Reflective Essay: Communication, Ethics, and Cross-Cultural Insights

This reflective essay explores the multifaceted aspects of communication through the lens of a student's internship experience. It begins by defining communication and emphasizing its importance in professional settings, particularly within an organization. The essay then delves into the student's personal journey, reflecting on the development of effective communication skills and the challenges faced, including barriers to communication. It highlights the significance of self-awareness, cross-cultural communication, and ethical decision-making in fostering successful interactions. The student's reflections incorporate practical experiences, such as overcoming personal communication weaknesses and navigating diverse cultural environments. The essay concludes by summarizing the key takeaways and emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement in communication and ethical practices for future professional endeavors. The document is available on Desklib, a platform providing AI-based study tools and resources.

Assessment item 3: Reflective Essay
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Reflective essay...............................................................................................................................3
Reflection on effective communication.......................................................................................3
Reflection on barriers to communication....................................................................................4
Reflection on self-awareness.......................................................................................................5
Reflection on cross-cultural communication...............................................................................5
Reflection on ethical decision making.........................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8
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Introduction
The process or act of communicating or exchanging ideas and information in different mediums
is known as communication. The first meet of the organisation used to understand the employees
through effective communication. Thus, the study will focus on the effective communication and
the barriers to contact which is useful in the organisation. The obstacles to communicating in the
organisation will help to focus on the different nations through the reflective essay. Reflection
refers to the series of steps with different questions and explores and experience with the aim of
learning from it.
Reflective essay
Reflection on effective communication
While reading the opening lecture at my high school, I understood the energetic qualities of
communication. However, I could not apply it to myself. I have a tremendous amount of self-pity
or self-hatred at that time and from the next day I was determined that I have to improve my
communication skills. From that day onwards I tried different methods to encourage myself for
improving my communication skill and move on. But I cannot and that created a troll in my
health. However successfully after the completion of my study I got an opportunity for my
internship at my interest (Morales et al. 2017). I will discuss the importance of communication
which has helped me to overcome my weakness with the therapeutic relationship.
I always wanted to be in the marketing domain so I was very lucky to get my Summer Internship
in the AXA Funds management in London. I never had any idea how an organisation work. After
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joining the organisation I came to know that the communication is not only to interact with the
people but also to share the information, ideas and feelings (Arnold, and Boggs, 2015). I felt the
active connection is not only helpful for the employees were walking in an organisation but also
for the journalist, writers, marketers, doctors etc. as well as day to day life. The effective
communication is made with different topics by communicating with different people. In the
organization, I started speaking to few people about my problems and strength and they helped
me a lot overcome my problem. This was the first time to build a useful communication skill.
Reflection on barriers to communication
In this way I will try to reflect the situation which I encounter during the first internship from my
school. I am very grateful that I got an opportunity to develop my communication skills not only
by theoretically but also by practically while facing the challenges in the real life. One of the
major drawback I always face is to communicate with different kind of people. I was aware of
the importance of interpersonal and communication skills however my weakness still dominated
the communication part (Morales et al. 2017). I was even not at all comfortable by
communicating with my friend as well as other relatives. I tried to overcome this weakness by
watching different videos on YouTube and watching television. However, I could not overcome
it. After the opportunity of internship it has helped me a lot to overcome but I still face few
issues I sometimes feel isolated there is too many people. I understand that I have to overcome
this however I am still trying with different techniques so that it do not affect in my career in
future. As an adult, I have made significant improvements to this organisation which has brought
a positive reinforcement and helps to remove my poor communication in the workplace. I have
made it a point to change that rate in my own family and in the professional environment also
still trying to develop my fitness which I have inside me (Arnold, and Boggs, 2015).
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Reflection on self-awareness
I found that in the organisation empathy and supportiveness with equality, openness, confidence,
immediacy, self monitoring etc are also falls under effective communication. According to me, I
feel this helps to aware the influences of discussion regarding values, attitude and self-esteem
about others and their self. My colleagues have also informed me about the poor communication
which leads to the wrong impression in the organisation. I understood that it can affect my
business and productivity and also can damage my reputation with finance and regulatory
restrictions (Rasheed, 2015). This is the reason which can film the interpersonal communication.
I understood that emotional barriers and taboos could be difficult for a good conversation and
also expectation may lead to false assumption or stereotyping. At some time physical disabilities
can also be a common barrier to a good discussion. Thus, to maintain a good connection, it is
essential to understand the self-awareness. Self-awareness is the fundamental cornerstone of
emotional intelligence and the ability to monitor the thoughts my understanding better and
proactively managing the behaviour (Travers et al. 2015).
Reflection on cross-cultural communication
I can learn that the views that were holding in my personal life are entirely wrong which was
stopping me from developing my skills in communication. I started activities like building
identity through games, strength and spiritual development which has enhanced my potentially
can improve the health. I gradually felt that I was increasing my self-awareness as well as has
improved the communication skill a lot (Shiraev, and Levy, 2016).
After focusing on the above two, my manager took a one-on-one session to understand what I am
doing. I explained him in details, and I was happy that I found two more solutions to improve my
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communication skill faster. He appreciated me for what I am doing and also explained to me that
the cross-cultural communication and ethical values with the proper decision making are also
essential to grow in the organisation and for the future. After one month I felt that the
organisation has different cultures with different values.
Reflection on ethical decision making
It has different timings which have led to a decision making, and a proper and accurate decision
making is very much crucial for the business expectation. From this, I learnt to be Proactive by
creating full trust partnership and by using some cultural rapport. I also understood about the
relationship and business cycle with an appropriate level of formalities, hierarchies in the
business and the importance of timing (Decision-making-solutions.com, 2018). I have also
prepared for the multicultural marketing by developing self-awareness at the very beginning.
While working and learning new things I found an overwhelming amount of information
between morals and ethics. An ethics deals with a proper approach to a source of principles and
Standards which is used for ethical decision making in the business. This has helped me to
develop the theological and contextualise approaches for making a moral decision making in my
life (Mesman et al. 2016). I also had a right motivation for my action which has helped me to
understand the difference between the right and wrong in my life. I am happy that I got to learn
so many things from my first internship. However, I have a long way to go.
I am sure that after adopting this I will avoid the future conflict and we'll make a model choice
by an ethical decision not only in my future organisation but also in my life. I hope to get an
opportunity for my second internship, and I am sure that I will overcome all my weakness in the
next time.
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Conclusion
The importance of effective communication has been broadly highlighted with and reflective
essay. Different factors were identified, and the light was focused on the own experience in a
particular organisation. Barriers to communication, cross-cultural communication and ethical
decision making were identified in this study through the experience of the individual. The study
have also included cross-cultural communication which will highlight the importance of culture
in the organisation and the influence of cross culture in evoking communication. It has also
helped to understand the self-awareness in the organisation by following the ethics and the
decision making.
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References
Arnold, E.C. and Boggs, K.U., 2015. Interpersonal Relationships-E-Book: Professional
Communication Skills for Nurses. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Decision-making-solutions.com. (2018). Ethics in Decision Making. [online] Available at:
http://www.decision-making-solutions.com/ethics_in_decision_making.html [Accessed 7 Jun.
2018].
Mesman, J., van IJzendoorn, M.H. and Sagi-Schwartz, A., 2016. Cross-cultural patterns of
attachment. In Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (pp. 852-
877). Guilford New York, NY.
Morales, D.D., Bloom, G.A. and Caron, J.G., 2017. Canadian University Coaches´ Perceptions
on the Importance of Effective Planning and Comunication Skills. CienciAmérica: Revista de
divulgación científica de la Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, 6(2), pp.11-16.
Rasheed, S.P., 2015. Self-Awareness as a Therapeutic Tool for Nurse/Client
Relationship. International journal of caring sciences, 8(1).
Shiraev, E.B. and Levy, D.A., 2016. Cross-cultural psychology: Critical thinking and
contemporary applications. Routledge.
Travers, C.J., Morisano, D. and Locke, E.A., 2015. Self‐reflection, growth goals, and academic
outcomes: A qualitative study. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 85(2), pp.224-241.
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