Communication is an integral part of human existence that occurs in a wide variety of contexts. However, with the prospect of lies, defamation, and disclosure of private information among others, certain ethical guidelines need to be taken when exchanging information. The basis of any communication should conform to the tenets of truth. While engaging in a group task in school, I once sent an email to our supervisor filled with lies about one of the group members. My motive was to ensure that he was eliminated and taken to another group because we had engaged in an altercation with him. This was an example of an unethical form of communication because the message I sent did not conform to the tenets of truth. Unethical communication continues to a prevalent behavior in many organizations today. It involves the exchange of information that will eventually result in unethical actions such as violation of laws or harm to an individual.
Ethical communication is regarded as one of the most essential values in an organization. Sah (2015) says, “Values represent basic convictions or enduring belief that a specific mode of conduct is personally or socially preferable” (p. 2). However, as a group leader in a class group, I went against ethical values by peddling lies in an email I wrote to the supervisor. The communication can be said not to represent values because it lacked truth, accuracy, and was motivated by ill intentions. Despite the differences that I had with the group member, settling scores using my position as a group leader was inappropriate and unethical. The specific way of communication failed to conform to any socially preferable realms as discussed by Sah, (2015). After writing the email to the supervisor, I received an immediate call upon it reaching the supervisor’s desk. I was as asked to justify the information in the letter which I did. The member was later removed from the group and suspended for failing to comply with the group requirements.
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However, I have lived to regret the situation again. Faced with the situation again, I would not have acted the way I did. If I have any problem with a group member, I will solve it on my own instead of settling scores by using my influential position to communicate untrue things to the instructor. If I have to report someone for their unbecoming behavior, then I should also give them the right to reply. According to McGaan (2016), lying is unethical because it undermines persuasion, communication, and human sociality. No person should, therefore, lie to get an undue advantage over the other person. On the contrary, the author asserts that truthful communication ensures that rational choice becomes possible. For instance, if the email I sent contained truthful information, it would have allowed the supervisor to come up with a rational choice that would not have involved the suspension of the student. Since there was a lack of truth and objectivity, the only option was to victimize him and resort to punishment.
Unethical communication should be regarded as a serious issue in groups and organizations. Valde & Henningsen (2015) says that in 2010, research showed that 45% of the respondents experienced a form of ethical communication. Some of the common unethical communication witnessed includes the use of abusive language, lying, and discrimination among others. Unethical behavior continues to be on the rise in many organizations. In assessing the cause of such behaviors, the author says, “Pressures to conform, impersonal systems, hierarchy, and the complexities of organizational life create organizational climates that are conducive to unethical behavior” (Valde & Henningsen, 2015 p. 370). In my situation, impersonal systems and hierarchy contributed to the emergence of unethical communication. As regards the impersonal system, the group member and I had engaged in an altercation. Therefore, we were not in good terms. As such, this created an enabling environment where each party was prone to immoral behavior. In terms of the hierarchy, I was the group leader and therefore possessed certain powers my counterpart did not have. Thus, this placed me in a critical position where engaging in unethical acts was a major possibility.
However, as previously stated, I would not engage in such behavior again. I have since learned the importance of values in communication. Sah (2015) asserts that values are crucial in the process of self-development. Another vital aspect of values stems from their ability to promote good interpersonal relations among individuals. Thirdly, it develops a sense of satisfaction among stakeholders and promotes general goodwill among individuals. Each group or organization, therefore, need to place ethical communication at a pole position in their code of ethics. Had our project group develop strong guidelines on ethical communication, I might not have used my authority to write an email message founded on lies and inaccuracy.
In conclusion, unethical communication continues to a prevalent behavior in many organizations today. It involves the exchange of information that will eventually result in unethical actions such as violation of laws or harm to an individual. I have been a victim of unethical communication when I sent a letter to our group supervisor indicting a group member using lies. However, after learning the importance of truthful communication and the value-based system, I would handle the situation differently. Despite the personal differences that individuals might have in an organization, using lies as leverage to settle scores is unacceptable.
References
McGaan, L. (2016). Persuasion ethics. Monmouth College. Retrieved from https://department.monm.edu/cata/mcgaan/classes/cata339/Ethics-Persuasion.htm
Sah, P. V. (2015). Ethics at Workplace. Ethics, 2(4), 1-3.
Valde, K. S., & Henningsen, M. L. M. (2015). Facework in responding to unethical communication. International Journal of Business Communication, 52(4), 369-403.
