Business Communication Module: Reflective Report on Senco

This reflective report analyzes business communication within Senco, examining the trainee manager's experience and the application of the Gibbs Reflective Cycle. It details the importance of effective communication, communication channels, and the 7 C's of Communication. The report highlights the challenges faced, such as staff turnover and deficiencies in written and active listening skills, while also identifying strengths like teamwork and verbal communication. The analysis explores learning styles (VARK) and the need for improved encoding/decoding processes, social media use, and customer feedback. The report concludes with an action plan for enhancing communication skills and addressing barriers to effective information exchange, emphasizing the crucial role of communication in employee engagement and business success.

BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Reflective Report....................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Business Communication refers to the phenomena which is used to effectively acquire
and share information within a company (Addams and Allred., 2015). The agenda of business
communication for an organisation is to ensure commercial benefit for a firm. The following is a
reflective report which is based on communication within Senco. It reflects the communication
within the organisation, skills relevant to business and communication successes and challenges
faced throughout the module.
MAIN BODY
Reflective Report
During the time working for this module, I realised that business communication is very
crucial for an organisation. The module was quite an effective learning experience of how
communication could effectively solve problems of an organisation in a healthy manner (Putman
and et. al., 2015). However, my experiences were quite useful when it came to enhance my
learning and knowledge about various aspects related with business communication. To reflect
my experience effectively, I would use Gibbs Reflective Cycle Model to project my learnings in
an appropriate manner.
Description
As a trainee manager for Senco, it was very important for me and my team members for
determine importance of effective communication within the firm. My team members along with
me worked towards evaluating the scenario of the company's communication channels, methods
and ways in which information was being exchanged. There were various types of
communication used in the company to establish internal and external exchange of information
like verbal and written communication which covered wide communication varieties within
them. As trainee managers, we were required certain skills to communicate vertically and
horizontally. The most important of them were precision and clarity in speaking and effective
and active listening. These skills help to share appropriate information in an authenticate and
systematic manner, without which, communication will not be established well within the
organisation and it would lead to ambiguity in duties and alterations in important information.
Senco also required its employees to efficiently follow 7 C's of Communication which are
Completeness, Correctness, Courtesy, Concreteness, Clarity, Consideration and Conciseness. All
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these principles are crucial for carrying out internal and external communication. During the
module, I also got a chance to evaluate my learning style within the organisation which
effectively could satisfy the demands of the learning situation. To effectively achieve this
purpose, VARK Theory is utilised which stands for Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing and
Kinesthetic.
Feelings
My responses throughout the module was quite moderate. There were times when there
was a serious need felt for effective communication within the firm. Senco was experiencing
staff turnover which is a major cause of concern for any organisation looking to strengthen its
operations in the marketplace (Jeon and et. al., 2015). We, as employees, throughout the module
faced certain challenges as well as successes while communicating with each other and establish
a well communication channel within the company. My aim was to fulfil the unmet requirement
of the company and improve the information sharing process as per the needed standards. My
aim was to enhance my communication skills and improve my learning process to contribute in
the betterment of organisational situation.
During the module, me and my team members felt that Senco could use various methods
of improving communication. One of the most important thought about the firm was that
encoding and decoding process of messages must be done effectively and accurately. In addition,
each and every personnel must be included in the communication process as according to us
effective communication must be result-oriented and a two-way aspect. In addition, I felt social
media could be used as an effective strategy for the company to share information with
employees and customers. Moreover, table boards could be used in supermarkets and customer
feedback might be acquired better with face-to-face communication.
Evaluation
It is very important to evaluate experiences to segregate effective good and bad aspects
about the same and appropriately analyse which approaches worked and which did not
(Wadsworth, 2016). The module was an effective learning experience which definitely enhanced
my knowledge about the communication process within a business organisation.
As trainee manager, there were many things that were quite favourable for me and my
team members. Most important was teamwork. It is an aspect where a group of individuals
channelise their efforts collectively to accomplish a certain activity (Salmon Stanton and Jenkins,
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2017). The internal communication was majorly verbal as we had to communicate almost all
day. My biggest strength while working in a team is that I encourage free-flow of ideas. I
indulged in an open communication both verbal and written, where I gave insight on how
communication within the team as well as the company could improve. Another aspect which
was favouring is that within the company, I was verbally quite effective. I happen to convey
messages to fellow colleagues and to seniors in ways that it is easily grasped and understood by
the listeners well. Moreover, my public speaking is also very influencing as I communicate in a
very precise and confident manner and engage with each of my speaker. As per the principles,
the information I present is considerate, clear and presented in a courteous manner. Different
aspects and methods of communication helped me effectively evaluate each of the learning style
for communication. Through in-depth analysis, I found that I excel at visual and reading learning
methods and I grasp things better when it is presented to me in an appropriate visual and written
manner.
However, there were aspects that did not work well as per my experience. For instance, I
lack in establishing effective written communication with my colleagues and seniors. For my
role as a trainee manager, throughout the 5 weeks I lacked in presenting written reports in an
appropriate and structured manner which was one of the biggest communication challenges I
faced. In other words, my written information lack the flow which is required to effectively
engage readers. This has sometimes created ambiguity in the information presented to my
subordinates. Also, another challenge was that I lack appropriate active listening skills which is
very crucial for a manager at Senco. We were required to listen each and every instruction in a
proper way for effectively presenting the same to the employees working under us in the firm.
However, there were times when I couldn't be more attentive to the information which was
presented to me. Apart from lacking these skills, sometimes my communication with others also
lacked completeness, correctness and concreteness as I sometimes overlooked at aspects which
were crucial to back arguments and thus, it caused flow of false information to the employees
and thus, lack of effective communication. Due to lack of such skills, I lagged behind in auditory
learning style where learners are required to learn through listening (Rahman, Ahmar and Rusli,
2016).
Analysis
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In the past five weeks, I realised that effective communication is very important within a
company. Managers are required to excel and almost each aspect to ensure accurate and
systematic flow of information within an organisation to contribute in its growth. To effectively
retain potential employees, it is very crucial that effective communication is established with
them. Moreover, it is also necessary that various skills like active listening and speaking are the
most crucial skills that is relevant for the situation and my experience. This is because effective
communication will not be established without managers possessing these skills. As for my
experience, visual and reading are the biggest influencers for me to learn and effectively
communicate further. Moreover, there were instances which made me realise that each principle
of communication hold a specific and crucial position in the company to facilitate sharing of
effective data. In addition to the above factors, teamwork is crucial and essential to ensure that
unanimous and intact information is being exchanged within a company.
Conclusion
Communication is very important for ensuring a safe and healthy run of a business
enterprise and excel in employee engagement (Quintanilla and Wahl, 2018). As trainee
managers, my experience provided me with a deep insight on areas that were at par with the
standards and other which needed specific efforts. For this module, I could have enhanced my
listening skills and could have paid more attention on every detail which was conveyed to me.
Where written communication is concerned, I could have asked my team mates to assist me to
develop a structured flow in my information which could be effectively and accurately decode
the message sent by me. As for the 7 C's of communication, I could have paid more attention in
data collection and emphasised in its accuracy to better convey the same to others.
Action Plan
If this situation arises again, I would be well versed and prepared to establish effective
communication channel within the company. I would attend training sessions which could help
me enhance my written and listening skills so that conveyance of information could be as per the
required standards and in a way which maximises performance of the firm and its employees. I
would also consider guidance of team members in collecting information that could be backed up
with concrete and authenticated data to ensure complete and correctness. Lastly, I would pay
attention to the various learning styles to ensure effective enhancement of knowledge regardless
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of the way the information is presented to me. All this efforts would effectively help me to
remove barriers to effective communication for my role and within the company.
CONCLUSION
Thus, it is concluded that business communication is a crucial strategy for a company
striving towards success and ensuring effective employee engagement. The various skills require
to present and acquire information in ways which is essential to facilitate structured and accurate
flow of communication. Various efforts are required to be made to remove the barriers of
communication and 7 C's of effective communication help to set standards for effective
exchange of information. Lastly, it is very crucial to determine the learning styles which are
crucial for appropriate and systematic learning.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Addams, L.H. and Allred, A.T., 2015. Business communication course redesigned: All written
and oral communication assignments based on building career skills. Academy of
Educational Leadership Journal. 19(1). p.250.
Jeon, Y.H., and et. al., 2015. Cluster randomized controlled trial of an aged care specific
leadership and management program to improve work environment, staff turnover, and
care quality. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 16(7). pp.629-e19.
Putman, J.R., and et. al., 2015. Communication application server for converged communication
services. U.S. Patent 9,015,297.
Quintanilla, K.M. and Wahl, S.T., 2018. Business and professional communication: keys for
workplace excellence. Sage Publications.
Rahman, A., Ahmar, A. and Rusli, R., 2016. The influence of cooperative learning models on
learning outcomes based on students’ learning styles.
Salmon, P.M., Stanton, N.A. and Jenkins, D.P., 2017. Distributed situation awareness: Theory,
measurement and application to teamwork. CRC Press.
Wadsworth, Y., 2016. Everyday evaluation on the run. Routledge.
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