Reflective Writing: Importance of Communication and Teamwork

This reflective writing discusses an incident that highlights the lack of coordination and communication among team members during a boating activity. It emphasizes the importance of communication and teamwork in the smooth functioning of a team and includes an action plan to improve communication skills. The article also discusses the role of leadership, decision-making, and trust in team performance.

Running head: REFLECTIVE WRITING
REFLECTIVE WRITING
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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Introduction
Some incidences in life help us know more about our own selves from which we come
out as more matured as individuals. These incidents are termed as ‘critical’ because of the
intensity of the event that sometimes include substantial injury to the mental or physical health.
In my case, I can say that the incident that happened to me has helped me because it brought out
the strengths and weaknesses in me as a team player, a leader and a communicator.
The discussion will be including the details of the incident and thereby reason out the
experience. It will also be including an action plan that will be helping in the determination of
the different factors of the change in the management and the communicative abilities in order to
avoid the incident in future.
The incident
The incident took place when we planned on a residential tour of three days. We were a
group of twelve members and we planned a tour where we could get into many physical
activities. Six of us members were indulged in a boating activity. It was fun at the beginning as
the boat ride was full of excitement and adventure. However, there was an issue we faced while
undertaking the activity. Some of the members in the group desired to go north as they found it
to be safe and adventurous- both at the same time. On the other hand, the other members wanted
to get the thrill of going in the Southwest direction, disregarding the risks that might be faced by
the team while undertaking the activity. It affected the decision making of the team due to the
lack of proper communication and teamwork. The hassle of undertaking the actions has affected
the smooth functioning of the team members. The misunderstanding at that point of time delayed

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our activity. I was astounded by the outcome of the misunderstanding that affected the activity
that was undertaken by us at that point of time.
Today, as I look back to incident, I feel that all the team members base the proper
functioning of the team on the proper communication and the acceptance of the decision. It has
helped in undertaking steps in order to bring in changes in the organization and execution of the
team performance. In addition, it can also be stated that proper working of the team depends on
the understanding of the various factors of team work. The event has turned out that way because
our team lacked that support and the understanding, which is necessary for the success of the
team functions. On the other hand, the lack of trust and interdependence of the team members
has also affected the proper functioning of the team. The proper functioning of the team will be
helping in the smooth functioning of the team. However, the different aspects of the change in
the structure and the functioning of the team are characterized by the understanding of the
objectives of the team and the integration of the processes.
I was always afraid to go southwest of the lake where we planned out our activity.
Therefore, I opted for the north. On the other hand, one of our group members insisted to go
southwest as he was too much absorbed with the adventure that we could derive from the
activity, which resulted to the clash in the decision making of the team. The basic functions of
proper communication among the team members are affected through the misunderstanding that
took place in the situation.
The incident left me astounded by the effects of the same in the proper functioning of the
team. The basic identification of the issues is based on the coordination of the functions that are
being undertaken by the team in order to cope up the crisis situation. The major aspects of the

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change in the systems and the functioning of the team are characterized by the importance of
proper coordination among the team members and efficient communication within the team.
Today, as I look back to the incident, I feel how childish we were to fight over a decision
and thereby compromise the proper functioning of the team while undertaking the activity. The
major aspects of the change are based on the understanding of the lack of communicative
abilities and the lack of trust within the team members that have affected the incident. The
different aspects of the change that might be taken by us in order to maintain the coordination is
based on the proper communication. On the other hand, today I understand the value of decision
making which affected the day’s activity that we planned. The objective should have been more
clear which would have helped us to attain the goal. The decision making skill of the group
members has helped in maintaining the team work and thereby the performance of the team
while undertaking the activity.
Learning from the Experience
The experience has helped me in understanding the different aspects of the leadership and
the importance of the coordination and team bonding, which helps in enhancing the team
performance. The activity was shattered through the clash in the decisions and the objectives of
the team. On the other hand, the lack of trust between the team members has affected the activity
drastically. The major aspects of the success are based on the understanding of the smooth
functioning of each of the members in the team. It is aimed at enhancing the performance of the
team and the achievement of the group objective.
Communication, on the other hand, played a major role in the performance of the team
(Shockley-Zalabak 2014). It helps in determining the clarity of the concept of the objective of

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the team. It helps in the decision making process in the crisis moment. The proper
communication could have enumerated the barriers that are being faced by the team members
while undertaking the activity. The communication ability helps in ensuring the team
coordination and bonding. It helps in maintaining the smooth functioning of the team. The team
performance is characterized by the qualities of leadership and control, which has helped in the
understanding of the different factors that helps in the maintenance of the coordination and
integration among the team members (Gardner, Gino and Staats 2012). Undertaking
interactions with the team members helps in the enumeration of the strategies that helps in
undertaking the different aspects of the change in the functioning of the team as per the goals of
the team (Johansen, Aggerholm and Frandsen 2012). The major aspects of the communication
help in unifying the team members and thereby help in the creation of the team that acts
according to the requirements of its objectives.
According to Kerzner and Kerzner (2017), “The personal attributes also affects the
functioning of the team as the mentality of the people working in the team helps in maintaining
the paradigm of the team and its performance”. Further, Dozier, Grunig and Grunig (2013)
elaborate, “The mentality and the perception of the members in the team help in the proper
undertaking of the coordination among its members”. On the other hand, the perception of the
team members has helped in the proper understanding of the coordination functions. Our boat
sunk due to the differences in the concepts and the mentality of the team members. The members
of our team were divided into two sects. One desired to go north while the other desired to ride
southwest. It affected the decision making process of the team at the hour of crisis. There were
no goals set by the team and thereby the effort of the team members failed to achieve that

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success while boating. The misunderstanding that occurred while boating was because the team
members did not cooperate with one another due to the lack of trust within the team members.
I have decided to work on my communication skills in order to perform better in the team
with which I plan to work in future. It would help me to introduce myself properly to my team
members and coordinate with them effectively, which would allow me to integrate into the team
with minimum effort. The individual efforts of the members make the team (Tsay and Brady
2012). On the other hand, the experience taught me the meaning of the phrase “one for all, all for
one”. It has helped me in understanding the value of the team work through the integration of the
efforts of the team members. The different aspects of the change that I might undertake in my
future are based on the understanding of the importance of communication and integration and
the manner in which it affects the functioning of the team. The proper understanding of the value
of coordination and the teamwork will be helping me in enhancing the activities that are being
undertaken by the team. On the other hand, the proper integration of the team members will be
helping me in order to establish the smooth functioning of the team. The proper understanding of
the different factor helps in determining the smooth functioning of the team members.
In the near future, I will also take steps to set an objective for the team so that the team
members can focus on a single aim at a time. It will be helping me to keep the team members
focused and motivated to attain the goal that is being set for the team. The proper coordination of
the efforts of the team members will be aligned to that specific direction of the goal, which is
being set by me. It will help me in enhancing the functioning of the team in the direction of the
goal. The proper functioning of the team members facilitates the proper functioning of the team
(Galegher, Kraut and Egido 2014). Therefore, I must take steps in order to facilitate the proper
coordination among my team members. On the other hand, the style of leadership plays a major

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role in understanding the different aspects of the team functioning. The style of leadership helps
in determining the efficiency of the communication and the integration of the work through the
division of work among the team members based on their individual expertise (Daim et al.
2012). It will be helping me in formulating policies for the smooth functioning of the team
members. It also helps in maintaining the performance of the team through the buildup process
and the proper allocation of the tasks among the members.
Action Plans
The incident has helped me in identifying the different discrepancies that are being faced
by our team members while undertaking the boating activity. The discrepancies that I identified
are based on the lack of proper coordination and communication among the team members. On
the other hand, the misunderstanding among the team members and the lack of trust among the
team members has resulted to the failure of the activity that we planned. Therefore, I have
planned of undertaking steps in order to facilitate the proper communication procedures in order
to enhance the functioning of the team members.
Action Plan
Present skills Knack for
questioning
Share
responsibilities
Honest and
straightforward
Appreciate others
Skills to work on Communication
skills
Ability to
influence
Leadership skills Ability to make
quick and good
decisions
Goals Improve
communication
skills with people
Adjust behavior
according to
situations and
Interact with and
read about great
leaders and apply
Create tasks
requiring
teamwork and

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from various
backgrounds
people the learning on
daily basis
make decisions on
critical situations
Resources Peers and
professors,
seminars
Peers, juniors,
friends and
relatives with
whom
conversation could
be struck
Books and videos
of great leaders,
people who have
had personal
influence
Participating in
competitive
activities like
sports, debates etc.
Action Plan Watch movies that
represent
conversational
skills, apply the
elements of
communication
models in daily
life – 5 months
Attempt different
roles in non-risky
situations and
observe the
response of others
and then try to
influence them – 1
month
Communicate and
coordinate humbly
at first with people
and after knowing
them properly,
take on the role to
assign roles and
tasks – 6 months
Engage in social
activities,
classroom
activities and
praise the talent
demonstrated by
individuals – 2
months
Conclusion
Therefore, from the above reflection it can be stated that the proper functioning of the
team functions is based on four most important elements, which are mainly communication
among the team members, integration of the members, setting the objective of the team and the
trust factor. The factors help in determining the proper functioning of the team. The major
aspects of the change that is being undertaken by me is based on the understanding of the
different aspects of the efficiency of the team members. The efficiency of the team members

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affects the smooth functioning of the team. The efficiency of the functioning of the team helps in
determining the success of the team and its objectives.

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References
Daim, T.U., Ha, A., Reutiman, S., Hughes, B., Pathak, U., Bynum, W. and Bhatla, A., 2012.
Exploring the communication breakdown in global virtual teams. International Journal of
Project Management, 30(2), pp.199-212.
Dozier, D.M., Grunig, L.A. and Grunig, J.E., 2013. Manager's guide to excellence in public
relations and communication management. Routledge.
Galegher, J., Kraut, R.E. and Egido, C., 2014. Intellectual teamwork: Social and technological
foundations of cooperative work. Psychology Press.
Gardner, H.K., Gino, F. and Staats, B.R., 2012. Dynamically integrating knowledge in teams:
Transforming resources into performance. Academy of Management Journal, 55(4), pp.998-
1022.
Johansen, W., Aggerholm, H.K. and Frandsen, F., 2012. Entering new territory: A study of
internal crisis management and crisis communication in organizations. Public Relations
Review, 38(2), pp.270-279.
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Tsay, M. and Brady, M., 2012. A case study of cooperative learning and communication
pedagogy: Does working in teams make a difference?. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching
and Learning, 10(2), pp.78-89.