Ethical Communication in Business

This article discusses the importance of ethical communication in business and how it can lead to success. It covers topics such as honesty, integrity, commitment, and openness in communication. The article also provides references for further reading. The subject is business ethics and the course code is not mentioned. The content is relevant for students and professionals in the field of business.

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ETHICAL COMMUNICATION IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A BUSINESS
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Abstract
A decision to behave ethically is moral one but is influenced by the culture of the company
which might go further to rejecting all the enticing temptations that trigger to behave ethically. In
line with commitment and consensus building as an aspect of ethical communication to a
successful business, ethical communication leads to goal orientation rather than status quo thus
giving the business a target to achieve making its workers be focused on the vision of the
business through creating a workable environment.
Introduction
According to Guttman and Salmon (2014) ethical communication can be referred to as
exchanging information between people in a manner that is truthful and accurate or the exchange
of information between a variety of stakeholders (employees, supervisors clients, and the
community) that is truthful. Within the business world, Kavathatzopoulos (2013) denote that the
idea of two-way communication is a basic and paramount aspect of a successful business. This
detects the issue of moral tension relative to public relations fabricated within the boundaries
between the client interests and the public. In the environments of any given organization,
communication can take different forms. For instance, it can take forms between employees,
managers and their subordinates, between employees and clients or between the society and the
business. Thus, to communicate ethically sets the foundation and platform to build a strong
relationship in a business situation that would lead to its success.
Argument One

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Honesty and Integrity; With the point of view to bring to light why ethical communication is an
essential part of any given business, honesty and integrity, consensus building, commitment, and
openness to other views are the most essential aspects of ethical communication (Schlegelmilch
& Pollach 2015 p. 67). It is a critical issue within the business arena that all the players are
ethically involved to create a conducive climate for business. Therefore, the business will take
place without the violation of the legal rights set to protect those involved. To begin with,
honesty or integrity, this refers to doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. It can
also mean to stand for the truth no matter the circumstances the individual will have to go
through, for instance, lying to the clients to pave the way for easy short-term profit. Practicing
honesty in communication goes beyond just lying but also means being open and giving
whatever information needed despite the fact of putting your short-term interests at risk. Trust
and transparency are critical elements of co-operating reputation in this increasingly complex
world. Thus, for success and development of any business requires an open sharing value and the
sort of citizenry a company lives.
Argument Two
The reputation of any given organization is paramount to its success. It is very difficult to rebuild
it when it has been lost, an aspect that calls for integrity and honesty (Dilenschneider & Salak
2013, p. 32). This does not involve how you deal with your clients, but it goes further to the
business culture between the managers and the employees. Imagine if a business formed by
distrust and lack of ethics. Can it even attract clients or investors? Encouraging an environment
of trust has a driving force that can go a long way in promoting ethical communication in a
business or organizational setting. As an issue in ethical communication for any organization,

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integrity and honesty has both subtle and overt implication. By communicating, the truth either
directly or indirectly reveals your commitment to honesty thus going to a level of inspiring staff
and customers concerning the organizational mission. It builds a platform of trust with
competitors, colleagues, staff and every other individual thus giving employees motivation or the
driving force to take the business to another level. According to Van Zyl and Lazenby (2011),
there are no moral shortcuts in the game of business or life. There are three kinds of people, the
unsuccessful, temporarily successful, and those who become and remain successful. Surprisingly
the difference is the character thus for there to be a success in any business; ethical
communication is rudimentary.
Argument three
Ethical Training; It is fundamental that we acknowledge the fact that the word had changed and
is carrying out its operation in a diverse way unlike in the past when the business only focused
on making a profit and building its name without considering the needs of its environs or the
society (Okoro 2011). Within this contemporary society of businesses, operate in a more
complex society which gives it the need to shift its goals on only making profits but rather to
focus more in social relations for it to be able to grow. Openness to other peoples view during
the communication process within the business arena is among the key pillars to business success
and merits. To be open simply implies to have a mind that is not biased to any opinion raised by
your colleagues or clients but being ready to give them consideration and look into it no matter
how unpopular, the idea may look (being free to play the devil’s advocate and say the unpopular
opinions. Most businesses prosper at the start but fail at the end due to withholding crucial
information from clients and investors. In this ever-changing technological world, businesses

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need to practice the principle of at most good faith or them to be successful. This includes being
open to their clients and in carrying out its activities. Currently in this modern world information
is a vital component necessary for decision making thus for success to occur and be sustained, all
information and related issues must be absolute and crucial information relayed appropriately.
This means withholding information may create a bad image for the organization thus tarnishing
its reputation.
Argument Four
Attention; it may also involve conveying the intended point without offending the audience when
communicating with them (Dilenschneider & Salak 2013, p. 89). This calls for the ability to
communicate effectively to relay the intended information in a significant manner which is of
primary importance. Being open also calls for transparency when dealing with several areas of
the business such as record keeping and responsibility. In a nutshell, openness and transparency
is an essential factor that leads to the success of any business in the word. This can always be
achieved if the organization exhibits a well-organized value system. In this case, when the
organization functions according to its value from the top management to the employees, mutual
respect will be present thus paving the way for ethical communication necessary for the
sustenance of any organization. The style of communication where people seek to build a
consensus and focus on doing what they can for the company rather than aiming for professional
advancement to the position they are suited to be vital in any organization. It is because it is
essential to the organization and it is morally imperative to build an environment conducive for
business to thrive. When carrying out any communication, be it with employees or clients, it is
important that close attention is paid to what is being said. It thus calls for commitment

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(allocating the necessary time and resources to discuss arising issues fully with the aim of
removing all the pending doubts within the minds of clients or employees).
Position
Failure to pay attention to the issues brought by clients or employees is like booking a future
ticket for failure in the business world (Kim 2015, p. 20). As an aspect of ethical communication,
commitment entails going beyond your comfort zones for the good of those you are serving.
Giving opportunity to every individual to be heard plays a key role in removing rising tension
thus a business without a commitment to its goals and staff is prone to sink or remain stagnant
(Kim 2015). Many prospering businesses currently express radical transparency through
engaging in authentic two-way dialogue with the public thus relinquishing control and power by
providing stakeholders with an unprecedented level of information whether good or bad. In
addition to this, for success to triumph in any business, it calls for those involved to shift the
values of business from those of tolerance to those of value-based leadership that are capable of
producing an innovative solution and breakthrough strategies for clients and the employees
(Brown & Trevino 2014, p. 593).
Conclusion
In summary, for any business to thrive, following specific code of ethics is essential to achieve
effective and ethical communication. Mastering the art of communication and being able to pass
out the intended information to those involved is critical. Every business needs to have ethical
policies that should be followed by all of its members of the organization. It should be able to
communicate the culture of the business such as always being honest and practicing integrity/
openness and transparency. This is because ethical communication can enhance human worth

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and dignity by fostering truthfulness, fairness, responsibility and personal integrity and mutual
respect.

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List of References
Allinson, RE2014, 'Ethical values as part of the definition of business enterprise and part of the
internal structure of the business organization', Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 17, no. 9-10, pp.
1015-1028.
Bean, DF 2011, 'Equivocal reporting: ethical communication issues', Journal Of Business Ethics,
29, 1-2, pp. 65-76, Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson), EBSCOhost, viewed 21 April 2018.
Brown, M, & Treviño, L 2014, 'Do Role Models Matter? An Investigation of Role Modeling as
an Antecedent of Perceived Ethical Leadership', Journal Of Business Ethics, 122, 4, pp. 587-598,
Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson), EBSCOhost, viewed 21 April 2018.
Dilenschneider, R, & Salak, J 2013, 'Do Ethical Communicators Finish First?', Communication
World, 20, 4, p. 32, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 21 April 2018
Guttman, N, & Salmon, CT 2014, 'Guilt, Fear, Stigma and Knowledge Gaps: Ethical Issues in
Public Health Communication Interventions', Bioethics, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 531-552. Available
from: 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2004.00415.x. [21 April 2018].
Kavathatzopoulos, I 2013, 'The Use of Information and Communication Technology in the
Training for Ethical Competence in Business', Journal Of Business Ethics, 48, 1, pp. 43-51,
Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson), EBSCOhost, viewed 21 April 2018.
Kim, Y 2015, 'Toward an Ethical Model of Effective Crisis Communication', Business & Society
Review (00453609), 120, 1, pp. 57-81, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 21 April
2018.

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Okoro, EA 2011, 'Academic Integrity and Student Plagiarism: Guided Instructional Strategies for
Business Communication Assignments', Business Communication Quarterly, 74, 2, pp. 173-178,
Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 21 April 2018.
Schlegelmilch, B, & Pollach, I 2015, 'The Perils and Opportunities of Communicating Corporate
Ethics', Journal Of Marketing Management, 21, 3-4, pp. 267-290, Business Source Premier,
EBSCOhost, viewed 21 April 2018.
Van Zyl, E, & Lazenby, K 2011, 'Ethical behaviour in the South African organizational context:
essential and workable', Journal Of Business Ethics, 21, 1, pp. 15-22, Education Full Text (H.W.
Wilson), EBSCOhost, viewed 21 April 2018.

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