Typically each of us is full of information.  Some are top secret, secret, confidential, restricted, official, unclassified, personal or public, to reference the more common classification levels.

Information classification is a tool to assist with determining what you can share and with whom.  Country secrecy laws and information privacy acts are in place to create consequences for inappropriate use of information.

Basically it is recognized that information is power (not my catch phrase) and the use of information (i.e., leveraging your power) should be regulated.

Need to know

What do others need to know and what will be the impact if they don’t know?  For me, rather than data classification, this is the guiding principle to determining when to disclose information.

Of course, legal ramifications and cultural considerations need to be taken into account, yet my personal experience is information held back causes more harm than it ever prevents.

As a general rule, it’s not possible to accurately gauge others need to know, and more importantly what will happen if they don’t know.  This leads me to be more likely to share openly as long as I am sure of conformance to ethical and legal constraints.

It’s a Power Play

Using my knowledge for personal gain (i.e., as a power tool) does not fit with my own personal philosophy.  My own experience has been positive in this regard.  Sharing what I know has been a far more effective influencing tool than hoarding and releasing the information strategically.

My advice, share openly, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the positive results.