Preparing for Success at University: Effective Communication Essay

This essay examines the critical role of effective communication in professional environments, using a DHL driver's experience to illustrate its impact on performance and success. The essay begins by defining effective communication and its importance, then delves into a case study of a DHL driver who initially struggled with communication, leading to misunderstandings and inefficiencies in courier deliveries. The driver's reflections highlight the negative consequences of poor communication, including misinterpretations of instructions, reduced teamwork, and increased costs. The essay details the driver's efforts to improve communication skills, such as actively confirming understanding and fostering open dialogue, which ultimately led to improved performance, reduced errors, and enhanced relationships within the company. The essay concludes by emphasizing that effective communication is essential for individual and organizational success, as it fosters understanding, collaboration, and the ability to overcome challenges. The essay references the Driscoll Model of Reflection to support its analysis.

PREPARING FOR
SUCCESS AT
UNIVERSITY-
KNOWLEDGE AND
CRAETIVITY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TASK ESSAY.................................................................................................................................1
Part A..........................................................................................................................................1
Part B..........................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

TASK ESSAY
Part A
Effective communication refer to process where exchange of thoughts, ideas, information
and knowledge in such manner where the intention or purpose of fulfilled in best possible
manner. In other words it refers to presenting views by sender in way that is best understood by
receiver. It is essential to have effective communication for growth and success of an individual.
Main Body
In every profession or business effective communication plays an important role. Taking
the job of driver in DHL. The job is to manage the transportation and delivey of couriers in
different states of nation. I have the responsibility of ensuring that all the couriers are delivered
at right time and right location. All the issues and problems related to the transportation are
managed by me. Time management, correct delivery and taking care of all other works
associated with transportation of couriers. Like making available required number of vehicles for
delivery of couriers, drivers and road tax departments etc..Its been three years since I am
working with the DHL and I have feel proud to be part of such an organisation. Initially I was
very and weak at interacting with people that was becoming my weakness in performance of job
also. It was affecting my work as there was communication gap between seniors and their
subordinates. I was not able to make my co drivers understand about the message that was
perceived to them. And it was causing mismanagement of the work. Also I was facing problem
in explaining the solutions of the problem effectively. I being senior driver was responsible for
managing transport of couriers at right addresses over right time.
The messages conveyed by me were many of times were misinterpreted by the other
drivers that lead to delivery of couriers at wrong places. Though they were prevented from being
delivered over wrong addresses but it increased the time and cost of delivering the couriers. This
was due to ineffective communication (Driscoll Model of Reflction, 2019). Co drivers were not
getting back to me even when they were facing problem in understanding any instructions as
they were having belief that I was not good communicator and was not able to resolve their
issues.
I was losing confidence in self and worked out to figure out the actual problem that was
affecting my performance. The problem was due to ineffective communication therefore for
resolving the issues that were arising and affecting my performance were to be improved. After I
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noticed that mistakes of wrong destination has occurred more than twice I decide to improve my
communication skills so that I could interact with people and other drivers properly. The
problem made me realised the importance of communication for working within an organisation
and also for personal development as an individual. Communication can create problems and
degrade your performance even if you are doing the job at the best. The events due to flaws in
communication made me to think about the drawback ad to take steps for improving it.
Communication refers to exchange of information and ideas in a manner where it is
understood best by receiver. Communication is not only limited to the oral interaction but also to
the written words. The messages that is being conveyed by the sender should be understood by
receiver in same context. Otherwise this could create problems that affect the performance as
well as personality as an individual. Communication helps in getting to the root cause of problem
and is essential for company to solve its problems.
After facing these problems I worked on improving my communication skills so that such
small issues do not degrade my performance and work. I started interacting with people and
other drivers for making them comfortable. I took initiative of confirming that information
conveyed to them is understood by them in right manner. I used to confirm back the instructions
that were given by me to ensure the context of information is right. Also drtivers were guided to
follow proper communication structure so that the issues faced by them are resolved immediately
avoiding the mistakes that is increasing the cost of company to deliver the cost. Improving
communication helped me to improve performance as mistakes were reduced to least and
interaction with drivers of company helped me to solve their problems. It helped me to build
positive image in the company and amongst the team members.
Part B
Even the work is performed by an individual to its best or is having the ideas that can
improve the working of the company and its processes are of no use if he is not bale to
communicate them effectively to anyone. I have have personally experienced that
communication is the biggest motivating factor that can improve performance of an individual if
he is using it effectively. At the same time it can prove to be biggest barrier if an individual does
not have the ability of communicating properly with others. I was not having the attitude of
interacting with the other staff that many of times created problems for me. It was creating
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misunderstanding and communication gap between me and my team. The behaviour was
affecting my performance as an senior driver.
A leader is not a success if it is not able to convey its message and understand the
problems faced by team. Working on communication helped me to improve my performance as
senior driver. I was not able to communicate the processes effectively with my team that created
problem but communication helped me to understand the problem that were faced by team which
was degrading the work and performance. It helped me to enhance my performance as driver.
Now I perform every work given to me very effectively and considering my whole team.
Improving the habit of communication has helped me to reach over right destinations on time.
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REFERENCES
Online
Driscoll Model of Reflction. 2019. [Online]. Available through :
<https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nmp/sonet/rlos/placs/critical_reflection/models/driscoll.html>.
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