Leading from Behind the Scenes -Erika Navarro

 Project Manager: Erika Navarro 

Leading from Behind the Scenes

When I first took on the role of Project Manager for our class presentation, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew I wouldn’t be the one designing slides or speaking for the majority of the presentation, but I figured I’d just be “coordinating things” in the background. What I didn’t realize was how much that behind-the-scenes work would teach me, not just about leadership and communication, but also about how to manage group dynamics, solve problems, and help others shine. This project really opened my eyes to what it means to be an effective team player, especially in a supportive role.

My main responsibilities as project manager included guiding my group members through their tasks, helping them find the information they needed, keeping track of deadlines, and making sure our meetings and conversations were productive. I also helped resolve disagreements and acted as the bridge between different perspectives when they came up. One of the things I really enjoyed was introducing and concluding our group presentations, I may not have had a full section to present, but those bookend moments helped me feel connected to the final product in a meaningful way.

We worked on presentations based on Chapters 3, 9, and 10. Even though I didn’t directly build the PowerPoint slides, I read through all the material carefully so I could be a useful resource to my teammates. Each chapter brought something different to the table, and all three tied directly into the work I was doing as a project manager.

Chapter 3: Intercultural Communication

For Chapter 3, which covered intercultural communication, I presented the conclusion. This chapter dove into how people from different cultural backgrounds interact, and how things like values, language, and communication styles can vary across cultures. We learned about concepts like individualism vs. collectivism, high-context vs. low-context cultures, and things like code-switching and culture shock.

To wrap up this presentation, I talked about whether the U.S. is a melting pot or a salad bowl—a classic debate when discussing cultural integration. In a melting pot, cultures blend together into one “uniform” identity, while in a salad bowl, different cultures coexist but still retain their unique qualities. I used this Vimeo video to spark the conversation. It made us think about how cultural diversity actually looks in real life, especially in places like classrooms, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

What I really enjoyed about this part was how relatable it was. We all have different cultural experiences, and being able to bring that into the presentation made it feel real. It also helped our group appreciate where each of us was coming from in our own communication styles—some were more direct, some more cautious, and we all brought something different to the table.

Melting Pot Versus Salad Bowl

Chapter 9: Communicating in Groups

Chapter 9 was all about “group communication” and the different types of groups we interact with. It broke down how healthy groups function, the roles people play, and the stages groups go through, like forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. These ideas felt very relevant while working with my group because we definitely went through those stages.

In the beginning, we were in the “forming” stage, just figuring out who was going to do what and how we were going to work together. Pretty quickly, we hit the “storming” stage, where not everyone agreed on how to divide the work. There weren’t any major conflicts, but there were definitely moments where people felt unsure or had different ideas. That’s where I had to step in and help mediate, reminding everyone of our shared goal and suggesting compromises. Once we settled into our roles, we moved into the “norming” and “performing” stages, where everything started to click.

The chapter also emphasized the importance of “cohesiveness, accountability, and interdependence. I saw this in action when group members started checking in with each other, offering help, and making sure no one felt left behind. Watching those connections form, and knowing I helped encourage them, was really satisfying.

Chapter 10: Group Leadership and Problem Solving

For Chapter 10, I also handled the conclusion—and I loved this one because it gave me a chance to talk about something that really resonated with me: the power of followers in shaping a leader. The chapter covered different types of leadership, formal and informal, as well as shared leadership roles like task, maintenance, and procedural roles. A lot of what I was doing during the project fell into the procedural and maintenance categories, which helped me relate to the content personally.

To finish this chapter, I used the famous Derek Sivers TED Talk, “How to Start a Movement.” It’s a short and entertaining video that shows a guy dancing alone at a festival, and how the real shift happens when the second person joins in. Suddenly, others follow, and soon there’s a whole crowd. The video’s message is simple but powerful: leaders are important, but movements are made by followers who support and believe in the vision.

This tied in perfectly with our group experience. I may have had the “project manager” label, but my leadership would’ve meant nothing without the rest of the team. Everyone stepped up, taking initiative, asking for help when needed, that’s what made our projects successful. It reminded me that good leaders don’t just give orders, they create space for others to lead too.

How start a movement

Reflecting on the Experience

Looking back, I can say I really enjoyed the experience, even more than I thought I would. At first, I worried that I wouldn’t feel involved enough since I wasn’t doing the slides or presenting a major section. But it turned out that I was very involved, just in a different way. I was the person people came to when they needed help.

I also got to watch my group members grow more confident in their presentations, and that was amazing to see. I think the most satisfying moment was watching the final presentation come together. It felt like all the little pieces, every text message, every reminder, every check-in, added up to something meaningful. I was proud of what we accomplished together.

If I had to do this again, I definitely would.  More than anything, I’d keep showing up for my teams in the same way, quietly, consistently, and with the goal of helping everyone do their best.