Speaking Center News
Good Women Speaking Well: What You Need to Know About Speaking Ethically
Good speakers never want their audience to perceive them negatively. Appearing incompetent or coming off as someone other than what you want the audience to think you are are obstacles all speakers face. But what do you do when the truth about your character or your evidence could substantially compromise the persuasiveness of your argument? Ethics, the study of the decisions people make about right and wrong, deals with this issue. Ethics suggests that all speakers operate from a moral code that will responsibly guide their presentation. Ethical speakers are honest, sincere, reputable, principled, genuine, and forthright in presenting the most truthful speech as possible.
Nonetheless, certain speaking situations easily lend themselves to ethical dilemmas. For example, during a persuasive speech, evidence could be manipulated to make the advocated position most favorable. During debates and other competitive speaking situations, opponents can make personal attacks at one another instead of just sticking to the facts. Since a speaker’s reputation is significantly connected with the persuasiveness of their argument, oftentimes we must choose to either compromise ourselves morally by modifying what we say or tell the entire truth and risk self-incrimination.
Even still, it is important we remain ethical. Upholding ethical standards will boost your credibility by showing the audience how a responsible speaker is supposed to handle delicate information. Here are some tips to ensure you remain ethical in any speaking situation:
Consider your personal values. Recognize what values are important to you and decide not to ever compromise those, even when you are trying to persuade someone.
What do you value most? Family? Hard Work? Individuality? Loyalty? Religion or Spirituality? Friendship? Trustworthiness? Obedience? Whatever it may be, this forms your core set of values. Try to uphold your values regardless of the speaking situation, because when you remain true to yourself, your audience will perceive you as credible.
Do not insult the audience by assuming them to be nieve, gullible or stupid. This means you must not hide evidence or present false information. DO NOT LIE!!! Clearly distinguish fact from opinion. By presenting fact as fact, you give the audience the opportunity to arrive at their own conclusion. If you present your opinion as if it were fact, the audience will have a skewed perception of what the problem is.
Avoid plagiarism. Make sure you give credit to all of your cited sources. When you properly cite your sources, you show the audience you handled your evidence responsibly. Respond to questions candidly. Do not be evasive when an opponent or audience member asks a question. It is best to be totally truthful up front than to lie and let the truth come out later. Respect and encourage diversity of arguments and opinion. True learning emerges when all sides of an issue are explored.
Carefully consider the rhetorical situation. This means being mindful of the occasion in which you are speaking and the demographics of the audience. Always anticipate the likely consequence of your speech on the audience.
Use sound reasoning in persuasive arguments. Avoid faulty reasoning such as slippery slope arguments and hasty emotional appeals.
Use emotional and values based arguments sensibly. Although emotional arguments are ideal in certain rhetorical situations, they could also possibly convey opinions presented as if they were fact, something ethical speakers definitely want to avoid.
Be culturally sensitive. An ethical speaker always considers the cultural background of her audience, and knows what is likely to offend them.
Remember, being an ethical speaker is not difficult. It is, however, consistent with being ethical in everyday life. Whenever you are faced with an ethical speaking dilemma, always:
Examine the situation causing the ethical dilemma.
Identify possible courses of action and determine what values you should promote, and what values you would have to sacrifice if you choose to be unethical.
Choose the course of action most consistent with the values most important to you during that specific speaking situation.
With anything rhetorical, practice makes perfect. Because ethical speakers are critically engaged with the world around them, the more observant you are of society, the easier speaking ethically will be. Being an amazing speaker is more than having dynamic delivery. Being an amazing speaker means that you are a person with high moral standards and is willing to uphold them regardless of the situation. You just so happen to also know how to speak well!
Works Cited
Kearney, Patricia and Timothy G. Plax. Public Speaking in a Diverse Society. Mayfield Publishing Company, London: 1996. Pp.131-153.
Jasmine S. Terry is a junior at Agnes Scott College and a dynamic tutor at the Speaking Center.