Looking Back and Learning... More -Jill Johnson

As the end of the semester, I hope to be leaving the Brussels program confident that I have learned something. In my last post, I talked about adaptation, and learning to assimilate into a new culture and working environment. Hand in hand with adaptation, communication I found to be a skill I developed over the course of my – partial- semester abroad.

Whether communication meant drafting the right email, or asking the right question, or realizing expectations its importance in the workplace cannot be understated. Earlier in the semester, I wrote on how communication at work was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflecting upon the experience at its close, clear and effective communication saw g4g through a period of otherwise disastrous circumstances. Without the establishment of clear and concise communication, along with our frequent zoom meetings, I found it easy to assimilate into work and get back into the groove of things.

Even before the pandemic separated us, the communication at g4g was a pivotal part of what made our atelier function. A large part of my internship day to day was helping to make sure communication ran smoothly between the members of the international board of directors, our fearless leader Melissa, and our team in the Atelier. It seemed like a small part of my day most days, but looking back it was an important part of my job.

The crisis delayed the first of these meetings, and the maintenance of thorough communication during the crisis can be attributed to its success.

I decided to revisit the topic of communication because at the time of my last entry, the situation was still evolving, and we were still reacting to the crisis as it changed. Now that the situation is beginning to pass, and life is returning to normal I am beginning to see communication begin to fade as the rest of the team returns to the Atelier. Even though my internship is drawing to a close, and the world is returning to normal, I feel the pandemic has shone a light on the importance of both personal and workplace communication.

Effectively communicating is a vitally important part of success in the office. Even though my time at g4g is coming to an end, I was able to develop communication skills there that will carry over into future jobs.