caring for the Family

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post, I have been thinking about the wider ramifications of my actions. One friend wrote yesterday that he had just been “challenged” about an issue that had occurred four years previously. Frankly the person doing the challenging should have never known about the four year old situation. When we write a letter (snail or E) and put to paper a situation, then it has gone beyond our control. Other people are going to read it and make opinions on it and perhaps take action based on it. Thus serious care is needed to protect folks.

These are difficult things. And what we do always has wider impact than we planned.For example, before we send an email response to a question about a child’s misbehavior, a depressed team member or a conflict with an organizational policy, we would do well to “think ethically.” We must pause and ask ourselves these questions:

—Who may be seeing our communications, now and in the future?
—Do the communication exchanges need to be encrypted?
—Am I responding informally as a colleague, “officially” on behalf of an organization or as some type of care worker?
—Do I have enough information to offer input?
—How accurate is the information I have?
—Should I consult with anyone about the situation?
—Which ethical guidelines are relevant?
—What may be the consequences of my response and/or advice?

I hope to be a person who thinks ethically about what I communicate and take great care with it.