I.

Introduction
The increasing presence of multicultural individuals in organizations underscores the importance

of acquiring cross-cultural skills for effective management and business performance (Thomas,

2008). Cultural differences often serve as the primary cause of conflicts between nations

(Huntington, 1993), highlighting the need to adopt and normalize diverse cultural ideas (Sebree,

2020). This assignment will shed light on my intercultural and professional development during

my time studying and residing in the United Kingdom, drawing on three models applied to

personal experiences to demonstrate my growth in intercultural competence. Additionally, I will

explore how the modules and skills I have acquired thus far have influenced my professional and

personal development plans. Furthermore, I will share insights from my experience of

collaborating within a multicultural group. Ultimately, the conclusion will encompass the key

outcomes achieved throughout my intercultural journey.

II. Emotional Reflexivity

Burkitt (2012)'s concept of emotional reflexivity places a strong focus on our capacity to control

our emotions rather than just acting only on the basis of how we are feeling. It teaches us to

respond with reason as opposed to feeling. It also explains how culture could have affected the

feelings we experience in response to an outside stimuli. One thing I observed about the British

is how reserved and shy they are. In fact, it might be challenging to strike up a conversation with

some of them because many of them are unaccustomed to it and won't pay attention to you. Even

when they are facing difficulties, they might not talk about it but rather stay to themselves and

get unhappy. There was an incidence at my building when a specific individual had been dead

for nearly three months in his unit without anyone being aware of it. When I initially learned

about the event, I was astounded at how someone could die in his home and not be found for
three months (Burkitt, 2012). In contrast to Nigeria, where people search for one another, if he

hadn't heard from anybody after two days, at most a week, someone would have inquired about

him. As I thought about this episode, I experienced a range of feelings, including astonishment

and sadness for the man because of the anguish he must have endured by alone in his apartment

before passing away (Holmes, 2010). I was also upset that he had no relatives or close friends to

check on him. I wondered what he must have done to go unnoticed for such a long time, and I

was also upset that nobody in the apartment noticed that we hadn't been seeing him. Because

back in Nigeria, people believe so strongly in haunted places, especially when someone dies

there, this experience left me feeling extremely depressed and afraid that I wanted to leave that

flat. However, after talking to friends, I felt more at ease since I realized that my desire to leave

was only a result of my feelings and cultural beliefs (Archer, 2007). Even though the incident

occasionally still comes to mind, I finally moved over it. With time, I also grew better at taking

care of individuals. I now routinely check in on them and occasionally visit their homes if I can't

get in touch with them for a long length of time.

III. Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS)

Bennett (1993) established the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS), which

depicts a continuum of six phases during which people improve their cultural competence. These

phases offer a framework for comprehending and improving cross-cultural cooperation and

communication. Denial, the first stage of the DMIS, is characterized by ignorance or a failure to

recognize cultural differences (Bennett, 1993). At this point, people could have ethnocentric

views and think that their own cultural standards are superior. The Defense stage then starts to

take shape, during which people start to see cultural differences as dangers or unsettling elements

(Bennett, 1993). Avoidance, stereotyping, or a strict commitment to one's own cultural standards
can all be symptoms of this stage. In the Minimization stage, cultural distinctions are minimized

and commonality are stressed as people evolve in their development (Bennett, 1993). This step

frequently entails taking on a colorblind viewpoint, presuming that treating everyone equally is

sufficient for fruitful cross-cultural communication. The Acceptance stage then comes next,

during which people start to understand and value cultural differences (Bennett, 1993). They take

part in cultural learning and open up to different viewpoints. Adaptation is the fifth step, when

people deliberately change their behavior and communication methods to fit various cultural

circumstances (Bennett, 1993). This level calls for adaptability and knowledge of other people's

cultural customs. The ultimate level is Integration, where people actively seek out intercultural

connection and truly appreciate cultural variety (Bennett, 1993). At this point, people are capable

of navigating intricate cultural relations and serving as cultural mediators.

The DMIS is important because it fosters self-reflection, facilitates the development of

intercultural competence, and assists people in recognizing their cultural prejudices. Individuals

may evaluate their present degree of intercultural sensitivity and pinpoint opportunities for

improvement by comprehending the stages of the model. In order to improve intercultural

understanding and collaboration, the DMIS places a strong emphasis on cultural learning,

empathy, and adapting communication techniques. The Developmental Model of Intercultural

Sensitivity (DMIS) provides a useful framework for comprehending and fostering cultural

competence, in conclusion. People can advance through the model's stages from ignorance and

ethnocentrism to appreciation and competent intercultural involvement. The DMIS promotes

self-awareness, empathy, and adaptation, empowering people to deal with cultural variety in an

inclusive and respectful manner.

IV. 8Fs of Conscious and Unconscious Responses
The 8Fs framework offers a thorough and all-encompassing method for analyzing human

behavior since it is based on knowledge of conscious and unconscious reactions. This review

attempts to investigate the applicability and importance of the 8Fs in comprehending behavioral

patterns, drawing on the most recent scientific findings in the area. The first of the eight

dimensions of the 8Fs, feelings, highlights the influence of affective states and emotions on

behavior and decision-making. According to Goleman's (1995) study on emotional intelligence,

being aware of one's feelings helps people understand and successfully control their emotional

reactions, which improves communication and decision-making with others. Moving on to the

second component, fears, new research have shown how unconscious worries have an effect on

how people behave. Unresolved worries and anxieties can have a significant impact on behavior

and impede personal development. According to Hendricks (1990), facing these concerns head-

on is essential for people to overcome self-imposed constraints and realize their full potential.

The third dimension, Fantasies, probes the unconscious mind's domain and examines how it

affects behavior. Unconscious imaginations may offer important insights into people's

fundamental drives, wants, and anxieties, according to recent research. People can become more

self-aware and connect their activities with their deeper objectives by looking at and

comprehending these imaginations (Johnson, 2020).

The 8Fs paradigm provides new dimensions, such as Focus, Frames, Feedback, Forces, and Free

Will, that deepen our knowledge of human behavior. These factors, which are validated by the

most recent study findings, add to our understanding of conscious and unconscious reactions and

how they affect behavior. In conclusion, the 8Fs of conscious and unconscious reactions offer a
helpful framework for comprehending behavioral patterns in people. This review illustrates the

importance of the 8Fs in developing self-awareness, controlling emotions, conquering fears, and

aligning actions with ambitions using the most recent research and ideas from several fields. By

embracing these aspects, people may better manage their personal and professional life,

promoting personal development and enhancing their connections with others.

Employability: Core Skills and Competencies

In this section of the essay, I'll talk about how the modules I was taught throughout the academic

year contributed to my professional growth and how well they prepared me for the workplace.

Once more in Nigeria, I started a business soon after starting it. It has since flourished, and I now

employ around 10 people. I first started the business as a means of survival rather than leaving

the house to look for work. However, as the company has developed, I feel that I no longer have

a thorough knowledge of several theoretical business principles, I made the decision to enroll in

a master's program in control and international business in order to provide myself with the

theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to effectively manage and grow my firm.

I was able to learn about business on a global scale as well as the drivers of international

exchange from the international business module, which is a fundamental module for my path. I

also discovered some hypotheses that govern international trade. This module may be very

important to me because, at some point in the distant past, when I was running my business, I

considered selling internationally and on other international e-commerce websites, but I gave up

because I had no knowledge of internationalization and would rather stick with what I knew than

take that big risk. Through the OLI framework covered in this session, I also learned about the

approach a company might take to pursue internationalization and foreign direct investment. I

learned how business operates on a worldwide scale in this module's global business and human
rights topic. I also gained knowledge about how important human rights are in the workplace.

This session broke down the United Nations Guiding Principles and provided me with a

thorough grasp of both the principles and the duties that nations and enterprises have to maintain

them. Additionally, extensive analysis in this subject helped me understand how near businesses

are to guaranteeing that they respect both human rights and the law. This knowledge is also

pertinent to my long-term goal as I prepare for the growth of my business. in the course of the

fundamentals of control module, i used to be taught about the importance of control in an

business enterprise and the roles they play. i used to be capable of study the significance of

placing a clear organisational reason such as the mission, imaginative and prescient, and values

toward motivating personnel which I then used to evaluate my non-public business and observed

it to be a piece lagging. I also learnt the way to carry out both an internal and external enterprise

surroundings evaluation as well as the opposition and the way to build a aggressive gain.

moreover, i used to be taught how to practically clear up commercial enterprise challenges

because the case can be using statistics, verbal exchange and conferences or even mission and

operations management. i used to be able to practice some of these techniques to the case

examine challenge that became given and i now recognize the significance of amassing data as

well as the use of operations control for optimising enterprise approaches to make it extra green.

much like this module become the basics of leadership, however in this example, i was able to

learn about the distinction among a leader and a manager and the affects it has at the motivation

of employees (Nahavandi, 2012). I learnt about several leadership patterns and theories in

addition to their benefits, dangers and suitability. I additionally learnt about abilties that make

sure effective management which include emotional intelligence, communication, and

motivation. i was more interested about the emotional intelligence even though I had heard about
it earlier than now not however no longer in so much info. I enjoyed studying about it and how

it's miles applicable in our normal lives and now not only as leaders and the way it is embedded

in all walks of life in addition to the leadership skills as it affects the ability of a pacesetter to talk

with followers and the behaviours exhibited by way of the leader. As a follower too, emotional

intelligence is crucial to address the leader and associates and even customers within the

administrative center.

What i found thrilling approximately those modules is how they connect to one another such that

some standards are learnt twice and lots better or from other angles. even as the fundamentals of

control taught me about managing a commercial enterprise and its sources, basics of

management made me understand the way to lead the human beings and that coping with assets

is not sufficient to make a business effective and that emotional intelligence is needed for both. I

believe that the modules I learnt have prepared me properly for running a commercial enterprise

successfully.

Group Work Collaboration

My group sessions have been pretty interesting and we would try and understand extra about one

another. as an instance, I observed the communal way of life among the Asians. they'd grown as

much as that norms, and wherever they find themselves, they still maintain to emulate that flock

way of life. i used to be additionally able to examine extensively about cultural variations in

those sessions which brought approximately specific kinds of responses in me. as an instance,

when I learnt approximately Asians marrying their cousins and as though that isn't always

enough, i was more amazed to analyze that even in the Northern parts of Nigeria, cousins marry

one another which made me freeze. however, as a good deal as we have been sharing various

cultural norms, there has been a chinese among us who was very well reserved and while we

attempted to poke him to contribute, he by no means bulged. I notion it became a personality

problem which was why I denied cultural differences through insisting he contributes. but, I later

got to analyze from some other person that the chinese are usually very reserved. standard, the

group sessions have been educative and that i were given to analyze lots of latest matters

approximately other cultures and this made me choose up the dependancy of asking questions

every time I see something new or that doesn't appearance “ordinary” to me.

Conclusion

The know-how received from the worldwide expert has now not best prepared me nicely for the

enterprise surroundings, it has also been beneficial to my personal development. each time i am

meeting a person of every other lifestyle or in a culturally numerous environment, i have learnt

to technique them with an open thoughts whilst anticipating something. also, i've learnt to focus

more on mastering approximately other cultures as i have been making pals with humans of

different cultures just to benefit better cultural focus. This module has taught me a way to be

much less ethnocentric and embrace ethnorelativism as this mind-set will assist me integrate well

into different cultures. similarly, the modules I studied at some stage in the yr were very relevant

closer to my future ambition and my professional development.

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