To be truly professional, I have to be unprofessional

In my many years of experience accompanying executives, I’ve made a surprising discovery: the classic definition of professionalism is often the biggest obstacle to successful change processes.

The paradox of professional distance

When we think of “professional behavior,” we usually mean: maintaining objective distance, leaving emotions aside, deciding rationally, clear processes, a structured approach. These aspects are important — but they only tell half the story. The more we entrench ourselves behind the façade of “professionalism,” the less we reach the people who are supposed to carry the change.

The power of “unprofessional” professionalism

What happens when we have the courage to tear down this wall — and admit that we too have uncertainties, don’t know all the answers, are sometimes afraid of change and are allowed to make mistakes? Paradoxically, it’s precisely this supposed “unprofessionalism” that creates the basis for successful change. Brené Brown calls it “the power of vulnerability” — I call it authentic professionalism.

Emotional intelligence as a key competency

Daniel Goleman has shown that emotional intelligence is at least as important as professional expertise. In change, that means: self-awareness (knowing your own emotions), self-regulation (dealing constructively with uncertainty), empathy (understanding others’ fears and resistance) and social skills (building authentic relationships).

Practical implementation

Concretely this means: authentic communication — speaking openly about doubts, honestly admitting when you don’t know something, sharing your own experiences. Creating emotional safety — opening spaces for dialogue, welcoming resistance, seeing mistakes as learning opportunities. And: relationships before processes — investing in personal conversations and showing genuine interest in people.

Conclusion

Professional change management today means having the courage to question the old definition of professionalism — to be human while pursuing professional goals. Real change arises only through real connection. The true art lies in uniting both worlds: the structured, process-oriented side and the human, emotional dimension.

Note: “The greatest professionalism lies in having the courage to be unprofessional now and then.”