D235 Task 1 Interprofessional Communication and Leadership in Healthcare Reflection

Student Name

Western Governors University 

D235 Interprofessional Communication and Leadership in Healthcare

Prof. Name

Date

Part One: Working Style

What is your working style based on the energy assessment?

According to my energy assessment, my overall working style reflects a balance of thoughtful exploration, interpersonal enthusiasm, and measured execution. My Explore energy was identified as Deliberate+, indicating that I approach new ideas with intention, curiosity, and a preference for analyzing multiple possibilities before committing to a direction. My Excite energy registered as Abundant+, suggesting that I naturally bring a high degree of enthusiasm, sociability, and emotional engagement to group interactions. The Examine energy, also Deliberate+, aligns with my tendency to analyze details systematically and ensure accuracy before moving forward. Finally, my Execute energy was rated Deliberate, which reflects a moderate ability to implement plans but also indicates that I may proceed more cautiously than others when making definitive decisions.

What are your primary strengths in your working style?

My predominant strength lies in creativity and innovative reasoning. Because I score highest in Explore energy, I have a strong inclination to generate new concepts, imagine alternative pathways, and anticipate long-term implications of decisions. Additionally, I excel in interpersonal engagement. The high Excite energy score reflects a natural ability to energize others, foster positive relationships, and maintain optimism even in challenging situations. I am often able to create a collaborative atmosphere in which others feel welcomed, heard, and motivated. This combination of creativity and interpersonal connection supports my ability to contribute meaningfully in team-based environments and adapt fluidly to changing circumstances.

What challenges do you face in your working style?

Despite these strengths, I experience challenges related to decisiveness and follow-through. My lower Execute energy means that I often hesitate before taking action, particularly when decisions involve uncertainty or incomplete information. I tend to overanalyze potential outcomes, which can lead to delayed responses and, at times, procrastination. This overthinking becomes especially problematic when multiple project pathways exist, creating a sense of overwhelm. As a result, progress may be slower, and I may rely on external structure or deadlines to maintain momentum.

How do you prefer to learn?

My learning preferences are best described as multimodal, with a strong reliance on visual and experiential methods. I learn most effectively when concepts are demonstrated through real-world examples, diagrams, or hands-on activities. Engaging in dialogue with others also helps me process information more deeply, as discussion allows me to refine understanding and connect new ideas to prior knowledge. Purely text-based learning is less effective for me unless paired with interactive or applied elements.

How do your working energies manifest in daily life and teamwork?

In day-to-day settings, my Explore and Excite energies are the most apparent. I often take initiative by seeking ways to support colleagues and streamline tasks. Rather than exerting authority through direct instruction, I prefer to model behaviors, provide support, and encourage others through humor and approachability. In team environments, my natural inclination is to contribute creative ideas, promote collaboration, and maintain group morale. To achieve optimal productivity, I benefit from working with individuals who possess strong Energy and Execute traits—those who bring structure, decisiveness, and organizational rigor. Such partnerships balance my conceptual strengths by ensuring that ideas translate into action.

Working Style Summary Table

Part Two: Communication

Describe a recent communication experience and your role in it.

Recently, during a complex conversation with my wife’s family about longstanding tensions with distant relatives, I assumed the role of clarifying the facts. Because I was less emotionally involved, I asked direct questions to differentiate between assumptions and verifiable information. I encouraged participants to avoid premature conclusions and instead consider whether enough evidence existed to support their interpretations. This approach reflects my broader communication tendency, which lies between sincerity and accuracy on the conversation meter. I prioritize transparency, emotional sensitivity, and fact-based reasoning, striving to maintain constructive dialogue even amid emotionally charged topics.

How do you vary your listening styles?

My listening style fluctuates depending on interpersonal context and emotional setting. In my home environment—particularly with my wife—I aim to demonstrate authentic listening by creating space for meaningful, vulnerable discussions. Although my capacity for authenticity can shift with my emotional state, I am intentional about staying engaged and present. In professional settings, I engage in empathetic yet structured listening. I attempt to contextualize colleagues’ concerns while balancing empathy with the need for objectivity and task accuracy.

Can you provide an example of productive communication at work?

A recent example of constructive communication occurred when my manager addressed an error I made during a documentation process. She delivered the feedback with a balance of sincerity and precision, ensuring that I understood the issue without feeling criticized. Her approach emphasized learning rather than blame, which enabled me to engage openly in the discussion and identify improvements. This interaction reinforced the value of respectful, fact-based communication and highlighted the benefits of pairing accuracy with psychological safety.

What are your general communication tendencies?

Overall, I communicate with a blend of candid honesty and careful accuracy. I naturally incorporate questions, reflective statements, and collaborative language to maintain inclusion and mutual understanding. With close family members, my communication becomes more direct, as I feel comfortable offering unfiltered perspectives—such as encouraging my mother to advocate confidently for herself at work. I prioritize conversations that feel purposeful, sincere, and grounded, and I avoid superficial exchanges that lack clarity or authenticity.

How do you manage challenges in communication?

At times, in an effort to avoid conflict or emotional discomfort, I slip into communication patterns associated with pretense on the conversation meter. This often results in avoidant behavior or diluted messages that do not fully address the issue. Recognizing this, I have begun implementing the ladder of listening, which emphasizes shared purpose and progressive depth in communication. This tool helps me refocus conversations on mutual objectives and reestablish constructive dialogue when tension or misunderstanding arises.

Communication Summary Table

Part Three: Reflection / Hero’s Journey

What were your impressions of the mindfulness exercises?

The mindfulness exercises offered a surprising sense of mental clarity and presence. Engaging in each activity helped reveal the extent of cognitive noise I typically carry throughout the day. By intentionally focusing on one sense at a time, I developed greater awareness of my internal patterns—particularly how quickly my mind shifts between thoughts. This increased awareness also enhanced my understanding of my listening and communication behaviors, revealing several opportunities for improvement.

What challenges did you face with mindfulness and reflection?

One of the primary challenges involved maintaining sustained focus during mindfulness sessions due to frequent distractions and competing responsibilities. Additionally, reflecting on past conversations required revisiting situations I normally prefer to move past quickly. Identifying meaningful dialogue for reflection required conscious effort and emotional vulnerability, making the process both challenging and rewarding.

What did you find most valuable in the course?

The conversation meter emerged as the most influential tool from the course. It provides a framework for intentionally shaping interactions rather than responding automatically. By understanding how conversations drift between cycles of fear, avoidance, and value, I am more aware of my role in guiding discussions toward curiosity, collaboration, and shared meaning. This mindset encourages more mindful communication and reduces reactive tendencies.

How does Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs relate to your profession?

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is highly applicable to healthcare practice—particularly nursing. It serves as a foundation for prioritizing patient care by ensuring that physiological and safety needs are addressed before attempting to support higher-level needs such as emotional well-being, confidence, and self-actualization. This framework strengthens clinical judgment by ensuring that interventions align with the patient’s most immediate state of need.

How might you share these insights with your family?

I hope to introduce my family to basic mindfulness strategies because they require very little time yet offer noticeable benefits. Demonstrating brief activities may help them manage stress, improve communication, and cultivate personal reflection. Additionally, encouraging them to complete the energy dynamics assessment could help them better understand their tendencies, strengths, and limitations—ultimately improving how we collaborate and support one another.

What habits and skills do you want to maintain or improve?

Moving forward, I intend to establish a consistent daily mindfulness routine, using short morning exercises to ground myself before engaging with digital devices or daily responsibilities. I also plan to continue leveraging the listening leader tool to periodically evaluate the quality of my listening during conversations. Another major goal is to regulate my biological stress reactions more effectively, shifting from appeasement toward a more balanced, assertive communication style that supports authenticity and self-advocacy.

Reflection Summary Table

References

Brownell, J. (2012). Listening: Attitudes, principles, and skills (5th ed.). Pearson.

Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396.

D235 Task 1 Interprofessional Communication and Leadership in Healthcare Reflection

Rogers, C. R., & Farson, R. E. (1957). Active listening. In Communications in Business Today (pp. 49–53). D.C. Heath and Company.

Wittenbaum, G. M., & Stasser, G. (1996). Management of information in decision-making groups: Exchange patterns and outcomes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(6), 1300–1311.