Eduardo Vidal-Post 1

Blog 1

    Eduardo Vidal 

    

I have always been nervous when having to do a presentation, but doing the presentation as a group made it feel much easier. Each member of the group brought their own unique perspective on our group’s topic, my group, group 1 presented Intercultural Communication. The collaborative nature of group presentations allowed us to tap into a pool of knowledge and ideas. Each member in the group picked a part of the chapter they wanted to divulge into and transferred the knowledge from the chapter into their own words to the other groups. One part of the chapter I found most intriguing was co-cultures, it tells us how many different smaller cultures coexist with one another inside a society run mainly by dominant cultures. Other parts of our chapter included race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and age. Intercultural communication skills were highlighted as an aspect. The discussion delved into the concepts of individualism and collectivism shedding light on how these cultural factors shape communication styles and perspectives. Furthermore the presentation touched upon the notions of time, in communication and power dynamics, which opened my eyes to the differences, in how time and authorities perceived across different cultures.. All these topics were talked about deeply and showed how all these factors come into play when communicating with someone. The presentation gave me a better understanding of intercultural communication and how it is essential to have some knowledge when communicating with people of diverse backgrounds.

 

Group 2 was to do Chapter 9, Communicating In Groups. The group demonstrated a deep understanding of the subject matter. They skillfully navigated the intricacies of group dynamics, addressing topics such as effective communication styles, active listening, conflict resolution, and the importance of non-verbal cues. It was evident that they had invested a deal of effort into their collaboration. Also served as a real-life example of effective communication, within a group. One aspect of the presentation that stood out to me was the discussion, about how communication works in groups. In todays world this is a factor to consider. Thinking about how technology can either help or hinder group communication made me realize the importance of adapting to these ways of interacting and working together. It emphasized the value of having communication skills, which are becoming more and more essential in our interconnected society. The presentation also delved into the difficulties encountered in group communication, including misunderstandings, conflicts and misinterpretations. Then avoiding these challenges the speakers openly addressed them. Offered valuable insights on how to handle and minimize their impact. This honest approach emphasized the significance of being self-aware and empathetic when navigating group dynamics. I really gained a lot from watching this group presentation, about communication within groups. It gave me insights into how to communicate and made me appreciate the importance of creating open, respectful and collaborative dynamics in a group. It showed me how powerful teamwork and effective communication can be in achieving shared goals.

 

Group 3 was tasked with Chapter 10, Group leadership and Problem Solving. They began by defining the key concepts of group leadership and problem solving, providing a solid foundation to build upon. As they delved deeper into the subject matter, they seamlessly transitioned between different aspects, ensuring a smooth flow of ideas. This well-structured approach made it easy to follow with their presentation. Understanding the elements of group leadership and problem solving involves grasping the roles of task, maintenance and procedural aspects. It also entails recognizing the shared responsibilities that come with leadership effective meeting guidelines and systematic steps, for addressing problems; identifying them analyzing them determining criteria generating solutions, evaluating options making decisions implementing actions and evaluating the chosen solution. These concepts improve leadership skills and group member performance. Also foster clear and persuasive communication of ideas and proposals. In our journey, through life we often come across obstacles and disagreements within teams. It's incredibly valuable to have the skills to address them in a manner. The presentation provided approaches to assess the effectiveness of groups. How these approaches can improve team performance as a whole. This part was especially relevant because it gave me tools to resolve conflicts within group environments both in my studies and my professional career.

 

In conclusion, the three groups did a nice job of presenting their topics which made the experience both productive and enjoyable. I learned about how different cultures effect our communication, as well as how a group can function when communicating even with some differences and also how to take charge as a group leader when problems come along that may affect the groups performance  look forward to applying the knowledge I gained from my groups work and the other groups to not only the rest of my college career, but as well as other aspects of life.