Reflecting on Business Communication Skills and Applications

This essay reflects on the student's learning journey in a business communication course, emphasizing effective communication strategies, identification and overcoming of communication barriers, the importance of self-awareness, navigating cross-cultural communication, and the process of ethical decision-making. The student highlights the significance of active listening, appropriate communication channels, and conflict resolution within teams. Personal growth is noted through self-assessment activities, revealing strengths and weaknesses, particularly in time management. The impact of globalization on diverse workforces is discussed, underscoring the need for cross-cultural communication skills and ethical considerations in business decisions, advocating for a utilitarian approach that benefits all stakeholders. The essay concludes by reiterating the importance of continuous improvement in communication skills for professional success and relationship building.

Business Communication
Reflection

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Table of contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Reflection on effective communication...........................................................................................2
Reflection on barriers to communication........................................................................................2
Reflection on self-awareness...........................................................................................................3
Reflection on cross cultural communication...................................................................................3
Reflection on ethical decision making.............................................................................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................5

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Introduction
Understanding and learning business communication is a critical aspect of every individual. In an
average career span, there are numerous interactions that an individual needs to participate in.
Through this course I gained a deeper inside about various facets of effective communication.
Communication is essential to ensure coordination and transparency in the workforce and plays a
critical role in ensuring an optimising working culture. This reflective essay aims to throw light
upon my learnings from this course specifically in terms of business communication, barriers to
communication, cross cultural communication, self-awareness and the process ethical decision
making.
Reflection on effective communication
Effective business communication is largely responsible for enabling coordination among team
members, resolving conflicts, having a channel of feedback and creating transparency and trust
among team members. There are several channels for effective communication. Increasingly
social media is also being adopted as an effective channel for business communication (Crews &
Stitt-Gohdes, 2012). Communication is also required to ensure long term stakeholder
satisfaction. I learnt that for any communication to be effective, it is extremely important to
listen carefully and respond effectively. Involved parties in the process of a communication must
use an appropriate channel of communication to ensure its efficacy. Communication in the
organization is also important for conflict resolution.

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Reflection on barriers to communication
In the process of communication, there are several barriers to communication. In global
organizations, language can be a major barrier. It is important that people involved in the
communication use the same language. There can be various physical barriers to communication
as well including a bodily disability such as a hearing problem or a speech difficulties. Barriers
to communication must be identified and overcome. A lack of attention or interest in a
conversation can also be a barrier to communication between two people (Garon, 2012). This
course largely helped in understanding the importance of communication and how it is
imperative to identify barriers to communication and eradicate them at the earliest.
Reflection on self-awareness
Self-awareness is the ability of an individual to know oneself. Until now I had never put efforts
in attempting to know myself better. However, this course helped me understand the importance
of self-awareness. We conducted several activities and tests which helped me gain a deeper
insight about my own personality. This course helped me identify my strengths as well as my
weaknesses. The big 5 personality test or the Johari window are strategically designed tests that
help people understand deep facets about their personality (Killian, 2012). One important thing
that I learnt through these activities is that one of my weaknesses is my ability to manage my
time in an efficient manner. This is something I surely need to work upon.
Reflection on cross cultural communication
Globalization has led to the creation of a flat world. Due to globalization it has become easier for
people, information, technology and resources to move from one part of the world to another.

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Diverse workforces are a part of leading organizations. Cross cultural communication
management is essential for the success of diverse organization (Froese et. al., 2012).
For a diverse workforce, language and cultural differences predominantly have a large impact on
the communication of the business. Leaders in a diverse workforce have an important role to
play to ensure effective communication within the business. It is the leaders of such teams that
have the responsibility to create a culture of honest and transparent communication within the
team. Trainings must be provided within organizations to foster cross cultural communication.
Earlier I did not have any kind of inclination to learn about different cultures. Through this
course, I have been able to understand that as a potential employee I can travel to any part of the
world and in order to ensure my effectiveness, I must learn about different culture and break
stereotypes.
Reflection on ethical decision making
Ethical decision making is an important part of a successful business. As an entrepreneur or a
working professional, there are several decisions that need to be made. We were given various
examples of such decisions. Ethical decision making helps in taking decision which is best suited
for all concerned stakeholders (Craft, 2013). Selling cigarettes is probably great business but
ethically harms all of its consumers. Similarly, even in organization, there are various decisions
that need to be taken. In such scenarios it is imperative that we take ethical decisions.
We conducted activities in class wherein we figured that different people have different opinions
over ethical decision making. For some students business profit was the ultimate goal while for
some people betterment of stakeholders was more important than business profit. From the very
beginning of a business, it is recommended that the entrepreneurs are clear about their ethical

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stands and ensure that they successfully work towards that. Ethics within a business flow from
the top management to the bottom. Therefore the leaders of the business must take responsibility
about the ethics that flow down to the employees of the business (Crossan et. al., 2013). Ethical
decision making strategies adopted by business across the globe will help in making the world a
better place to live in. I would surely incorporate this in my professional practice and consider a
utilitarian approach while making decisions.
Conclusion
Business communication is critical for the success and growth of any professional. This course
helped me understand the importance of communication as well as helped me in identifying my
strengths and weaknesses with respect to communication. With the advent of technology and
increased globalization, the opportunities to interact with people from different parts of the world
is also increasing. This makes it important for people to understand cross cultural
communication. Communication conducted effectively can enhance coordination within team
members, build trust, increase transparency and resolve conflicts in a competent manner.
Communication is also essential for relationship building with all concerned stakeholders. The
course has been a source of learning as well as self-reflection. I would ensure that I improve
upon the weaknesses identified and ensure I am able to communicate effectively with those
around me.

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References
Craft, J.L., 2013. A review of the empirical ethical decision-making literature: 2004–
2011. Journal of business ethics, 117(2), pp.221-259.
Crews, T.B. and Stitt-Gohdes, W.L., 2012. Incorporating Facebook and Twitter in a service-
learning project in a business communication course. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(1),
pp.76-79.
Crossan, M., Mazutis, D. and Seijts, G., 2013. In search of virtue: The role of virtues, values and
character strengths in ethical decision making. Journal of Business Ethics, 113(4), pp.567-581.
Froese, F.J., Peltokorpi, V. and Ko, K.A., 2012. The influence of intercultural communication on
cross-cultural adjustment and work attitudes: Foreign workers in South Korea. International
Journal of Intercultural Relations, 36(3), pp.331-342.
Garon, M., 2012. Speaking up, being heard: registered nurses’ perceptions of workplace
communication. Journal of Nursing Management, 20(3), pp.361-371.
Killian, K.D., 2012. Development and Validation of the Emotional Self‐Awareness
Questionnaire: A Measure of Emotional Intelligence. Journal of Marital and Family
Therapy, 38(3), pp.502-514.