Gabriela Febles- Reflection #1

 My Experience with Group Presentations

Written by Gabriela Febles

Group presentations are something we'll all have to face at some point in school, and they're not always easy. But for this assignment, I got to see both the good and the frustrating sides, and it ended up teaching me way more than I expected.

I'll be honest, when I first heard we had to present in groups for our communications class, I felt that mix of excitement and dread. Group projects can either be a dream or a disaster, and it really depends on who you're working with. Luckily for me, being part of Group 2 turned out to be pretty smooth and a fun experience (well, for the most part).

Our theme was "Communicating in Groups", which was super fitting considering, well... that we were living it. The research itself was pretty easy and straightforward. It was actually kind of fun diving into all the different types of groups, like work groups, family groups, and virtual ones too. Seeing how each of them function in their own way was interesting too. I already had some experience working in groups before, but this made me think a lot more deeply how they're structured and how communication plays such a huge role in keeping things running smoothly.

Example of a group communicating.

A big reason our project went well was because of our group manager Zachary. Seriously, he was amazing to work with. He was always available when we needed him and he really knew his stuff when it came to the topic. Having someone like that Ade everything feel more organized, and it definitely took some of the pressure off. Most of the group members were great too. Everyone brought something different to the table. That said, there were a few people who didn't really respond much, didn't show much interest and were always "busy", and it kind of showed when we were presenting. They seemed a little lost or unsure, which was frustrating, but it didn't drag down the whole experience.

One of the coolest parts for me was seeing how our group moved through the stages we were literally presenting on, like forming, storming, norming, performing, and all that. It's kind of wild to realize how accurate that model is. We started out just trying to figure out who was going to do what, then had a few bumps along the way, which made all of us working super nervous, but having my group there helped a ton. It's different when you know people have your back.

Now, watching the other groups was also really eye opening. Even though I don't remember every little detail from their presentation (I mean, no ones perfect), I do remember the overall vibe and how well they handled their topics.

Group 1

Group 1 tackled intercultural communications, which I thought was super relevant to everyday life. They brown down how different cultures communicate, and honestly, it made me think about how often we misinterpret people just because we're coming from a different background. They touched on things like race, religion, gender roles, and how those can influence how people speak and understand each other. One part that stuck out was how they explained high-context vs. low-context cultures. Basically, how some people rely more on body language and tone, while others are all about direct words. It made me reflect on how I communicate with people from different cultures without even realizing there's a gap there.

Group 3

Group 3 focused on Leadership and problem solving in groups, which was honestly so packed with good information. They went over leadership styles like autocratic, democratic, transformational, and servant leadership, and it made me think about all the different types of "leaders" ive had in the past classes or even at work. I liked that they didn't just talk about the leader being one person in charge but highlighted how leadership is really shared. Everyone in a group can step up depending on their strengths, and that hit home because I definitely saw that happen in our group too. Their part about handling meetings and how to solve problems as team also gave me some ideas I'll probably use later on in the future, especially if I end up in a team-heavy job. 

Even though I didn't get to talk to every single person from the other groups, I could tell there was effort and thought put into their presentations. It was cool seeing how different groups approached their topics, and it kind of gave me a behind-the-scenes look at how other people work together too. Like, who leads, who speaks the most, who handles the tech. Just stuff you notice when you're up there doing it yourself.

One thing I really appreciated from this whole experiencenwas getting to know people I might not have talked to otherwise. Some of my group members were just classmates before this, but now I feel a little closer with them. We've been through brainstorming sessions on FaceTime, last minute slide edits, and stage fright together, and that bonds you in a weird but cool way. 

I also learned a lot more about how groups actually function. It's easy to say "communicating is important", but doing it is another story. Especially with a bunch of people who have different schedules, personalities, and strengths. I saw firsthand how lack of communication can lead to confusion, how shared leadership can make things run smoother, and how being accountable doesn't just help the group, it helps you grow too.

Looking back, even the scary parts like sitting infant of the class on zoom were worth it. I came out of this more confident, more aware, and a lot more appreciative of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into a good group presentation. It's not just about getting the slides done. It's about how you get there together.

Each group had something unique to offer. Group 1 made me more mindful of cultural differences, and group 3 reminded me how important shared leadership and structure are. Altogether, the presentations gave me a full picture of how teams really work.