Erik Munoz - Reflection #1

 Erik Munoz

Reflection #1 Blog 




                                                                      Introduction 

Communication is more than just talking it's how we connect, solve problems, share ideas, and get through things together. During our class presentations, each group tackled a different side of communication, and the whole experience showed me that working in a group isn’t just about getting the assignment done. It’s about learning how to deal with different personalities, how to be flexible, and how to bring your own strengths to the table while also depending on others.

My group focused on families and education, and through working together, I realized how much communication plays a role not just in the topic itself but in how we communicated as a group. Everyone was versatile in their own way of some people took charge, others kept the vibe positive, and some handled the details and it all came together. That’s the kind of stuff you don’t always get from just reading a textbook. You learn it by doing.

For my group, working on the “Families and Education” presentation with my group was honestly a different kind of experience. Not only did I learn a lot from the chapter, but I also learned a lot about how we all work as a team. At first, it was a little unorganized like most group projects are. People were still figuring out what parts to take and how to divide the work. But eventually, we found a good rhythm, and I think that happened because everyone brought something different to the group.

                                              Group 1 - Chapter 3: Intercultural Communication

Group 1chapter focused on how communication shows up in family structures, parenting styles, and education systems. One thing that stood out to me was how much of our communication habits actually start at home. How we grow up how our parents talk to us, how they teach us, and how we’re encouraged to speak up or stay quiet, all of that shapes how we communicate with others later in life. We also looked into how education systems either help or hurt communication, depending on how teachers interact with students or how classrooms are set up.

Personally, I got to see what role I naturally take in a group. I helped organize, gave input when we were stuck, and tried to keep things moving. It made me realize I can be a dependable team player when I actually focus and the group vibe is right. We were all versatile, adjusting to each other’s strengths and weaknesses. That’s probably one of the biggest things I’ll take away from this how learning to communicate while working together is a skill that matters way beyond school.

                                          Group 3 - Chapter 10: Group Leadership & Problem Solving

So, this presentation focused on leadership and how people solve problems when working in groups. It honestly tied in perfectly with what my group talked about.

They went into different leadership styles like autocratic, democratic, transformational, servant, and laissez-faire. What stood out to me was how no one style is automatically right or wrong it depends on the situation and the group. I thought about how in real life, I’ve seen all of these. Like, some teachers are super autocratic they run the whole show and don’t take feedback. Others are more democratic and actually ask students what works for them.

They also explained the Five Whys Technique, which is basically asking “why?” over and over until you get to the real cause of a problem. That made me laugh a little, cause it felt like being interrogated, but it also made sense. Most problems don’t start with the thing you first notice it’s deeper. Like if someone didn’t do their part, it might not be that they’re lazy maybe they didn’t know what to do because no one explained it clearly.

Something I think is super underrated is that they brought up crisis leadership. We don’t think about leadership until stuff hits the fan, but in real life, those are the moments that show who’s solid. Seeing names like Zelenskyy and Obama in their slides made me think about how people in power really shape how others feel, act, and survive when things get hard.

                                           Group 2 - Chapter 9: Communicating in groups

Since this was my group's focus topic, I found myself particularly engaged with Chapter 9's exploration of communication in collaborative settings. The content resonated deeply as it mirrored my own experiences whether in academic projects, professional teams, or even casual friend groups trying to coordinate plans.

The chapter's breakdown of informal group roles was especially illuminating. Beyond formal titles, every group seems to develop its own ecosystem with natural archetypes: the decisive leader, the mediator who maintains harmony, the diligent contributor who carries the workload, and unfortunately, the absent "ghost" member. This framework prompted me to reflect on my own participation style, revealing that I tend to oscillate between being task-focused and playing a coordinating role ensuring both progress and alignment among members.

A particularly impactful section addressed groupthink and flawed decision-making processes. The concept of artificial consensus where members agree superficially to avoid conflict struck a personal chord. I recognized my own tendency in past projects to prioritize harmony over meaningful contribution. However, through both the chapter's insights and our group's collaborative experience, I've come to value authentic dialogue over convenient agreement. The temporary discomfort of voicing dissenting perspectives ultimately leads to better outcomes than the lingering dissatisfaction of unspoken concerns.

Most importantly, this experience has helped me recognize and appreciate the hallmarks of truly effective teamwork. When all members engage authentically in an atmosphere of mutual respect, communication flows organically and the work process becomes rewarding rather than taxing. While such ideal collaborations may be rare, they serve as valuable benchmarks for what group work can achieve. This chapter didn't just present theoretical concepts it provided practical lenses through which to understand and improve my own collaborative behaviors, transforming how I approach teamwork in both academic and personal contexts.

The key takeaway? Quality group communication requires both self-awareness and collective effort, but when achieved, creates outcomes far superior to what any individual could produce alone. This understanding will undoubtedly influence my approach to future collaborations.

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