Reflection On Effective Business Communication Course Essay.

Week One: Communication: Understanding the Process

Question:

Write an essay about the "Effective Business Communication".
 

This paper provides with an opportunity to reflect about communication for the course BUSN20017- Effective Business Communication. The course helps in introducing elements of oral communication for participating in business meetings. The course also helps in constructing written communication for both internal and external clients. The course gives importance to the role played by body language or non-verbal communication.  The course enables the students or learners to gain understanding of the employer requirements in the Australian industry. The tools identified for self-management are peer assessment and self-reflection. This paper is designed to examine and understand reflective writing in the business communication class.

With the successful completion of the course, I have constructed logical and persuasive arguments by using effective communication skills. The course has also helped in recognizing and evaluating communication and interpersonal skills. This paper presents a reflection of the four weeks namely, Communication: Understanding the Process, Presentations: Communicating to an Audience, Business Writing: Genres of Written Business Communication and Interpersonal Communication: Working Together. The course has helped me a lot in overcoming my fear of working at the workplace. The course is divided into three assessments: written and presentation assessment, practical and written assessment and online quizzes.

In the first week, the module Communication: Understanding the Process was discussed. Several lectures and tutorials were conducted for understanding the basics of communication. The first module helped me in understanding the process and forms of communication. An understanding of communication process in terms of verbal, non-verbal and listening has also developed. The module also helped me in recognizing the importance of communication competence. The lectures helped me in gaining different perspectives of communication. The lectures helped me in developing insight about the different models of communication. I learnt about the ethical communication principles. The module helped me in the ways to imply non-verbal communication. The lectures discussed about communication competence that helped me in overcoming communication challenges. The professor also discussed a few journals as tutorials for investigating verbal workplace communication behaviours. The lecture was beneficial as I gained a better understanding of communication behaviour. Additionally, I have also developed oral communication skills. The study helped me in assessing the goals between business schools and organization.

I am able to analyze and differentiate between listening, presenting and conversing. I have gained a different perspective from the employers view and aim to be the most competent. The importance of oral communication at the workplace was also discussed. The lectures have helped me in integrating theoretical and empirical findings. I feel I have learned a lot in business communication. I am learning about communication between different cultures. I am realizing the acceptable and critical components in the communication process. I was strongly impressed by the way the lecturer introduced us to the business communication course.

The lecturer shared various activities and different videos on YouTube were added as learning activity. Two videos were a part of the learning activity that helped in better representation or understanding of the communication. One of the videos was a comical representation of miscommunication. The video provided an enhanced understanding of the misconceptions of communication process. The lecturer selected a nice video as it was simple to understand for the class. The video was helpful in demonstrating the concepts and model in a precise manner. However, I need to improve my analysis on the satisfaction levels of Silicon Valley employers. I need to develop my oral communication skills that involve working with advanced technologies. The lecture could have been more focused on promoting business etiquettes and positive self-image. 

Week Two: Presentations: Communicating to an Audience

In the second week, Presentations: Communicating to an Audience had an objective of informing about the processes of delivering efficient vocational presentations. The lecturer taught the types of public speech that could be used by me for persuading audience. I also learnt the common types of speaking for right speech delivery. The professor clarified the role of communication apprehension and created a warm and easygoing atmosphere in the classroom. I used intensive thinking for knowing the purpose of business communication. The lecturer enlightened me with the structure of vocational presentation. The professor helped me in stating the ideas clearly for thesis, ethos, exigency and preview. The lecture is designed with a purpose of arranging training session for employees, interviewing candidate for employment, and presenting sales presentation. The module helps me in reducing communication apprehension. The module shall also help in reducing communication apprehension. The professor researched topic for oral presentation.

The lecturer discussed specific types of vocational presentations. According to the self-assessment report of communication apprehension, I got an idea of overcoming my communication apprehension. I like participating in group discussions. I am not much comfortable in sharing my ideas openly as I am afraid to express my feelings. I like to involve in discussions and I attend communication meetings. Ordinarily I am relaxed in conversations. My interpersonal skills of communication are stronger than group skills. I have developed my skills for delivering visual aids. I am putting effort and practicing speech to be more comfortable when I deliver it. It is difficult to deliver a presentation or public speech but it involves a lot of hard work and practice. The module has helped in enhancing my ability to deliver effective and sophisticated vocational presentations. I am still developing my sense of presentation as general and specific purpose. The lecturer also provided with videos for addressing specific subjects such as persuasive speaking, informative speaking, speaking outlines and usage of nonverbal communication. The videos chosen by the lecturer provide a great understanding of the above subjects. The videos focus on the body language and postures that must be possessed while delivering a public speech or presentation. The videos also exaggerate on the ways of public speaking. The theories behind the above mentioned subjects are outlined by the professors present in the video.

The fourth week consisted of Business Writing: Genres of Written Business Communication. The module focuses on the genres of written business communication as it is necessary for a professional writer. The module made me realize about the number of times I received emails containing grammatical and spelling errors. The module introduced me to software that would help in spotting spelling and grammatical errors. The lecturer further enlightened with the other common mistakes that are made in the preparation of any document or message. A few other mistakes were pointed by the lecturer such as usage of wrong word, changing tense, apostrophes, abbreviations, passive voice, long words, and formality. I learned the importance of writing professional documents error-free as it can create a wrong impression and change the meaning of the message to be communicated. The module helped in understanding the reader, deciding what to write and produce reports, resumes and emails. The module helped me in differentiating between verbal and written communication.

Week Three: Business Writing: Genres of Written Business Communication

Before the module started, I did not know how to properly write the business communication letters, resumes or emails. After going through the lectures, readings and samples, I gradually learned to write better reports. This module is beneficial for me in both my personal and professional life as I have enhanced my ways of writing. Throughout the course, I have developed skills and concepts in relation to written documents. This module has given me a solid foundation and assistance to develop my writing abilities. The lecturer provided us with assignments and I have successfully developed my skills in writing different types of memos, creating a cover letter, forming an appropriate resume, and generating presentations.  The challenging discussions as well as activities have played a significant role in improving my writing skills. The resources provided by the lecturer in the classroom plays a dominant resource for me. Writing memos was challenging a there were diverse subjects. Nevertheless, I learned the importance of being factually accurate when writing in the business world. However, I need to sensitively consider my words choice when delicate tone is required. I need to heavily examine my message structure. I need to improve my writing patterns when I need to communicate sad tone. 

The fifth week comprised of Interpersonal Communication: Working Together that helped me in recognizing the differences between interpersonal and intrapersonal communication. The purpose of this course is to make the student acquainted with the field of interpersonal communication through an understanding of the fundamentals, an initiation of interpersonal communication theories and a view to the span of interpersonal communication research. Upon completion of this course, I have developed an understanding of the complexity of interpersonal relationship communication. This module gave me an opportunity to interview 24 Australian CEOs and top level managers. This activity helped in enhancing my interpersonal skills. I realized my strengths and weaknesses in interpersonal communication. The professor selected a video that help in structuring and delivering an assertive ‘I statement’. The language pattern helped me in getting point across defensive reactions. Further videos also helped in learning about defensive reactions and supportive climate behaviours. The videos were useful as it gave insight about the climate behaviours. It expanded my knowledge about interpersonal communication. The class focused on different variables involved in relationships where there was listening, speaking and common errors were discussed. As a group, the peers talked about different culture and conflict that restricts interpersonal communication. The course helped in devoting time for cultural diversity issues and interpersonal communication. The course helped me in understanding different concepts of interpersonal communication.

Throughout the course, I learned different aspects of interpersonal communication. I wrote different papers every week by applying the knowledge and information discussed in the class to my personal experiences. I have discovered more information about interpersonal communication. However, I am developing my critical thinking techniques in interpersonal communication settings and situations. In class after we learned about one of these aspects we were to write about an example of an experience to show that we understand the information. Another aspect that we discussed in class was about the different faces people may have in certain situations. People usually put up a face with different people. As an example the first time one is introduced to someone, people are usually respectful of that person. One wouldn’t make jokes or curse to their face. When people put on different faces or behaviours, this is considered as nonverbal communication with each other. Facial expressions can act as communication factor. After learning about the various aspects that play major roles in interpersonal communication, I have a better understanding of what interpersonal communication consists of. Lastly, I am able to apply the knowledge from this course to my own personal experiences.

Lastly, I identified my final portfolio to be the most important aspect of this class. It allowed me to accurately reflect on the work I have completed during the course and identify where my weaknesses lay, and have the opportunity to strengthen and improve on those weaknesses. The final portfolio required attractiveness for my readers and visual ease in order to navigate through it. Overall, the portfolio assignment offered me a tool to showcase my progress in business writing to be viewed by the public. The lecturer further enlightened with the other common mistakes that are made in the preparation of any document or message. I gained tremendous amount of skill and experience that I will use for the rest of my life.

I practiced expressing difficult messages in writing. I learned remarkable tools to improve my writings. However, I need to improve my analysis on the satisfaction levels of Silicon Valley employers. Before the module started, I did not know how to properly write the business communication letters, resumes or emails. I need to develop my oral communication skills that involve working with advanced technologies. However, I need to sensitively consider my words choice when delicate tone is required. I need to heavily examine my message structure. I need to improve my writing patterns when I need to communicate sad tone. 

References

Bargiela-Chiappini, F. & Nickerson, C. (2014). Writing business. New York: Routledge.

DeKay, S. (2012). Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace: A Largely Unexplored Region.Business Communication Quarterly, 75(4), 449-452. 

Fall, L., Kelly, S., MacDonald, P., Primm, C., & Holmes, W. (2013). 

Galbraith, C., McKinney, B., DeNoble, A., & Ehrlich, S. (2013). 

Guffey, M. & Loewy, D. (2011). Essentials of business communication. Mason, OH: South-Western/Cengage Learning.

Hynes, G. (2012). Improving Employees' Interpersonal Communication Competencies: A Qualitative Study. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(4), 

Jackson, D. (2014). Business graduate performance in oral communication skills and strategies for improvement. The International Journal Of Management Education, 12(1), 22-34.

Kernbach, S., Eppler, M., & Bresciani, S. (2014). 

Monaghan, L. & Goodman, J. (2012). A cultural approach to interpersonal communication.

Salvi, R. & Tanaka, H. (2011). Intercultural interactions in business and management.

Shakiba, E. (2014). How to speak assertively with I statements by Eleanor Shakiba. YouTube.

Thill, J. & Bovée, C. (2013). Excellence in business communication. New York: McGraw-Hill.

van Ginkel, S., Gulikers, J., Biemans, H., & Mulder, M. (2015). 

YouTube,. (2011). Gibb's Supportive and Defensive Climates.