Business Communication Ethics Every Entrepreneur and Professional Must Know

Created on 3 July, 2024 • Marketing & Business Communication • 75 views • 3 minutes read

Business Communication Ethics Every Entrepreneur and Professional Must Know

In this article, we won’t be discussing academic papers on business communication ethics. Instead, we’ll focus on how the theories of communication ethics can be applied in daily life, especially for entrepreneurs and professionals. If you’re a student reading this, you can also start practicing these ethics now, so you’ll be familiar with them when you enter the workforce.

What is Business Communication Ethics?

Business communication ethics refers to the ethical behavior in business communication. The main point here is ethics. Drs. O.P. Simorangkir, an author on business ethics, defines ethics as a human's perspective on the good and bad behavior in communication within a business context. Essentially, the keywords in business communication ethics are good and bad behavior in communication.

The Importance of Business Communication Ethics

As an entrepreneur or professional, understanding and practicing business communication ethics is crucial. Many in the business world prioritize their ego over ethics in communication. This often leads to negative situations, like spamming, which is unethical behavior on the internet. Spam involves flooding recipients with repeated messages, often with dubious offers or services.

This article serves as a practical guide for entrepreneurs and professionals to learn about business communication ethics, so you can apply these principles directly to your business.

Areas of Business Communication Ethics

Discussing business communication ethics can be extensive. To keep it effective, we’ll focus on specific areas:

Business communication ethics via phone
Business communication ethics via email
Business communication ethics via instant messaging (chat apps)
Business communication ethics via Skype or video calls

These areas are chosen because they fall under the digital communication realm, making the discussion more coherent.

1. Business Communication Ethics via Phone

Here are some practical examples:

Pay attention to your voice volume. Don't speak too softly or too loudly.
During meetings, keep your phone off or silent. Don’t answer calls during meetings unless it’s urgent; if so, let the caller know you’re in a meeting.
Don’t place your phone on the table during meetings to avoid distractions.
Say “Sorry” instead of “What?” if you didn’t catch what the other person said.
When someone calls you, let them end the call unless they take too long (over 10-15 seconds).
If you’re eating when you get a call, finish your food before answering.

2. Business Communication Ethics via Email

Here are some practical examples:

Use a professional email address with your own domain. Avoid free email services like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com for business.
Respond to emails that need a reply promptly.
Be careful with punctuation, especially exclamation points. Use them sparingly and appropriately.
Avoid writing in all caps.
Write clear and understandable subject lines.
Start your business emails with a greeting like Hi, Hello, Dear, etc.
Check for typos and grammatical errors before sending.
Limit or avoid the use of emojis in business emails.
Use standard, easy-to-read fonts.
Address recipients by their names if you know them; otherwise, use respectful titles.
When sending attachments, use clear titles and avoid compressing them in zip or rar formats to make them easily accessible.

3. Business Communication Ethics via Instant Messaging (Chat Apps)

Here are some practical examples:

If you’ve never met the person, introduce yourself politely and state your purpose.
Start with a short greeting like hi, hello, etc.
Keep business conversations short. For longer discussions, use another channel.
Never send bad news via instant messaging.
Don’t contact someone marked as “away” or “busy.” Respect their time and privacy.
End chats with a thank you.

4. Business Communication Ethics via Skype or Video Call

Here are some practical examples:

Focus on your monitor and camera, simulating eye contact with the person you’re speaking to.
Avoid excessive movement to ensure a clear picture, especially with unstable internet connections.

These practices in business communication ethics are essential for every entrepreneur and professional to know. Thanks for reading, and see you in the next article.

Conclusion

Business communication ethics involves behaving ethically in various forms of communication, including phone calls, emails, instant messaging, and video calls. Understanding and applying these principles can prevent negative situations and enhance professional interactions.

Business Communication Ethics Every Entrepreneur and Professional Must Know