My initial approach to education was intuitive and personal, a combination which tends to breed enthusiasm in me. However, this often led to a clash with my view of what a ‘professional’ should act like. Over the years I have come to see my personal approach as professional, this does however provides me a paradox.
Someone once told me to take on a different ‘role’ depending on the situation. Even though I understand where this advice came from it never felt good. I knew to change my choice of words depending on the situation but I never liked ‘playing’ someone else. Faking enthusiasm only leads to wrong expectations which you would then have to fulfill.
As I got more into education I never let go of my intuitive and personal approach, even though it was actually breaking with my expectations of what a professional would be. I initially thought a professional was emotionally distanced from his work in order to be more efficient to name but one thing. As I came into contact with other professionals this view was challenged, I now know that there is no definitive definition of a professional as I had thought before. An professional knows how to attune his person to the situation. I have no trouble being childishly enthusiastic as a professional, given the situation is appropriate.
This is where my personal / professional paradox comes into play. As a professional I know from experience and literature that people tent to spend more attention to someone they have a connection with. However, if this is done out of a pure professional approach this is not truly personal. I therefore dislike ‘acting’ personal from a professional standpoint, which in turn makes it unprofessional not using this tool. As this is surely overthinking it I did decide to take Mark Manson’s advice and just get on with it (although he might have used other words).
I still use photos of my children in my presentations or talk about my visit to Chernobyl. Whatever is appropriate!