Group Discussions

What is Group Discussion?

Organisations use GD as a methodology to guage the candidate’s personality traits and skills. In a GD a group of 8-15 candidates is given a topic and asked to discuss it among themselves, within given time.

How is a GD conducted?

The candidates are seated in a circle, semicircle or around a table. The GD master detaches himself from group and observes the performance of each candidate. He does not interfere in the discussion.

Why do we have a GD?

It helps you understand a subject more deeply.

It helps in solving a particular problem.

It helps the group to make a particular decision.

It gives you the chance to hear other students’ ideas.

It improves your listening skills.

It increases your confidence in speaking.

It can change your attitudes.

What do panelists assess?

1.       Leadership Skills

                    Ability to lead

                    Inspire

                    Carry the team to help achieve group’s objective

2.       Communication Skills

              Clarity of thought

              Clarity of expression

          Aptness of Language

          Listening a willingness to accommodate others’ views

           Probing-finding reasons.

3.       Interpersonal Skills

                         The ability to interact with other members and make your point.

                         Emotional maturity and balance.

           Openness and flexibility towards new ideas.

           Being People-centric and less self-centred.

4.       Persuasive Skills

                          The ability to persuade others  to see multiple perspectives.

5.       Creativity

                   Ability to think on one’s feet

                   Novelty of ideas

                   Practical solutions

6.       Other Skills

             Conflict Handling

             Knowledge about subject

              Induvidual View points

              Ability to create a consensus

              Rational approach

GD TIP-VOICE

Be heard. Make yourself audible to all

Don’t speak very fast- maintain moderate speed.

Emphasize the important words in your point.

GD TIP-MANNERS

Shake hands before and after

Smile and wish

Be pleasant the whole day

Discussion Etiquette (minding your manners)

                     Speak pleasantly & politely to the group.

                     Respect the contribution of every speaker.

                     A discussion is not an argument. Learn to disagree politely.

                     Agree & acknowledge what you find interesting.

                     Be aware of your body language when you are speaking.

TYPES OF TOPICS FOR A GD

Factual topics: The Education policy of India, Tourism In India

      Concerning day-to-day life socio-economic topics lately in news or those unbound by time.

      Candidate to prove his awareness of his environment.

Controversial topics: Women make better managers, reservation should be removed.

     Controversial topics that raise the noise level. Tempers Fly.

    Candidate’s maturity is displayed. Avoid blatant remarks.

    Argue rationally and logically without getting personal or emotional.

Abstract topics: A an Alphabet, An apple a day keeps the doctor away, Butter- flies.

     Test lateral thinking or creativity

     Read between the lines & do not take the literal meaning.

Case based GD: Drop in south sales of Coke. Recommend measures to regain the lost position.

      It simulates a real life situation. Problem solving ability is observed.

    Facts are presented pertaining to the problem- Candidates analyse, look at various angles, suggest and choose best alternative

GD Do’s & Dont’s

Spend a little time in analysing the topic

Jot down points and participate along with others

Start speaking after you have understood and analysed the subject.

Make contribution meaningful: Quality more valuable than Quantity.

Back your points with reasoning, illustrations and remedies.

Add to others points.

Be crisp and to the point.

Speak in 30-40 second slots around 3 times-total talk time per participant should not exceed 2 minutes.

Don’t sound loud or arrogant-be polite.

Do not get into arguments with people.

Don’t become unruly if the GD becomes unruly.

Don’t make use of gestures excessively.

Wait for the right opportunity, make your point and get out of it.

Attack the idea not the person.

Smile when disagreeing. If it is just an opinion admit it.

Make eye contact with all, smile.

Try building a consensus. Demonstrate you are a team man.

GD Body language- Posture

Maintain good posture

Don’t slouch in the chair

Don’t put your legs under the chair

Don’t cross and swing your legs

Don’t look up down or around

Maintain eye contact with all members in the group.

Look at every participant for at least 3 to 4 seconds

Don’t laugh unnecessarily

While contradicting don’t look at 1 person

Keep cool. Don’t lose temper.

Don’t frown or raise eyebrows.

Look at the speaker and nod.

Don’t fidget with jewellery , hand - kerchief.

Don’t meddle with pen.

Don’t fold or cross your hands.

Gesture freely while speaking.

Don’t be too stiff.

Limit yourself to space.

GD Orbit Techniques

In any form of communication there are three types of objectives to be met.

1.       Content

2.       Clarity in thought.

3.       Connection with audience.

Content : Content is the subject matter to be presented. The subject matter should be informative and relevant to the discussion. It is also important not  to stick to a particular  view  point. During a group discussion a candidate is under duress and cannot think clearly. So,  there is a need to focus on the common orbits which appear in most topics. With the help of these orbits a candidate can  construct an argument in holistic manner. Let’s examine the orbits.

Age: Kids, Tteenagers, Adults, Old People, Death, Generation gap

Sex: Men, Women

Social Life: Friends, Society, Family, Marriage, Divorce, Widows

Place: North, South, Cities, Villages, India, Abroad

Time:  Past, Present, Future, Ancestors, Kings, Queens, Invaders, 

Culture: Religions, Beliefs, Castes, Languages, Conversions

Classes: Rich, Poor, Middle Class

Education: Schools, Colleges, Universities, Books

Heath: Hospitals, HIV, Disease, Accidents, Sports, Fitness, Habits

Work: Career, Banks, Agriculture, Service Sector, Industries (Heavy, Small scale), Stock Markets, Real                            Estate

Social problems: Woman & Child Abuse, Dowry, Suicides, Regionalism, Unemployment, Reservation

Crime: Corruption, Petty Crimes, Terrorism

Rights: Human Rights, Consumer Rights, UNO

Law: Police, Crime, Judges, Courts, CBI/Armed Forces

Media: News papers, TV, Internet, Advertising

Government: Rules, Bureaucracy, Corruption, Parliament, MLA’s

Entertainment: Music, Movies Page 3, Beauty, Celebrities, Bars, Pubs

Travel: Roads, Air, Trains, Sea, Restaurants, Resorts,

Shopping: Spending, Consumerism, Materialism, Wants, Money

Environment: Ecology, Weather, Climate, Space, Natural Disasters

                                                                                                                                >>>>> NEXT