Living Professionalism
Turning practice into living knowledge
What is Living Professionalism?
Living Professionalism is an approach to continuing professional development by Dr Joy Mounter, through her practice as an educator and researcher. It is rooted in the values-led inquiry of Living Educational Theory Research (Living Theory) and explores how professionals can live out their values authentically in their daily work.
Instead of professionalism being defined only by external standards or institutional policies, Living Professionalism places emphasis on:
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The values and purposes that give meaning to your work.
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The relationships you nurture in your professional practice.
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The responsibility you take for your own learning and growth.
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The knowledge you create by reflecting on and improving your practice.
It is about living your professionalism, accepting responsibility for creating your own career path of continuing professional development.
The core elements that characterise Living Professionalism:
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Values-Led Practice: Professionals identify and live by their core values, ensuring these guide their actions and decisions in the workplace
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Self-Reflective Inquiry: Engaging in continuous self-reflection to understand and improve one's practice, through Living Educational Theory Research
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Educational Responsibility: Taking ownership of one's professional development and the educational influences in learning on yourself, others and across your social formations
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Contribution to Knowledge: Generating and sharing knowledge that emerges from practice, contributing to the broader educational community through research that is relatable or generalisable
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Collaborative Engagement: Working with peers and communities to enhance practice and foster collective growth and transformation
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Authentic Practice: Aligning professional actions with personal beliefs and values, ensuring authenticity in all professional interactions
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Commitment to Social Justice: Advocating for equity and inclusivity within educational settings and communities
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Ethical Responsibility: Upholding high ethical standards in all professional endeavors, ensuring integrity and trustworthiness
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Holistic Development: Recognising the interconnectedness of personal and professional growth, fostering well-being and resilience
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Sustainable Practice: Developing practices that are sustainable, adaptable, and responsive to changing personal and professional landscapes
Why it Matters:
Joy Mounter highlighted that professionalism is not static, nor imposed - it is lived. By engaging in Living Professionalism, practitioners can:
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Reclaim their agency in defining what it means to be a professional
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Demonstrate integrity by aligning practice with deeply held values
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Strengthen trust and respect within their communities of practice
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Contribute to knowledge through creating and sharing living-educational-theories of professionalism
- Personal and community growth and transformation
How it Works in Practice:
Living Professionalism involves:
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Asking reflective questions, such as, “How can I improve what I am doing to live my values more fully in my practice?”
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Documenting practice—through journals, video, or collaborative dialogue collated in your living archive
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Engaging in a peer validation group for validation and constructive critique, ensuring your explanations are rigorous and socially valid
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Sharing your living-educational-theory as a contribution to both personal and collective understandings of professionalism
The Legacy of Joy Mounter:
Joy Mounter’s work continues to inspire educators and practitioner-researchers around the world. By framing professionalism as something to be lived, not simply performed, she opened new ways for professionals to grow with integrity, authenticity, and creativity.
Living Professionalism is both a challenge and an invitation: to align who we are with what we do, and to make our values visible in action.
