It's not corporate – Its just bloody professional!

August 28, 2024

Written by TSHRC

Corporate is often viewed as a dirty word in the wonderful world of creative and entertainment. Creators are the antithesis of everything corporate—they don't believe in the strict, stuffy rules that financially driven corporations obey. After all, too many constraints can negatively impact the creative process. 

Yet the opposite is also true: A total lack of constraint or oversight can also negatively impact the creative process. Without the proper procedures in place, even the most successful productions are open to a variety of liabilities and risks. Controlling these risks and ensuring success for all your creative projects requires incorporating professional supporting processes into how you work. Don't fear, for 'professional' doesn't mean the same thing as 'corporate'. 

Understanding Professionalism 

The Cambridge Dictionary defines professionalism as "the skill and careful attention that trained people are expected to have". Professionalism requires adhering to a combination of values, characteristics, and work standards. When you see a doctor, you expect them to display professionalism by evaluating your medical concerns seriously and accurately without laughing at or dismissing you. 

Every workplace and industry has standards for professionalism. If you run a TV production studio, for example, you expect your gaffers and camera crew to show up on time, understand how to use their equipment, and follow the lead of the director. If your crew does not follow these standards, you replace them because they lack professionalism. 

To be and act professional, an individual must: 

• Embrace ethical standards 

• Be accountable for their actions 

• Have excellent communication skills 

• Demonstrate respect and integrity in all interactions with a production's cast, crew, and directors. 

Corporate culture isn't the same as professionalism. Why is corporate culture so shunned in the creative arts? 

What is Corporate Culture Anyhow? 

Creatives often confuse corporate culture and professionalism, but they simply are not the same. When we talk about 'corporate culture', we mean the processes and ethics used by large businesses. Corporate culture generally includes: 

• Strict hierarchy and structure, where individuals below certain levels are not allowed to contribute ideas even if they might be useful or helpful. 

• Business-focused decision-making that tends to eschew costs to humans, creativity, and the planet. 

• Formal protocols and procedures for everything from drafting memos to holding board meetings. 

• A strong sense of brand identity and presence. 

As its name suggests, corporate culture tends to cast aside the individual in favour of the business as a whole. In corporations, the primary goal is to follow established routines in order to realise profits or other economic gains. There is little room for creativity or personal expression in most corporate settings. 

Why Corporate and Professional Are Not the Same

Leaders in the entertainment industry have long confused corporate culture with professionalism. Some film and TV leaders have ignored the need for ongoing training and development because they believe that it's part of the corporate zeitgeist. This isn't at all true. Many people excel at being professional without adopting a corporate mindset, and many people excel in corporations without embracing the ethical standards required of true professionalism. 

Corporate behaviour and professional behaviour are quite different in at least three distinct ways: 

Core values 

Professionalism values respecting others and thinking about the impacts your decisions have on other people. Corporate values often place profits above people. 

Behaviour and mindset 

Being a professional leaves space to adopt processes and habits that both protect your business interests and honour your creative spirit. However, a corporate mindset tends to stunt creativity in favour of the brand's established mission or identity. 

Situation management 

In the corporate world, difficult situations and behaviours are sometimes brushed under the rug so long as profit lines aren't affected. For example, a toxic employee might be allowed to stay in their position if they're an excellent salesperson. 

Professionalism tackles difficult situations differently. Professionalism means holding people to account for their behaviours even if that means changes to the project or its profitability. 

Common Misconceptions About Professional Processes

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Too many individuals in the film, TV, and entertainment industry turn their noses down at professional processes because they believe that they will stymie creativity. Perhaps you believe that professional oversight of hiring or employee management will undermine your ability to produce meaningful creative work. 

The truth is that professional processes are meant to protect creativity. We suggest adopting robust HR practices in film and TV—not to squash creativity but to enable it.  

Imagine that a crew member on a film project is being harassed by another crew member. If you ignore their concerns because you have no process to address them, you open the door to significant legal liability. You likely know that the legal and financial fallout from such issues can spell the end of even the largest production. 

Of course, this doesn't mean that you need to adopt any aspect of corporate culture in your work. It simply means setting professional standards and working with an experienced HR provider who can offer training, hiring advice, and compliance support. 

How to Maintain Professionalism in a Non-Corporate Environment 

Corporate environments are designed to maintain professionalism—or a professional facade—in large part because doing so mitigates risks. Cultivating a thriving level of professionalism in a creative environment might seem challenging. Perhaps you worry that the crew members you work with aren't comfortable with professional guidelines. Maybe you're worried that following set processes will take away from your creative abilities. 

Rest assured that maintaining professionalism needn't require heavy lifting. You don't have to adopt corporate dress codes or bureaucratic procedures that quash individuals. Instead, professionalism in entertainment is all about establishing processes that ensure everyone you work with—from cast to crew members to third-party contractors—is treated fairly and respectfully. 

At The Small HR Company, we specialize in working with the creative industries to provide training, culture design, employee relations, HR metrics, and more. Please do get in touch to discuss how we can help on your next big project.