10 Basics of Ethical Communication (2024)

10 Basics of Ethical Communication (1)

I developed the list below using principles learned in Straight Talk™ and Nonviolent Communication™ as well as "best practices" for small group work in general -- with a little common sense added in. I invite you to consider these basics as ideals -- ideals, in the sense that we all fall short of meeting these at some times, and yet we can continue to improve. One of the goals of belonging to a community is to get support for learning to live more in accord with our ideals!

Ten Basics of Ethical Communication

  1. Seek to “elicit the best” in communications and interactions with other group members.

  2. Listen when others speak.

  3. Speak non-judgmentally.

  4. Speak from your own experience and perspective, expressing your own thoughts, needs, and feelings.

  5. Seek to understand others (rather than to be “right” or “more ethical than thou”).

  6. Avoid speaking for others, for example by characterizing what others have said without checking your understanding, or by universalizing your opinions, beliefs, values, and conclusions, assuming everyone shares them.

  7. Manage your own personal boundaries: share only what you are comfortable sharing.

  8. Respect the personal boundaries of others.

  9. Avoid interrupting and side conversations.

  10. Make sure that everyone has time to speak, that all members have relatively equal “air time” if they want it.

Simple guidelines — and not always easy to act on. It takes practice and feedback from trusted others to move us to using these guidelines more often.

Picture credit: © Marek Uliasz | Dreamstime Stock Photos

10 Basics of Ethical Communication (2024)

FAQs

10 Basics of Ethical Communication? ›

Ethical communication refers to passing information between two parties in a manner that is accurate, truthful, and acceptable. Ethical communication values honesty, transparency, and respect when passing information so that the recipient will clearly understand what is going on.

What are the 10 commandments of ethical communication with examples? ›

Ethical Communication 101: All About Ethics in Business Communication
  • Rule #1: Say the truth, truth, and nothing but the truth.
  • Rule #2: Be transparent.
  • Rule #3: Remember that understanding is everything.
  • Rule #4: Be respectful.
  • Rule #5: Accept responsibility.
  • Rule #6: Place confidentiality above everything else.
Jan 17, 2023

What is the basis of ethical communication? ›

Ethical communication refers to passing information between two parties in a manner that is accurate, truthful, and acceptable. Ethical communication values honesty, transparency, and respect when passing information so that the recipient will clearly understand what is going on.

What are the 9 credo for ethical communication? ›

The Nine Principles

We advocate truthfulness, accuracy, honesty, and reason as essential to the integrity of communication. We endorse freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, and tolerance of dissent to achieve the informed and responsible decision making fundamental to a civil society.

What are the 5 ethical considerations in communication? ›

The most important characteristics of ethical business communication are clarity of message, honest and complete information in communication, communicating without offending the audience, maintaining a relationship with the audience, clearly defined value system on which information is based and accurate information.

What are the 10 C's of effective communication? ›

Use the 10 Cs to improve your writing. Communicating with a target audience is the objective so keep writing clear, concise, correct, coherent, complete, creative, considerate, concrete, courteous & credible.

What are the 10 Commandments rules? ›

  • “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” ...
  • “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.” ...
  • “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” ...
  • “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” ...
  • “Honour thy father and thy mother.” ...
  • “Thou shalt not kill.” ...
  • “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” ...
  • “Thou shalt not steal.”

What is ethical communication in your own words? ›

What Is Ethical Communication? Put simply, ethical communication is communicating in a way that's honest, open, clear, and respectful. These four pillars are essential for upholding strong communication ethics within your business.

What is the most core principle of ethical communication? ›

Truthfulness & honesty is the most core principle of ethical communication. This means that speaking 99 percent of the truth in a matter – while leaving out one percent of the facts – is not ethical communication, as omitting any detail (intentionally) changes the way that a listener will perceive an event.

How to practice ethical communication? ›

Take the time to listen carefully to others, and show empathy and understanding. Avoid offensive language and behavior: Offensive language and behavior have no place in ethical communication. Be respectful and avoid making derogatory comments, using inappropriate language, or engaging in discriminatory behavior.

What are the six ethical values of human communication? ›

Through an examination of ethical values including truth, justice, freedom, care, integrity, and honor, the reader can determine which values they are ethically committed to upholding.

What are the two major elements affecting ethical communication? ›

Respect and honesty are, in my opinion, the two most important aspects of moral communication. Consider what you say.

What are the 4 fundamentals of ethics? ›

An overview of ethics and clinical ethics is presented in this review. The 4 main ethical principles, that is beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice, are defined and explained. Informed consent, truth-telling, and confidentiality spring from the principle of autonomy, and each of them is discussed.

What are the 7 C's of ethical communication? ›

The 7 Cs stand for: clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and courteous. Though there are a few variations. You can use the 7 Cs as a checklist in your written and spoken messages. Follow our examples to learn how!

What are the main ethical issues in communication? ›

Any communication should follow these three ethical standards:
  • Honesty.
  • Refrain from doing harm.
  • Fairness to all stakeholders (internal and external)

What are the 3 principles of ethics in communication? ›

Be Truthful And Honest. Active Listening. Speak Non-Judgmentally.

What are the example situation of ethical communication? ›

Ethical communication at work is crucial for maintaining a positive, productive, and respectful workplace environment. It involves being honest, transparent, and considerate in all professional interactions. Examples include: Giving Constructive Feedback: A manager provides balanced feedback to an employee.

What are some examples of media codes of ethics? ›

Journalists should: Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. Disclose unavoidable conflicts. Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality, or may damage credibility.

How do the 10 Commandments apply to our lives today? ›

As those 10 utterances were memorialized and universalized, they provided a code of conduct that honored family, protected life, secured property, defined boundaries, enhanced trust and thereby secured the foundation for cohesive and productive social interaction.

What is consideration in communication examples? ›

Consideration

It means to consider the other person and to address them putting you in their place. In other words, you talk to someone in a way you would want someone to talk to you. For example, if you prefer someone to talk to you with respect and politeness, you would exhibit the same behaviors towards others.

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