The Real Meaning of Our Profession
"Everyone stand up - and stay standing if you would describe yourself as a 'professional'". A room full of delegates at the ever-popular CIH South East conference obliged Michelle Reid from TPAS by standing up and remaining on their feet. "Now stay standing if you think the person next to you is a professional" - every single person stayed standing for Michelle. A fascinating - and encouraging - opening to the session on housing professionals for the 21st century which I've just chaired.
Having chosen housing as a career and entered the sector through the academic route, I found myself becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the term 'professional' as I learned my trade. Looking back this distancing was nothing to do with an on-going desire to learn but resulted from not liking the idea of joining an elite club that so many seemed excluded from. I've completely changed my mind since then and am now really proud to work for the professional body for the sector. But this change of heart is based on reclaiming the word 'professional' to apply to anyone who is committed to career-long learning and who aspires to be the very best they can be at their role - whether its as a housing officer, chief executive, tenant board member, housing journalist, estate caretaker, civil servant, funder... the list is endless because it's an intentionally inclusive club.
What I'm not interested in is a definition of 'professional' that seeks to exclude people - other than where they have no interest in learning and being the best they can be in their role. Richard Crossley from the NTV, talking in the same session as Michelle, reported back on the negative images of the term that he had gathered from NTC members - images that included 'aloofness', 'remoteness', 'using language to exclude' and 'making things over-complex'. Thankfully all three session speakers were also able to agree on some more positive phrases to underpin the concept - including: flexibility, transferable skills, listening, responding, respecting - and I would agree with them. They also agreed that tomorrow's professionals must place a greater emphasis on knowing their customers better and exceeding their needs.
As Sarah from the HCA said in her speech - a lack of skills is the greatest risk to non-delivery of the place-making vision for our homes and communities - so I'm 100 per cent committed to encouraging people to take qualifications - it's one of CIH's core activities and I'm delighted we have record numbers of students registered on courses with us. But, I'm equally committed to the professional body being the natural home for everyone in our sector who commits themselves to the endless business of learning and who shares the same definition of 'professional' - being the best you can be in your chosen role.
Having chosen housing as a career and entered the sector through the academic route, I found myself becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the term 'professional' as I learned my trade. Looking back this distancing was nothing to do with an on-going desire to learn but resulted from not liking the idea of joining an elite club that so many seemed excluded from. I've completely changed my mind since then and am now really proud to work for the professional body for the sector. But this change of heart is based on reclaiming the word 'professional' to apply to anyone who is committed to career-long learning and who aspires to be the very best they can be at their role - whether its as a housing officer, chief executive, tenant board member, housing journalist, estate caretaker, civil servant, funder... the list is endless because it's an intentionally inclusive club.
What I'm not interested in is a definition of 'professional' that seeks to exclude people - other than where they have no interest in learning and being the best they can be in their role. Richard Crossley from the NTV, talking in the same session as Michelle, reported back on the negative images of the term that he had gathered from NTC members - images that included 'aloofness', 'remoteness', 'using language to exclude' and 'making things over-complex'. Thankfully all three session speakers were also able to agree on some more positive phrases to underpin the concept - including: flexibility, transferable skills, listening, responding, respecting - and I would agree with them. They also agreed that tomorrow's professionals must place a greater emphasis on knowing their customers better and exceeding their needs.
As Sarah from the HCA said in her speech - a lack of skills is the greatest risk to non-delivery of the place-making vision for our homes and communities - so I'm 100 per cent committed to encouraging people to take qualifications - it's one of CIH's core activities and I'm delighted we have record numbers of students registered on courses with us. But, I'm equally committed to the professional body being the natural home for everyone in our sector who commits themselves to the endless business of learning and who shares the same definition of 'professional' - being the best you can be in your chosen role.
posted by Sarah Webb at
12:06 PM
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