Communication Ethics

Organizations are dynamic social structures. Whatever happens in them or however they function is the result of human action, especially in the workplace. When interacting with one another a person should always have strong and positive ethical principles and always follow the guidelines set by themselves or a company they are employed by. People are often unaware of how they are perceived by others. The process of communication appears to be simple, but it is actually quite complicated. The process of communication begins with a sender, the person who transmits the message. The sender's message is intended to obtain a response from the receiver; however the information in the message may be conveyed negatively more often than not. Thus, it is imperative to develop a sense of awareness with regard to what is said and more importantly, how it is presented. I want to inform you, the reader, on how important it is to always possess good communication ethics and always follow the communication guidelines set by yourself.

It truly is a wonder that we are able to get our message across at all sometimes, given all of the opportunities for miscommunication that arise in the cause of exchange of information. Most people probably believe that ethical dilemmas are unavoidable, which may be true, but I believe that if people could become more informed and obtain information before making decisions, we could avoid many of the dilemmas that do arise. Adler and Elmhorst's list of Ethical Principles and Guidelines make you realize that when making a decision you must think before you act. According to the first guideline, The Categorical Imperitive, you must think of how society would function if everyone acted in this manner. I cannot imagine living in a society where no one wanted to improve their communication ethics. Although, there are many people who are absent of any ethics and guidelines and are not interested in gaining them, there are many who are. According to Adler and Elmhorst's list of ethical principles and guidelines, when thinking of an affirmative plan of action for bettering ethical values, you must make sure that it will do the most good for the most people for the longest period of time; which is the Utilitarian Rule. People having a better sense of awareness with regard to what they are saying and doing would absolutely have a positive effect. Many people do not intend to make poor ethical decisions, they just need to be informed. An employee of a fast food company could negatively affect it by not following the guidelines set. Or a manager of a company could easily make an employee feel uncomfortable or verbally attacked without knowing it by not following the guidelines. This is why people must become more aware of how they are perceived by others. Acting that way would bring upon harsh judgment. There have been many times in my past, before I became aware that communication ethics were essential, that I followed very few communication guidelines. I never thought about The Publicity Test, the last guideline set by Adler and Elmhorst. You must be sure that you would be comfortable having the public learn about your behavior. I would have been very uncomfortable having the public learn about my past behavior, as I'm sure anyone absent of communication ethics would.

There are many obstacles when it comes to ethical decision making. As stated by the Josephson Institution of Ethics, people believe that if it is legal and permissible, it is proper. I feel that is a challenge people face daily. Having