I am at the end of Communication in Business subject and now I need help with writing Reflection Journal (2000+ words, around 670 words for each aspect.)

I am a married individual with two children, aged 5 and 13. Our family operates a business where my husband oversees primary responsibilities, while I hold an office position. In my role, I am tasked with document-related responsibilities, coordinating with contractors, and maintaining communication with our employees. The challenge lies in balancing these professional duties with the demands of motherhood, especially when it comes to communicating with my pre-teenage daughter.

Additionally, I am currently pursuing a university degree. My current assignment involves crafting a reflection journal that encompasses three critical aspects:

1. How the readings, class activities, discussions observations and lectures have changed how you communicate at work or life. Choose 3 different topics to demonstrate via real examples as to how the topics have impacted or will impact my communication skills. Lectures are not topics, topics can be emotional intelligence, assertiveness, active listening, Pierstley's Paradox.......
2. The things your assignment group did well or not so well and consider what you could do to improve in future group work - make sure you use terminology taught in the lecture on Groups and Teams. For example - synergy, group think, cohesiveness, one of the group formation stages, social loafing, team roles etc. We did group report and group presentation and overall, I'm pleased to report that my group assignment has been relatively successful:

• The things my assignment group did well
• We communicated effectively with each other, and we were able to resolve any communication problems that arose.
• We were able to work together efficiently, and we achieved our goals in a timely manner
• we established clear goals and expectations from the beginning of the assignment to ensure everyone is on the same page using Notion Application which is a single space where you can think, write, and plan. Capture thoughts, manage projects
• We were respectful of each other's ideas and opinions, and we were able to reach a consensus on approaches to tackle the group assignments.
• The things my assignment group did not so well
• We could have been more prepared and organised for the group presentation (we had not practice our group presentation before the actual day but that was not that bad but could have been better that that).
• 3. How you will go from here to become a better communicator
• Select 3 topics
• Following three areas where I want further develop and enhance my communication skills for future growth:\
• I plan to invest more time in thoughtful consideration before articulating my thoughts, ensuring that my words are well-chosen and coherent.
• I will pay greater attention to my tone of voice, ensuring it aligns with the message I intend to convey. I have noted that speaking too loudly in serious conversations can hinder understanding and engagement.
• I aim to enhance my conflict management skills

Lecture 1: Communication Today

• Explain the difference between communication and communications
• Priesttley's paradox
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of various communication models (Written, Spoken, Non-verbal and Graphic/visual)
• Explain why communication breaks down and why it succeeds
• Explain the limitations of communication processes
• Strategies to avoid barriers

Lecture 2:Interpersonal Skills 1 & 2

• Explain how listening differs from hearing, 4 listening skills (Attending listening, Encouraging listening, Reflecting listening and Active listening)
• Give at reasons why listening has value in personal and professional situations
• Types of questions, and the value of them in particular situations
• Effective and ineffective feedback strategies
• Use the feedback sequence to express evaluative views
• Use the Johari window concept to become more effective in communicating with others
• Difference between body language and nonverbal communication
• Importance of clustering and congruence for understandingand avoiding misunderstanding nonverbal communication
• Different aspects of nonverbal communication such as gesture, posture, body movement, touch, eye contact, paralinguistics, environment and time
• Emotional intelligence and emotional competence
• Identify various examples of negative and positive self-talk
• Understand and use a range of assertive verbal skills

Lecture 3:Group and Team Communication

• Identify the reasons why people join and leave groups
• Explain the concepts of synergy and social loafing
• Explain the dynamics of roles and norms within groups
• Identify different phases or stages of group development
• Define real and perceived differences between groups and teams
• Explain the similarities and differences between sports teams and work teams
• Explain the strengths and weaknesses of work teams
• Explain the strengths and weaknesses of virtual teams
• Explain the types of communication skills that can best be deployed in groups and teams

Lecture 4:Reports and Essay Writing

• Explain the differences and similarities between formats, types or sub-genres of reports
• Explain the differences and similarities between reports and essays
• Explain why documents need to contain an appropriate balance of information and persuasion
• Demonstrate competence in writing a longer, analytical research report
• Explain the differences between reports and submissions, proposals and tenders
• List at least three criteria of excellence in critical thinking as expressed in academic writing
• Explain the difference between fact & opinion, & explain why it is necessary to use both in essay writing
• Identify sources of bias & imbalance in the presentation of an argument
• Explain structural & layout features of the essay form
• Explain the importance of thesis statements & topic sentences
• Identify at least six major faults in poor essay writing

Lecture 5:Oral CommunicationAnd Presentation Skills

• Explain the differences between communicating a message in speech and in writing
• Recommend different strategies for communicating orally with different types of audiences
• Identify approaches to planning and structuring oral communication exercises
• Discuss at least five different approaches to managing stress in oral communication situations
• Describe nonverbal communication associated with effective speaking
• Describe effective voice production factors
• Recommend appropriate audiovisual aids to support oral communication performances
• Apply an evaluation model to effectiveness in oral communication performance.

Lecture 6:Lead and develop teamsand individuals

• Discuss the features of transformational, transactional and authentic leadership
• Describe the sources of a leader's power and five drivers that build trust between a leader and team members
• Describe the task-related and maintenance-related team functions and outline the features of team-based leadership
• Discuss diversity and how to utilize differences to benefit both the workplace and the individual
• Determine team development needs, choose appropriate learning and development activities, monitor and evaluate workplace learning.

Lecture 7:Negotiation Skills

• Explain why negotiation is not always the preferred mode for resolving a situation of conflict or disagreement
• Explain the nature of win-lose and win-win dynamics in conflicts
• Understand the value of research
• Define goals, bottom lines, and concessions, positions and interests
• Determine whether territory and time scarcity or abundance is relevant in negotiation
• Assess the role of publics or stakeholders in negotiation
• Understand how to package offers in negotiation
• Work better as an individual or as a member of a team in a negotiation situation
• Understand the role of non-verbal communication and signalling in negotiation
• Use listening skills, questioning skills and persuasive skills in negotiations
• Understand the role of culture and gender in negotiations
• Understand the importance of personal styles in negotiation
• Identify and use strategies and tactics in negotiations
• Identify and effectively use communication channels in negotiation situations
• Create an effective plan for a variety of negotiations situations

Lecture 8:Conflict Management

• Describe the pros and cons of conflict
• Explain the causes of conflict
• List different approaches to conflict
• Explain five different styles of conflict-handling
• Describe the phases of a conflict spiral
• Give an account of the causes of organisational conflict
• Explain various solutions to conflict situations
• Describe the nature of the stalemate, impasse or deadlock, and why such static processes can sometimes be useful
• Explain why conflict sometimes needs to be created
• Explain the difference between dysfunctional and functional conflict