Alicia Amador - Reflection 1 Group 1

Communication, Culture, and Leadership

Listening to these presentations made me feel both inspired and reflective. Each presentation explored topics that weren’t just relevant to communication, they were personally meaningful to me. As I listened, I found myself connecting the lessons to my own life experiences. Chapter 3 covered "Intercultural Communication", which my group presented and I mainly focused on how culture, gender, socioeconomic status, and generational identity influence the way we express ourselves and interact with others. Next, Chapter 9 covered "Communicating in Groups", which explored the different types of groups we participate in, what makes a group healthy or dysfunctional, and how group development impacts teamwork. Lastly, Chapter 10 covered "Group Leadership and Problem Solving", which broke down the styles and responsibilities of leadership, and the step by step process of how to solve problems effectively in group settings. Each of the chapters had their own powerful message, but they all came together to show one important message. That communication is shaped by identity, influenced by your environment, and strengthened through connection. These presentations made me more aware of the way I show up in group settings, how I can be more inclusive, and collaborative moving forward. 

Chapter 3: Intercultural Communication 

This chapter my group presented and it really opened my eyes to how identity like sex, gender, class, age, and race affects how we speak, listen, and relate to others. I learned that communication styles are deeply rooted in culture. For example, eye contact means confidence in the U.S., but it could mean disrespect in other cultures and places. I also learned the difference between sex and gender, sex refers to the biological attributes one's born with while gender refers to the social and cultural behaviors associated with your perceived sex. Lastly, I understood how traditional roles can impact how people express themselves. 

The part about socioeconomic status really hit home. It made me reflect on how kids from lower income families are often taught to be more reserved or obedient, not because they’re less capable, but because of cultural norms. On the other hand, wealthier raised kids are taught to speak up. It made me think about how much of our communication is shaped by access, not just personality. 

I appreciated how this presentation was more than just academic it was personal. Everyone in the group brought real examples from their backgrounds. I liked how the presentation emphasized empathy and awareness as skills we can develop to be better communicators. It would’ve been interesting to touch more on code switching, which is how people adjust their language or tone depending on who they’re talking to, which is something I do all the time in English and Spanish. As a Hispanic woman with a lower middle class background, I’ve experienced firsthand how gender expectations and lack of resources shaped how comfortable I feel speaking up in groups. I wasn’t raised to challenge authority, but I’ve learned to find my voice. This chapter made me more aware of the cultural "scripts" I follow and how I can both respect them and still grow past them. 

Chapter 9: Communicating in Groups 

This chapter focused on the different types of groups for example, family, social, support, service, work, virtual. Another note the chapter included were the phases of group development like forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Lastly, the chapter focused on what makes a group healthy or dysfunctional. The biggest takeaway was that group communication is more than dividing tasks it’s about trust, norms, and shared effort. The discussion on group norms was an eye opener, I realized that many unspoken rules in groups like who leads and who stays quiet can influence whether a group succeeds or struggles. 

The real life examples the group presented were really fun and relatable. Their examples included using “Sex and the City” to explain social groups, or clips from “The Big Bang Theory” to explain group norms. It made the lesson stick, and it reminded me that group dynamics exist everywhere, not just in school. I would’ve liked a bit more guidance on how to recover from unhealthy group experiences, like when you’ve been the only one doing the work or when there’s tension that never got resolved. Do you just move on, do you confront them, do you forgive them, do you replace them, do you tell a supervisor?

I’ve been in both healthy and unhealthy groups. As someone who didn’t always have access to structured team projects growing up, I had to learn teamwork the hard way by taking on too much and burning out. Now I know it’s okay to set boundaries and expect mutual effort. Communication isn’t just about speaking, it’s also about creating space for others to show up too. 

Chapter 10: Group Leadership and Problem Solving 

This chapter highlighted how leadership is not always about having authority, but how it can be shared. I learned about different leadership styles for example,autocratic, democratic, servant, etc., and how task, maintenance, and procedural roles all are factors to group success. We also explored the 6 step problem solving process, from identifying root causes to evaluating outcomes. 

The concept of situational leadership stuck with me, it means that the leader understands when to take charge and when to support based on what the team needs.I liked how much emphasis was placed on self awareness. We were encouraged to reflect on which group roles we naturally take on, whether that’s being a seeker, supporter, analyzer, or gatekeeper. It made me realize that I’ve taken on multiple roles before, sometimes by choice, and sometimes out of necessity. The examples the group used and presented were strong from video games like World of Warcraft to group fundraising to class projects. It showed how leadership shows up in both small and big moments. I also appreciated how they emphasized self awareness asking, "Which leadership role fits you best?" 

More connections between culture and leadership would have added depth, like how leadership expectations can vary in collectivist versus individualist cultures. I didn’t always see myself as a leader because I thought leaders had to be the loudest in the room. But this chapter helped me recognize that leadership can look like encouragement, planning, and support, things I already do. As someone from a background where I didn’t get much guidance, becoming a dependable team member and informal leader is something I’m proud of. 

Final Thoughts

All three chapters taught me that communication is power, but it’s also a responsibility. Whether we’re talking about cultural identity, working in teams, or leading others, being a better communicator starts with listening, learning, and being honest about who we are. As someone who's had to learn to navigate different cultures between Hispanic traditions, American school systems, and group dynamics I see now how communication is the bridge that brings those worlds together. I might not have grown up with the best resources, but I’ve got experience, heart, and a growing voice. And that matters.