Weekly Blog by Philip King, CEO of the ICM - 'The real definition of professionalism'

A month ago I started a discussion on the ICM Credit Community Group on LinkedIn asking: "What does professionalism mean to you?" The question generated some great responses that used words and phrases including: fair; knowledgeable; focused; integrity; confidence; experience; seeing the bigger picture; keeping up to date; reputation; experience; considered judgment; ethics; calmness; credibility; and stability.

Yesterday I spent a long day in a London office meeting a series of people who demonstrated professionalism in credit management in the truest sense - they were credible, competent and could obviously apply their knowledge in the real business world. Although not the strict definition, I believe someone displaying professionalism is someone who exudes a sense of confidence in themselves and to those around them. After all, that confidence comes from all the qualities and attributes mentioned above. If I'm going to rely on someone in any walk of life I'm going to want them to be confident in themselves and I'm going to want to sense that confidence when I'm in contact with them.

The ICM in recent times has been particularly encouraging its members to be proud of their professionalism and not to be 'shrinking violets'. Good credit management is vital to the sustainability and success of businesses and we shouldn't be afraid to say so, nor to broadcast the value we add to our organisations. A recent web clipping of a survey by Marks Sattin, a recruitment organisation, shows that pay rises for credit managers averaged 7% last year and were three times greater than those of other accountancy professionals. The accompanying press release talks about the enhanced significance and greater prominence given to credit management and supports the Institute's argument that the contribution of credit professionals is invaluable and indisputable.

Sadly, we all see examples of people showing a real lack of professionalism (including from time to time by their comments and behaviours on LinkedIn discussion forums and elsewhere) but let's make sure that those individuals remain a small minority and that we can genuinely be proud of our profession. If you're an ICM member and want to demonstrate your pride by wearing an ICM Badge, please simply send an email to members@icm.org.uk quoting your correct email address, saying how many people currently work in your credit department, and telling us the single most important thing you value from your ICM membership.

Finally can I remind you that the ICM Member Survey is still open and you can complete it here. We've been overwhelmed by the response to date but the more responses we have, the better informed will be our future planning. Can I also remind you that the latest ICM UK Credit Managers' Index opened this week - so please join the panel and respond here.

Weekly Blog by Philip King, CEO of the ICM - Giving credit to the beautiful game'

As I write these words, the Chancellor has yet to start his budget statement and - in any event - I wanted to write about something unrelated to credit or business this week. It's rare that I do so and I therefore ask you to indulge me.

I was at White Hart Lane on Saturday evening when Fabrice Muamba suffered a heart attack on the pitch during Tottenham's FA Cup quarter final against Bolton. Those of you who attend football matches will know that emotion and vitriol can run high and sympathy for opposition players when they need treatment on the pitch can be in short supply. These though were not normal circumstances.

It took almost no time for the crowd to appreciate the significance and seriousness of what was happening before their eyes, and 36,000 people were united in willing what were obviously frantic attempts to save the player's life to succeed. The almost spontaneous chanting of Fabrice's name, accompanied by sustained applause, were begging him to respond to the expert attention he was receiving on the pitch, and football was now the last thing on anyone's mind. When the announcement was made that the game had been abandoned, I heard no complaints or dissenting voices and - as has been widely reported - the decision was met with further applause acknowledging that this was the right thing to do.

As the stadium emptied, people talked in hushed tones. At the local station, the staff and network were surprised by the passenger surge arriving almost an hour earlier than expected but nobody moaned at the long wait for the first train, nor at the fact that it was only made up of four rather than the usual post-match eight carriages meaning the majority couldn't get on, and nor that they would have to wait another 15 minutes for the next train to arrive.

The shock of the events they had witnessed minutes earlier had created a surreal reverential atmosphere among people who couldn't believe what they had experienced and were desperately hoping against hope that they wouldn't hear even worse news before they got home.

Of course, we've all been delighted by the ever more encouraging news as this week has unfolded and hope and pray that Muamba's recovery continues and his condition improves. I never want to go through another experience like this but I do feel privileged and proud to have borne witness to such an outpouring of sympathy, respect and unity. Because there is such an appetite for bad news and the reporting of awful behaviour by minorities, it is sometimes refreshing and consoling to get a reminder of the intrinsic goodness of the majority of the population.

Weekly Blog by Philip King, CEO of the ICM - 'Being proud to be a professional'

I was at the fifth CCRi Conference this week and what an excellent event it was. With more than 400 credit professionals gathered at the Guoman Tower Hotel in London, it proved a great opportunity to network with colleagues, and provided plenty of learning to take away. I shared a quote I'd seen the night before in my brief comments at the beginning of the day that 'Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other'. How true those words are. Standing still is not an option because, if we don't grow and develop, the world moves on and leaves us behind!

Trevor Williams, Chief Economist at Lloyds Bank ended his keynote speech by observing that the future is impossible to predict because there are 'so many imponderables'. If that's true, and I believe it is, then all the more reason why credit professionals must build their skills and knowledge so they can continue to add value to their businesses and help them survive and prosper. What might have worked well a year or two ago won't necessarily work now and, if we assume it will, we could get seriously caught out. The new ICM CPD scheme currently being piloted, ahead of its formal launch for 2012, is well timed, and so is the continuing progress of our learning and development programme. We're demonstrating our commitment to providing the tools to equip people and make them truly effective, and feedback from our members and potential members attending CCRi on Tuesday was universally positive.

Credit management is a profession in just the same way as accounting or law are professions, and those of us working in it must not be afraid to make that point to our colleagues, peers and bosses. Credit management sits at the centre of the business and touches every aspect of the organisation; now is the time for us to stand up, be counted and show pride in our professionalism.