How Do Speakers Promote And Demonstrate Ethics
Ethical communication is important in every interaction we have with others. It is the mainstay of a civil and democratic society. As I listen, teach and coach clients, I can’t help but wonder if we have lost our ethical grounding? Ethics in communication as defined in the National Communication Association’s Credo “…enhances human worth and dignity by fostering truthfulness, fairness, responsibility, personal integrity, and respect for self and others.” Ethics also pertains to audiences. However, the focus of this article is on the speaker. So how do speakers promote and demonstrate ethics?
1. Professionalism. One of the more obvious ways to demonstrate ethical behavior is through our actions: how we dress for particular events, respond to requests in a timely manner, and come prepared and well-rehearsed for the events for which we have been asked to speak. Professionalism bolsters our credibility, as long as respect for others is an ingredient in this mix.
2. Honesty. All ethical standards include honesty, and speaking is no exception. Plagiarism is unethical, whether it is intentional or not. Failing to give attribution for words or works that were not originally created by you. Delivering quotes out of context. Omitting information or altering statistics to support your point of view. These are unethical behaviors.
3. Responsibility. As speakers, we lead our audiences and oftentimes ask them to take some sort of action on the message we deliver to them. Provoking an audience to take illegal actions, such as engaging in violence against others, is unethical. What we say to and ask of our audiences has consequences. It is our responsibility to ensure that our words do not harm others.
Admittedly, there are grey areas when it comes to ethical speaking. There may be situations where the right and ethical decision isn’t easy or obvious. The question we need to ask ourselves is what would be in the best interest of our audience? After all, they are the ones we should be seeking to serve. All speakers need to strive to promote and demonstrate ethical behavior in their presentations.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic! Email me at sonja@sonjastetzler.com.