Reflection

             Communication is a means of interaction between people. On the other hand, culture shares beliefs, values, worldviews, attitudes, and customs. Communication cuts across all people as a basic character, ability, and skill. However, there are numerous cultures across the world. Culture has a great influence on communication. Culture shapes how people interpret and react to different communication patterns. Also, how people communicate with one another greatly affects culture. As time progresses, culture and people change, but ways of communication remain rigid. The latter factor means that communication plays a critical role in how people and culture integrate. Since people primarily react to how things are said more than what is said. Changing how we communicate with one another would have a key effect on influencing how people and their cultures integrate.

            To develop intercultural competence, the first basic thing should be familiarizing people with different cultures. For a first globalizing world, it is not enough for people to be only familiar with culture within their region. There is a great need for all people to understand and recognize all cultures. A culturally diverse and integrated world constitutes a progressive and first-growing society. Understanding the different cultures among people is a good starting point for creating respective and informed interactions. The latter factor constitutes good communication and genuine bonds and relationships. 

            Groups constitute of few member individuals. Compared to culture, groups are small-scaled factions among people. Since groups are made of few individuals, it is easy to get close and up close with the individuals present. Communication within a small group is quite manageable, thus calling for a few requirements to create an effective, inclusive and healthy group. Every member should have an equal chance to participate and contribute to the group's activity within a group. Every member within a group should have the same right, freedoms, and privileges. One of the basic goals of groups is to create better efficiency and an environment for everyone to thrive. Within a group, individual and collective goals should be met and honored. 

            Many people are familiar with the phrase, which states that the family of the basic social institution. The latter factor is because, at birth, one becomes a member of a particular bloodline by default. A family is, therefore, a formal social group. However, there are other types and classifications of groups. The said groups include references and membership groups, co-active and face-to-face groups, democratic and autocratic groups, out-groups and in-groups, informal and formal groups, and secondary and primary groups. 

            Conflict within groups is inevitable. Conflict within groups results from the faulted nature of human character and interaction. Acknowledging conflict as a part of group interaction works in understanding and creating means of settling conflicts in a group. Since all group members share the same rights, freedoms, and privileges, the conflicting parties should have an equal chance and opportunity to present their grievances. All participating members within the said groups should also have equal chances to address the issue at hand. The conflicting member should then create a memorandum of association approved and agreed upon by all participating members.   

            A group's leadership plays a significant role in conflict and conflict resolution. First, a group's leadership should not take any sides during the conflict. The responsibility of a group’s leadership is to participate freely and fairly during conflict resolution and ensure that all rules of conflict mediation are met and followed. A group's leadership's final responsibility is to ensure that all the conflict conclusions are met and adhered to.

            All members involved in a group have shared leadership responsibilities since that share common rights, freedoms, and privileges. Every group member has the responsibility and right to step up their role when it calls for. It is also the members’ responsibility to check those who overstep the boundaries set for the groups and call out for responsibility and accountability. A group’s leadership responsibility is not checked, it is easy for the said group to miss or move away from the intended purpose and goals.             

References

Deeksha D (2020). Group: meaning, nature, and characteristics. Psychology Discussion. https://www.psychologydiscussion.net/social-psychology-2/group-behavior/group-meaning-nature-and-characteristics-psychology/1334

Vijai Giri (2006). Culture and Communication Style. Taylor $ Francis Group. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15358590600763391?journalCode=rroc20#:~:text=Culture%20plays%20an%20important%20role,culture%20and%20communication%20are%20interdependent.