Understanding My Communication and Collaboration Skills Report

This report reflects on a student's experience in a team setting, focusing on communication and collaboration skills. The student utilizes Gibbs' reflective cycle to analyze a conflict scenario involving a difficult team member. The report describes the situation, the student's feelings, and an evaluation of the event. It analyzes the lack of communication as a key issue and explores how the student's approach, including active listening and empathy, helped resolve the conflict. The conclusion highlights the importance of reflective practices for learning from teamwork experiences and outlines actions for improving communication and collaboration in future situations. The report emphasizes the need for understanding diverse perspectives and managing conflicts effectively for successful team outcomes. References to relevant literature are included to support the analysis and conclusions.

Communication and
collaborative

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
GIBBS REFLECTIVE CYCLE ......................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Reflection is defined as the learning approach to learn from our own experiences so that
we can analyse and evaluate effectiveness of our actions (Husebø, O'Regan and Nestel, 2015).
During the module communication and interpersonal skills I got an opportunity to work in team
in week 1 and 3. The conflict with other team members influenced the communication and
collaboration of the team and outcomes. Thus this report will present a reflection on this
experience using Gibbs's reflective cycle.
GIBBS REFLECTIVE CYCLE
Description
While learning the principles of communication and collaboration I got an opportunity to
work within a team. The experience was good in terms of learning as it helped me to practically
understand the communication principle and role of collaboration in achieving team objectives.
The team in which I was placed, consist of various members. Though each of the team members
was different in terms of opinion, efficiency and capability but we all used to shared good
collaboration. However in my team one of the member was very rude who used to offend other
participants. At once when we all were working on the team work strategy he was not agreed on
a point and without listening to perspectives of opinions of others he started shouting and being
aggressive. He also used offensive language to discourage the other team members. Me and other
team members tried to make him calm and understand that at least he should listen to others and
so that we can take mutual decisions but he was not ready to listen. At that moment we all tried
to ignore his behaviour and non-cooperation but he continued to interrupt in the planning by
provoking others and by using inappropriate language.
At that time we decided to take a break from the discussion so that he can get some time
to understand the requirement of team and his behaviour but the situation get worsen . From that
day it became his habit to show disagreement on the team decisions and work of others without
clearly describing his point of view of the actual need of modifications. It discourage the other
team members and influenced their performance as well. However after that I interacted with
him calmly and personally and made him understand that for effective team it is necessary that
he must give chance to others so that they can also share their views. I also gave him several
examples that if he will not listen to others then other team members will also neglect him and
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gradually he will loose his place in the team. It made him realise his mistake and he promised me
that he will try to overcome his prejudices so that others can also share their perspective freely.
Feelings:
From the incident I was very shocked that he is just showing aggression and opposition
on the basis of prejudices that we are absolutely wrong and he is correct and efficient. Prior to
the event I used to thought that it will be great to work with different people. I though that I will
get chance to effectively collaborate with others and effective communication can improve the
team efficiency. However when this incidence was taking place I was shocked and nervous that
if it will continue then I and other team members will never be able to complete the tasks on
time. In that situation I tried to make that rude team member understand but he also refused to
interact with me.
I felt that with this kind of team in which we are not even listening to others is not able to
succeed and we will not be able to achieve our goals. During the event also when I interacted
with him I realized that at the time of event when every one was making him understand
simultaneously he became confused and more nervous. Thus when I was able to identify his
issue as well as concerns for other team members I felt very good that by a brief interaction I
saved my team from leading a team which lacks cooperation.
Evaluation:
During the experience when everyone was criticising the rude team member it worsen the
situation. However when I tried to personally communicate with him and to listen him patiently
then it improved the situation and solved the issue. The end of experience was quite satisfactory
and experience seems to be complete. However I still have not understood that what was the
reason that when all team members were making him understand he refused to understand but
when I tried to do so he gave me positive response. In my opinion the approach used by rude
team member was inappropriate. Though at some points he was stating true facts but the
opposing and aggressive way presented him inappropriately. During the discussion he also
disrespected the opinion of other team members which resulted in the conflicts. In my opinion
the lack of efficient listening skills was the major factor which caused the situation to affect the
overall team performance.
Analysis:
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The lack of communication between team members and rude member of team was the
potential cause which resulted in the conflict (Thomas and et.al., 2017). He was not able to
express properly which make everyone opposed to him. In my opinion the experience could have
resulted in lack of collaboration among team members or failure to achieve goals. I think if I
would not have tried to communicate with him then ultimately team performance would have
affected in negative way. I think that my good listening and convincing skill helped me to
understand his perspective.
For effective communication it is very important that participants must pay attention to
the understanding level and needs of others (Hargie, 2016). During the discussion when rude
member felt that his ideas are not being taken into consideration it leads to aggression and
opposition. In the wake of anger he denied all the communication. However in such situation I
tried to understand that what things are making him panic. Thus while interacting with him I
decided to clear all of this doubts. I also tried to interact in soft and polite manner so that he does
not feel that I am imposing my opinion forcefully on him.
From this experience I analysed that body gestures, way of speaking, word selection and
appropriate language assisted me in making him ready to listen others. The acceptance of
diversity and variations is also one of the important attribute in making conversation with others.
In the above described event also initially for that team members it was difficult to accept that
others can also give good ideas or their opinion can be different. I was getting angry over that
member thinking that when all are agreed whey one member is opposing to the decisions.
However later I realised that each individual has different perspective and thus instead of making
any opinion about them I must try to interact and understand their diverse perspective as well.
Among most of the conflicts which occur between professional teams major driving force is
lack of cooperation and understanding (Geisinger, 2016). The cooperation can be established by
promoting more clear and transparent communication. Conflicts are obvious in the presence of
diverse teams but when I will be able to accept them with diversity (Pavord and Donnelly, 2015).
Only then team cooperation and coordination will be achieved by me with even different types of
people.
Conclusion:
From the experience I learned that it is the general feature of teams to have conflicts or
differences but I must make attempts to resolve them by appropriate communication. I used to
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avoid or distance myself from the conflicts but during the event I observed that instead of being
judgmental towards rude members I was dealing calmly with the situation. My attempt to resolve
the conflict through communication not only improved the performance of my team but also
taught me that how I can use communication to understand others and to convince them.
Actions
Working in teams is an integral part of the professional growth and these are ordinary
situations when the conflicts between individuals may occur if they do not understand each
other's perspective (Husebø, O'Regan and Nestel, 2015). For addressing the similar situations in
future I will try to understand the perspective of other people as well. I will try to determine the
reasons which forces rude team members to avoid shared decision making or regular
communication. The bidirectional communication will be my first priority to avoid conflicts
among team members. For achieving these improvements I can initiate the attempts to encourage
communication between team members so that they can understand their preferences and
behaviour and tasks can be achieved efficiently.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the above reflection that for enhancing and improving the
learning reflective practices are highly effective. These practices provides a valuable opportunity
to gain learning from the team work experience. The Gibbs model consist of clear stages which
helps to easily portray the experience and learning from it.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Geisinger, K.F., 2016. 21st century skills: What are they and how do we assess them?. Applied
Measurement in Education. 29(4). pp.245-249.
Hargie, O., 2016. Skilled interpersonal communication: Research, theory and practice.
Routledge.
Husebø, S.E., O'Regan, S. and Nestel, D., 2015. Reflective practice and its role in
simulation. Clinical Simulation in Nursing. 11(8). pp.368-375.
Pavord, E. and Donnelly, E., 2015. Communication and interpersonal skills. Lantern Publishing.
Thomas, V.K. and et.al., 2017. The following core competencies are addressed in this article:
Interpersonal skills and communication.
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