Developing Communication Competency: Importance of Ethical Communication

This essay discusses the importance of developing communication competency through ethical communication. It covers literature review, future scope, and application of ethical communication for future career aspirations.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Reflective essay on developing communication competency
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Introduction
There goes a saying that “communication solves half of the problems”. However, one
needs to possess sound competency and command over speech in terms of influencing and
controlling others.
Background information
Communication is the process where thoughts, feelings, ideas and emotions are
transmitted from one person to other. This communication results in the conglomeration of
various cultures, contexts, channels and media. According to Lane, (2016), competence in
communication relates with the transmission of relevant, clear and quality messages to others.
This is important in terms of ensuring that the receiver has properly understood the message
of the sender. In most of the cases, it is seen that speech consists of complex words, which
others fail to grasp. This is due to lack of competency within speech, which results in
communication gaps. This reflects the contribution of culture towards lack of understanding
the message, which is conveyed (Pearson, 2016). This degradation is a simultaneous
degradation towards the dialect within the cultural values. Therefore, ethical communication
is vital for practising judgmental and logical decision making, preserving the stability in the
relationship between individuals. This essay attempts to shed light on the importance of
competence, which one needs to develop within communicative practices.
Thesis statement
Ethical communication is crucial in terms of exposing logical approach towards
preservation of individual rights.

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Preview of the structure of the essay
Figure 1: Structure of the essay
(Source: created by the author)
e) Transition to section one
From this segment, the focus of the essay shifts to ethical communication in the
following sections of literature review and future scope. This is in terms of career aspirations.
2) Section one
Week one
Importance of ethical communication
Ethical communication is when one transmits clear, honest, democratic and logical
messages to others. Presence of these elements in one’s speech generates respect within the
minds of others. Martin and Nakayama, (2015) is of the view that maintaining ethics while
communicating with others enhances the stability in the relationship. This is applicable in the
general as well as business fields. Failure to practice ethical communication can put the
Opening statement
Background, context and importance
Introduction
Importance of ethical communication
Literature review
Application of ethical communication to future career aspirations
Future scope
Conclusion
Synopsis
Restatement of the thesis statement
Capstone statement for concluding the essay

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integrity and respect of others at stake. This failure, in turn, adds an interrogative parameter
towards survival strategies.
Week two
Non-verbal communication
This type of communication is beneficial for the individuals suffering from hearing
and speech defects. In this type of communication, messages are sent in the form of gestures
and sign languages. Apart from this, facial expression is also a means for grasping the
messages, which the speakers intend to convey (Aakhus & Bzdak, 2015).
Week three
Effective business communication
Good communication is necessary in terms of conducting the business activities in an
efficient and effective manner. Sending emails to the clients helps in developing stable
communication. Moreover, it enhances integration and coordination between the personnel of
the departmental units (Edwards et al. 2019). One of the basic aspects within this direction is
the development of credibility within the communications. This credibility is the prime agent
in terms of enhancing the personality. Along with this, respecting others through
communication is assistance towards earning back respect. On the other hand, Pearson,
(2017), this approach enhances the leadership skills, abilities and competencies. Apart from
this, ethical communication helps in gaining an insight into the mind set of others. This
insight is further assistance in terms of making fair decisions, which are morally acceptable.
Rationality and consciousness in this direction helps in averting the instances of conflicts,
discriminations and harassments.

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Week four
Academic writing
Academic writing is intended to make the audience acquainted with the key learning
experiences. Following the rules and regulations makes the process of writing the experiences
in an efficient and effective manner (Lane, 2016). These type of writings is effective in terms
of testing the command of the employees over language.
Week five
Writing a literature review
Literature review includes the process of shedding light on the basic concepts related
to the business research. This way of writing involves the capability of the individuals to
express the knowledge, skills and expertise gained on a particular subject (Martin &
Nakayama, 2015). Literature review is an initiative towards testing the skills of the
employees regarding establishing links between the concepts.
Week six
Different approaches to public speaking
Different types of speaking are impromptu, extempore, verbatim from manuscripts
and verbatim from memory. The audience belong to different socio-cultural background,
therefore, their thoughts and perception towards the speech intended also differs according to
their grasping levels (McGreavy et al., 2016). If the speaker reflects on how many audience
he has lured, he is on the right track. However, this reflection needs to be based on ethics, in
terms of gaining trust, reliability and trust from the audience. If the direction of the speech is
towards assessing the mindset of the audience, the speaker is on the right track in terms of

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practicing moral decision-making. In view of this approach, the aspect of “cost benefit
analysis” gains a negative parameter, as it is the happiness and understanding of the audience,
which matters the most (Tracy et al., 2015).
Week seven
Intercultural communication
Conglomeration of different cultures diversifies the discussions between the team
members of a group. This type of communication is an effective means for sharing thoughts,
ideas and feelings (Neuliep, 2017). One of an inevitable aspect within this is conflicts.
discrimination and harassments, putting the integrity and respect of the individuals at stake.
Along with this, Edwards et al., (2019) points out that ensuring that the audience understand
the context and speech intended is one of the important parameter of ethics.
Week eight
Organizational structure
Complexity, formalization and centralisation are the three most important elements in
the organizational structure. Hierarchical levels work towards the common goal of increasing
the productivity. Integrity and coordination within the levels is necessary in terms of
completing the tasks within the stipulated time (Pearson, 2016).
Week nine
Meetings for effective business communication
Meetings are effective tools, which assist the managers in assessing the effectiveness
of the plans. Meetings act as a cornerstone in terms of taking crucial decisions. Interactive

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sessions in the meetings enhance the awareness of the personnel towards the opinions of the
clients towards the plans and strategies (Pearson, 2017).
Week ten
Interpersonal and intrapersonal communication
Interpersonal relationships are unique and require high rationality in terms of
maintenance. It is self-intrinsic and disclosive. On the other hand, impersonal relationships,
socially scripted and require low maintenance (Samovar et al., 2015). Williams, (2016) brings
in Foucault’s approach towards logic within language. In order to use logic, the speaker
sometimes forgets that the person opposite him might not grasp the context in which he is
making the speech. It is at this stage that simple language in needed. Logical speeches ends in
abstract interpretation, which most of the audience fail to succeed. If this is done ethically,
conflicts of interest can be avoided (Neuliep, 2017).
3) Section two—Literature review of ethical communication
This is because if the audience do not understand the speech intended, the speaker can
make misutilization of the power and authority provided. Typical evidences of these are
acknowledging someone else’ work as own and producing plagiarized content among others.
Ethical approach reflects the personality of the individual. In case of speaker, ethical
communication relates with the preparation of contents, which are devoid of plagiarism and
collusion. Consciousness towards presenting the self efforts contradicts the mentality to
deceive the audience. Through the presentation of ethical speeches, the speakers gain an
understanding about the conflicts of interest in case of the audience. Therefore, according to
Samovar et al., (2015), one of the essential aspects in this context is generating credibility

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within the minds of the audience. This reflects the adherence to the common values and
beliefs regarding the transmission of messages in a fair manner to the audience.
It is obvious that the speakers would not be able to make all of the speeches out of
their own. This is difficult in case of extempore. However, if reference is made to some
scholars’ work, proper acknowledgement is of crucial importance. This approach develops
trust, reliability and dependence in the minds of the audience for the speaker. Here, ethical
theory of principalism can be applied. This is because the speaker intends to clarify the
ethical dilemmas of the audience by earning respect. Other principles at work in this context
are principle of beneficience and principle of non-malefience, aiming towards justifying the
moral decision making within the parameter of professionalism (McGreavy et al., 2016).
Principle of consequentialism can also be applied in this case. When a speech is made,
it is directed to the audience, representing the society. The reaction of the audience helps the
speaker to assess the morality of his actions. According to consequentialism, one of the
common forms is utilitarianism, where the speaker can conduct cost benefit analysis for
mapping the situation in terms of ethics. In this, happiness is the common element. However,
Aakhus and Bzdak, (2015), money cannot buy happiness. In this case, if money is invested in
hiring lavish halls for addressing the audience, only the aristocratics would be happy. This is
because of the enhancement of their class, status and symbol. On the other hand, common
public would attempt to understand the intentions of the speaker. According to Freud, all
these are natural and align with the stages of human development.
4) Section three—Application of ethical communication for future career aspirations
Academic disciplines lay great stress on flexible command over communication and
writing skills. Pursuing a Master’s Degree in English, I can apply for jobs in the fields of
journalism, broadcasting, Public Relations, Writing, Editing, Public Speaking, Fundraising

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among others. Sound knowledge of communication can help me to find prospective
employment opportunities in the offices, government agencies and non-profit organizations.
Since childhood, I had a wish to work in an NGO for helping the distressed. After completing
my post-graduation, I presented papers on development of NGO’s, which the professors liked
and assured me of providing a better placement as marketing outreach.
I think I need to be rational in my speech, which would result in the creation of
positive image in the minds of the audience and the clients. I feel this rationality is crucial in
terms of gaining control over my emotions, thoughts and ideas while communicating.
Consciousness along with rationality would be my planned approach in terms of enhancing
my personality. Strategic approach in this direction would help me to attach provide direction
to my career establishment. For this, my primary step would be to assess my personal
strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. This analysis would help me in estimating my
capability to succeed.
Conducting journey mapping with the earned degree would enable me to assess its
feasibility in the future. Evaluation would help me in detecting the areas, in which I need to
modify my communicative skills. Attending Spoken English classes from reputed
Universities would concretize my experience about the maintenance of ethics within
communication. Comparing communication programs and degrees would enhance my
awareness about the extent to which my communication is flexible. Guidance and support
from the experts online would be beneficial for me in practicing ethical communication.
Scoring my communication performance, would aid in understanding the areas if speech,
which I need to modified for gaining the respect of the customers. Along with this, if I
indulge in presentations on NGOs, I would be able to evaluate the effectiveness,
appropriateness and feasibility of my communication skills, abilities and competencies.

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Indulging in group discussions would help me to evaluate my communication skills,
abilities and competencies as compared to others. In these discussions, I would be able to
gain an insight into the mind set of others. This insight would help me to make moral
decisions.
5) Conclusion
The essay covers the topic of competency in the field of communication. This is in
terms of gaining the respect of others. The focus of the essay narrows down to ethical
communication, which is needed in terms of averting the instances of conflicts of interest
within the speeches. Literature review enhances the awareness of the readers about the
scholarly review regarding the importance of ethical communication in general and business
sphere. Future scope of the ethical communication acts as a journey mapping for the avenues,
which one can avail in terms of excelling in the academic field.
The thesis statement was development of reflection regarding competencies in
communication. The aspects of literature review and future scope acts as methodological
approach towards this development in terms of attaching proper direction to the career
establishment. Scholarly reviews generate validity and credibility towards the propositions in
terms of ethical speeches.
Future scope indicates further research, which can be conducted in the field of
developing competencies in communication. This indicates reflection, in which scholarly
ideas and expert assistance helps in concretizing the experience. Observing the speeches of
the famous personality and reflecting on them helps in improving the standards and quality of
the communication skills, abilities and competencies. Practising simple words in the speech
provides an easy understanding to the audience in terms of grasping the context in which the
speech is made. Producing plagiarism free content is effective in terms of enhancing the

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personality in terms of self-efforts. Consciousness in this direction is the most relevant
aspect of ethics within the personality.

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References
Aakhus, M., & Bzdak, M. (2015). Stakeholder engagement as communication design
practice. Journal of Public Affairs, 15(2), 188-200.
Edwards, A., Edwards, C., Wahl, S. T., & Myers, S. A. (2019). The communication age:
Connecting and engaging. SAGE Publications.
Lane, S. D. (2016). Interpersonal communication: Competence and contexts. Routledge.
Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2015). Reconsidering intercultural (communication)
competence in the workplace: A dialectical approach. Language and Intercultural
Communication, 15(1), 13-28.
McGreavy, B., Druschke, C. G., Sprain, L., Thompson, J. L., & Lindenfeld, L. A. (2016).
Environmental communication pedagogy for sustainability: Developing core
capacities to engage with complex problems. Applied Environmental Education &
Communication, 15(3), 261-274.
Neuliep, J. W. (2017). Intercultural communication: A contextual approach. Sage
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Pearson, R. (2016). Beyond ethical relativism in public relations: Coorientation, rules, and
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Pearson, R. (2017). Business ethics as communication ethics: Public relations practice and
the idea of dialogue. In Public relations theory (pp. 111-131). Routledge.
Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E., McDaniel, E. R., & Roy, C. S. (2015). Communication
between cultures. Nelson Education.

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Tracy, S. J., Franks, T. M., Brooks, M. M., & Hoffman, T. K. (2015). An OPPT-In approach
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Williams, H. (2016) EXPLAINING THE ETHICAL IMPORTANCE OF
COMMUNICATION. Centre for the Study of Ethics.

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