that I carry on the figure of the swarm, and ask of you, what is the nature of the bee?

There is no single definition. Gracious Professionalism is an attitude, not an action. If pressed for a simple answer, I would give one by counterexample: it is the opposite of Obnoxious Incompetence.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Can Gracious Professionalism be taught? I don't believe so ... at least not in the traditional sense of teaching. Oh, you can teach the definitions if Gracious Professionalism, just like you can teach the definitions of honesty and integrity. But the true meanings of Gracious Professionalism (and integrity and honesty) will be lost if they are not LIVED. Only by living by GP, and leading by example, is gracious profesionalism truely taught.

At least thats my belief.

[Sunshine]

The great thing about FIRST is that most students would never hear about Gracious Professionalism without experiencing the FRC. They have the opportunity to "live it", discuss it and hopefully practice it. Where else would they come in contact with this ideas without FIRST?

My short experience with FIRST tells me that they (the students) embrace the concept. And it is something they walk away with that will be with them the rest of their lives.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

There is no single definition. Gracious Professionalism is an attitude, not an action. If pressed for a simple answer, I would give one by counterexample: it is the opposite of Obnoxious Incompetence.

I'll go one farther. Gracious Professionalism implies being both gracious and professional. The opposite is being obnoxious or incompetent.

I think the best examples of GP are when a team's behavior doesn't merely help an opponent. Many are willing to do that. It's when giving that help also has the possiblility of harming the giving team in some way that true gracious professionalism shows through. That's why I like the examples given like the FLL team sharing a part which could have jeopardized their own next match, or teams using their time out so their competitor could get fixed and play.

I think GP can also be likened to doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.