Reflection

This project and course was key in developing my communication skills within a leadership capacity. Firstly, I learned that one must be able to locate, evaluate and incorporate important information in stressful scenarios and in day-to-day communications with employees. Next, I learned the need to convey information clearly, cogently and correctly through media such as Powerpoint, both to those with specialty backgrounds (i.e., IT leadership) and those without (i.e., secretary). Overall, this course has helped me to understand the value of effective and ineffective communication and the impact it could have on emergency situations.

         When I consider the relevance, with recent cyberattacks happening at larger Toronto hospitals and the initial unknowns of the pandemic, my skills from other emergency management courses in this program and the communication lessons gained from this course would be significant in handling these scenarios. High-stake situations also garner press and public opinion, so it is important to communicate accurately, completely and in honest form to set an organization up to complete the necessary steps to address the situation and focus on an effective resolution.