The search for Professional Maturity

Also known as the x-factor come hiring, performance evaluation, and pretty much everything that requires an assessment of a resource or potential resource.

Professional Maturity is the attribute of a resource to handle various types of business and professional situations in a virtuous, dignified, and responsible manner. Although I think this is just a very broad stroked definition - it's definitely more than this. It manifests itself clearly in situations like a customer is being difficult, or your management requires you to do something above and beyond your workload, or even being able to handle unfortunate circumstances. Professional Maturity brings out the best in a person during clutch moments.

Management loves people who are Professionally Mature. Then again, where are these people and how to I get them? How do I recognize them? The unfortunate part is that it is not easy to spot one since they only shine when there are extraneous situations. I'd like to help out in this search by pointing out some key concepts on what Professional Maturity is and what it is not.

• Professional Maturity is not relative to age. - Not because you are older does it mean you are more professionally mature. Of course there is a tendency for older people to be more professional mature than younger people due to the amount of time they were exposed to the corporate world; but that should not be taken as such. Actually, the best people to have are those that are professionally mature but are quite young. You get more mileage.
• Professional Maturity is not relative to seniority - Not because you've been in the organization longer does it mean that you are more mature. It just means you've been there longer and probably have a better retirement package.
• Professional Maturity is not relative to position. - Not because you are the big boss means that you are Professionally Mature. However, I do want to note that most of the people that do get promoted are those that exhibit professional maturity. The only sad part is that not all are.
• Professional Maturity is about exhibiting grace under pressure. - Instances like having to meet super tight deadlines, being reprimanded, or being handed down difficult situations, and not being dazed or rattled are signs that a person is professionally mature.
• Professional Maturity is being able to take the good with the bad. - Because you know that it won't always be sunny skies and clear weather. A person that is professionally mature is cognizant of this and will not be shaken when bad news comes in. He knows that the world is not perfect and will adjust when needed.
• Professional Maturity is being able to make decisions in the best interest of the organization. - This means being able to make the tough calls - like letting people go or even accepting that you have to leave the organization. He is a person that can the organization can lean and count on.
• Professional Maturity is being responsible and accountable for his decisions and that of his subordinates - Not only does he make tough calls, he also stands by them. A professionally mature person will accept the repercussions of his decisions and that of his team.
• and a lot more...

It may seem that Professional Maturity is a mixture of various attributes of a person, and that it because it is. Its a mixture of 11 (or more) secret herbs and spices as the colonel would say. It is my hope that Project Managers look for these in their resources, as these will definitely improve their chances of having more successful projects. Yes, its not easy to find them - and that is why they are very valuable to have.