When in doubt, don’t talk about it. Generally speaking, you should avoid sharing any confidential or proprietary information that you don’t personally own and do not have the right to share with others. This includes trade secrets and other confidential information belonging to your employer or other entities with which you conduct business. Do not discuss any aspect of your company’s business unless you are specifically authorized to do so.

In addition, you should always observe the standards of practice and ethical behavior for your profession. For example, if you are a physician involved with the clinical trial for a new medication, you should avoid discussing the results of the trial before they have been made public. Be sure to review the Maven User Agreement and complete your Consulting Orientation for more information on what is considered appropriate.