Reflective Essay: Communication and Performance Improvement Strategies

This reflective essay examines the critical role of effective communication in enhancing individual and team performance. The essay uses the Driscoll model (What? So what? Now what?) to analyze personal experiences in a team setting, highlighting the importance of clear communication, active listening, and adapting to diverse work environments. The author reflects on how improved communication skills led to increased confidence, better decision-making, and stronger relationships with team members. The essay discusses the impact of effective communication on overcoming personal shyness, improving presentation skills, and fostering a more collaborative and productive work environment. The conclusion emphasizes the long-term benefits of effective communication for career development and future interactions, advocating for consistent application of these skills in all professional endeavors.

Reflective essay about
effective communication and
improving performance

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Driscoll modelled reflection 1994...................................................................................................1
1. What?...........................................................................................................................................1
2. So what?.......................................................................................................................................2
3. Now What?..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Effective communication helps in improving an individual performance as it helps in
bringing confidence in one so that they can effectively make decision(Schofield, 2019). Report
will include reflection of an individual with the help of Driscoll modelled reflection 1994. This
model will include What, So what and Now what that helps the individual to have clearly
understanding. It will reflect the individual experience in the event and the way of dealing with
these situations(Gray and Coombs, 2018).
Driscoll modelled reflection 1994
Figure:- 1
1. What?
While working in team we different tasks were assigned to me and my other team
members. In order to complete the respective tasks, me and other team members interact in an
effective manner in order to complete the tasks on time and also with effectiveness. It is very
1
Illustration 1: Driscoll modelled reflection 1994

important for a team to have effective communication with each other in order to share the
respective information and have better decision making. Different communication tools were
provided to use in order to complete the tasks on time. These communication tools helped in
bring effective interaction among the team members as it become tough to have regular team
meeting. With effective communication I was able to engage with all my team members and it
helped me to share my view points without hesitation. Previously, I was very shy while
communicating with my team members, but gradually working in the team my hesitation level
went down. It improved my performance gradually and brought higher level of creativity within
me. There was a time, when other team members as well as team leaders were not having trust
on my view points as I was not able me clear my ideas in front of them. It helped in bring growth
in my career with improved performance and I was able to build effective relation with all my
team members. There were many staff members who were surprised to see such huge change in
by communications skills. My presentation skills were not effective, but I analysed my
weaknesses and work on it. It resulted in better communication and staff members motivated and
appreciated me for this improvement. It resulted in effective communication and now me any my
team work more patiently and with enthusiasm. Communication not only improves individual
performance but also results in effective team performance. It is very important to use different
communication modes as they save time and make the team work easy. In order to communicate
with my team members I took help of different mediums like email, Skype etc. that saved time
and resulted in better performance.
2. So what?
During the event I felt that it is very important to have effective communication skills as
it makes the work easy going and bring the team together. Previously, the task were uncleared
among the team and the confusing instruction were not helping out in any manner to complete
the tasks on time. In the view point of other team members, dealing with different problems
become easy while working with effective communication. Communications also helped the
team to manage the work in diverse work culture. Many times it becomes tough for me and also
my team members to have effective communication as the work cultures was diverse. But
communication improved by skills and now I am able to handle or work in any diverse
environment. However, there are situations where I got troubled though my communication
skills were enhanced as it become tough for me to make other team members convince as they
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were having their own perceptions. I actively listen to different situations and then react for its
solution. This helped me out as effectively react to my subordinates. In each meeting of my
team, I contributed effectively by sharing my view points that were logically and can help in
solving different problems that my team was facing. I gradually developed trust of my team
members on me as they were able to understand my deep thoughts and actions. I also noticed my
change of behaviour with respect to decision making. There were situations where I always
hesitated to share my view points, but communication improved the situation as now I am able to
make good decision with all my confidence. All my team members including my leader noticed
me and founded that by increasing my interaction with other team members was resulting in my
improved performance.
3. Now What?
Effective communication was having great implication on my performance and a
different image was formed in front of my team members with respect to my key skills. It is very
important for an individual in a long run to have effective communication skills and this makes
an individual like me more patient and hard working. If I had not chosen to improve my
communication skills that would have been a major drawback for me and my team members. In
near future, if such actuation arise in front of me, this experience will help me do deal with it
more effectively and patiently. The event helped me in enhancing my skills related to
communication and in my near future these actions that I have taken for my team will be helpful
to me. It is very important to adopt this in future events also as it will be beneficial in long run.
In future I will make sure that I effectively communicate with all the respective team members
while working with them so that I can put my view points in front of each and every individual.
This will help me grow fast and have better relationship with the people that will be working
with me.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it is been concluded that Communication helps an individual to
develop its career in right direction as it builds effective relationship of an individual with other
team members.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Gray, T.W. and Coombs, C.J., 2018. Developing professonal judgment in surgical trainees: the
role of critical reflection. Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 1(1). pp.126-132.
Schofield, M., 2019. Why Have Mentoring in Universities? Reflections and Justifications. In
Mentorship, Leadership, and Research (pp. 13-25). Springer, Cham.
Online
Driscoll modelled reflection 1994. 2019. [Online]. Available.
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