Reflective Blog: Communication and Collaboration Skills

This report presents a reflective blog based on a teamwork exercise involving building a tower with pasta and marshmallows, analyzed through the Gibbs reflective cycle. The blog details the experience, including the initial confusion, conflicting ideas, and the eventual development of a strategy using toothpicks. It discusses feelings of frustration, annoyance, and ultimately, enthusiasm and motivation. The evaluation highlights the importance of teamwork, coordination, and communication, while also noting the negative impact of poor communication. The analysis emphasizes the need for a clear strategy, positive attitude, and equal contribution from all team members. The conclusion suggests improvements in communication and coordination for future teamwork scenarios. The report also includes references to relevant books and journals on reflective practice and teamwork.

Reflective blog

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Gibbs reflective cycle was founded in 1988. It was developed by the American
sociologist and psychologist Graham Gibbs. This model is published in his book “Learning by
Doing”. This makes individual thinks about experience, event or activity in more detail, making
them all aware of the own actions.
The above report includes the reflective report with the help of Gibbs reflective cycle
which describes the group team work of five members for developing the tower with the help of
pasta and marshmallow. This could be better understood with the help of whole cycle.
MAIN BODY
Gibbs reflective cycle encourages for thinking systematically about the various phases of
activity or experience. According to the Gibbs reflective cycle 1998 the reflection blog is
prepared which is described below-
Description-
It was the small group containing the five members in it. We all were asked to build the
tower from pasta and marshmallows within the 15 minutes. In putting the idea everyone has to
put their own ideas and implement that in building that tower it has created a contradictory
situation for all the members as no particular idea have been transformed which can be suggested
by the each group member. And then we started building a tower (Potter, 2015). But after
building the tower it has been realised that I wouldn't be stable some team member have step
back. Then I personally tried to develop the structure practically which would be perfect and
could be established easily. I talked with the other team members that is that plan is appropriate
or not. At the end most of the groups are not successful in making the tower due to the time
pressure. Other team members and I agreed that it doesn't matter we won the competition of not
but it matters that how much we have enjoyed in the completion of task. Hence, one of the team
member had already prepared emergency tower but it can't be stand on its worn so other team
member helped him out in very quite and concentrated manner and make it stable in few minutes
(Pianpeng and Koraneekij, 2016).
Feelings-
Firstly I was too much confused about building the tower I was not getting what to do. I
was also getting distributed with the different noises, mobile rings, shouting of the individuals,
cars which were driving on the road all were so irritating that I couldn't concentrate on the

strategy what could be used for building the tower. All team members have their different views
and all are making it too loud for this I was feeling annoyed. After building the tower we have
noticed that the tower bis not stable I had thought that I had to develop a new strategy which can
be used for building the task. And told my team member about the strategy and they had also
agreed with that which helps me feel motivated and then further we had worked upon that
strategy we had used the tooth picks for building the tower and which is very helpful. But after
completion of task I and my all team member were full of enthusiasm and motivation that we
have enjoyed the task rather than winning the competition (Husebø, O'Regan and Nestel, 2015).
Evaluation-
The good about the experience is that we have learned and enjoyed the task rather than
winning. We had learned that working in a team with the perfect coordination one can achieve
the task very easily. It had created a motivation in me and I had learned various things that a
team can achieve their goal by working subordinately with team. Bad experience is that there is
lack of communication among the team members. In team there is no proper communication
among team members so we couldn't work in the team as single unit. And further if we are not
working as a team unit in the team we could achieve the task goal. All the team member have
their own ideas and we couldn't even decide which is to be used and at last we had decided to
work without any particular strategy which leads to incompletion task (Smith and Roberts,
2015).
Analysis-
It is all about the team work which was must be accomplish by the team. I could
understand that the team could have done it better if they had developed t he strategy and work
with the positive attitude. The team includes the team work not the contribution of one team
members it need all member's contribution which was being shown at the end of the competition
in few minutes where all the team members politely and concentrate make the tower stable.
Thus, it reflects that if all we would have work together than we could have achieved our goal
and could win the competition. There is lack of communication among the team members also
which bounds all them to communicate with each others and work in the team (Bassot, 2016).
Conclusion-
I could have been coordinate with the team and allocate the one best strategy for
developing the tower. So that we could have won the competition. I would try to communicate

with my team members in the group so that all the team member's views can be further explained
and expressed and the possible strategy and output can be formed out of that. All team members
have their equal contribution in the decision. Communication is also needed for the team work
and completion of task it is very vital. The goal of the team can be effectively achieved by the
team work. And this could be done with the coordination and all one should have their ideas for
developing the strategy and further motivate each other for accomplishing the task.
Action Plan-
If it would again arise than I would first practically decide which strategy will work for
building the tower this could be done by communicating with team and further deciding the best
alternative which could be used. Further I would work in team and allot the task to each and very
one that what will be managed by whom so that all could have their own task and they will
concentrate on their part so we can accomplish our goal with the better strategy (Bassot, 2015). I
will coordinate with all my team members so that they we all could work according to our
strategy and no one lacks behind one will work on connecting the pastas and marshmallow with
sticks and another one will be helping in that. This how all will work with the coordination
which is he major thing lack behind and allows all us to work for winning the team.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it is concluded that the team work is very vital in the
accomplishing the task. The task couldn't be completed if there is no team work among the team
members. The contribution of all team members is required for accomplishing the task. The all
team members must have equal decision and contribution in team work which can further helpful
in developing the strategy. Communication among the team members is also required as if there
is no interaction and communication among the team member than it couldn't be able to
complete the task and gain the goals which must be accomplished by the team members by
working in team as single unit. Coordination must be needed for working in the team and
achieving the goal this could be done by appropriate interaction among team and working as a
team with the positive attitude.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bassot, B., 2015. The reflective practice guide: An interdisciplinary approach to critical
reflection. Routledge.
Bassot, B., 2016. The reflective journal. Macmillan International Higher Education.
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.
Pianpeng, T. and Koraneekij, P., 2016. Development of a Model of Reflection Using Video
Based on Gibbs's Cycle in Electronic Portfolio to Enhance Level of Reflective Thinking
of Teacher Students. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity. 6(1). p.26.
Potter, C., 2015. Leadership development: an applied comparison of Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle and
Scharmer’s Theory U. Industrial and Commercial Training. 47(6). pp.336-342.
Smith, J. and Roberts, R., 2015. Reflective practice. Vital Signs for Nurses: An Introduction to
Clinical Observations. pp.222-230.