66028065-group-discussion.pdf

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How to crack the GD, Group Discussion

Many companies and institutes are making group discussion as the first

criteria for screening the candidates for face-to-face interviews. And there isreason too for giving huge importance for Group Discussion. First thing Group

Discussion is used for mass elimination! And second thing group discussion

selection criteria’s are based on actual company requirements.

Communication and Group Discussion skill are to relevant soft skills that are

must for softare testers.

Why group discussion should be the first criteria for selecting software

testers

oftare tester requires communication ith different people like team members"

managers and customers. o interpersonal skill is very important for tester.

#esterday one of our readers mailed me about her problem. he is very good at

ork but hen it comes to taking credit for her ork" someone else is taking the

credit.

$hy this is happening% he is lagging in interpersonal skills. &agging in

communication. he might be proficient in many skills" but hat if she isn’t able to

communicate her thoughts in front of her seniors or evaluators% imply" she ill

lose the credits of her on ork!

Making a good impression while speaking in meetings or interviews is the

basic skill every professional should have. &et’s see ho you can make this

impression.

What skills are !udged in group discussion

• 'o good you are at communication ith others.

• 'o you behave and interact ith group.

• 'o open minded are you.

• #our listening skill.

• 'o you put forard your vies.

• #our leadership and decision making skills.



• #our analysis skill and sub(ect knoledge.

• )roblem solving and critical thinking skill.

• #our attitude and confidence.

Do"s and Don"ts of Group discussion#

$% &eep eye contact while speaking#

Do not look at the evaluators only. *eep eye contact ith every team member

hile speaking.

'% (nitiate the GD#+nitiating the GD is a big plus. ,ut keep in mind - +nitiate the group discussion

only hen you understood the GD topic clearly and have some topic knoledge.

peaking ithout proper sub(ect knoledge is bad impression.

)% *llow others to speak#

Do not interrupt anyone inbeteen hile speaking. /ven if you don’t agree ith

his0her thoughts do not snatch their chance to speak. +nstead make some notes and

clear the points hen it’s your turn.

+% peak clearly#

peak politely and clearly. 1se simple and understandable ords hile speaking.

Don’t be too aggressive if you are disagreeing ith someone. /2press your

feelings calmly and politely.

% Make sure to bring the discussion on track#

+f by any means group is distracting from the topic or goal then simply take

initiative to bring the discussion on the track. 3ake all group members aare that

you all need to come to some conclusion at the end of the discussion. o stick to

the topic.

% /ositive attitude#,e confident. Do not try to dominate anyone. *eep positive body language. ho

interest in discussion.

0% peak sensibly#

Do not speak (ust to increase your speaking time. Don’t orry even if you speak

less. #our thoughts should be sensible and relevant instead of irrelevant speech.



1 % 2isten carefully to others#

peak less and listen more! )ay attention hile others are speaking. 4his ill make

coherent discussion and you ill get involved in the group positively. #ou ill

surely make people agree ith you.

3% 4o need to go into much details#ome basic sub(ect analysis is sufficient. 5o need to mention e2act figures hile

giving any reference. #ou have limited time so be precise and convey your

thoughts in short and simple language.

$5% 6ormal dressing#

Do not take it casually. 5o fancy and funny dressing. #ou should be comfortable

hile speaking in group. )ositive gesture and body language ill make your ork

easy.

Follo these 67 simple rules to easily crack the GD.

A Group Discussion can be defined as a formal discussion involving ten to 68

participants in a group.

+t is a methodology used by an organi9ation to gauge hether the candidate has

certain personality traits and0or skills that it desires in its members. +n this

methodology" the group of candidates is given a topic or a situation" given a fe

minutes to think about the same" and then asked to discuss the it among themselves

for 6:87 minutes.

As in a football game" here you play like a team" passing the ball to each teammember and aim for a common goal" GD is also based on team ork"

incorporating vies of different team members to reach a common goal.

'ere are some of the most important personality traits that a candidate should

possess to do ell at a GD;

• 7eam /layer

• 8easoning *bility

• 2eadership

• 6le9ibility

• *ssertiveness

• (nitiative



• :reativity; <ut of the bo9 thinking

• (nspiring ability

• 2istening

• *wareness

6. 7eam /layer

+t is essential for managers to be team players.

4he reason; 3anagers alays ork in teams.

At the beginning of his<manager= career" a manager orks as a team member. And"

later" as a team leader.

3anagement aspirants ho lack team skills cannot be good managers.

8. 8easoning *bility

>easoning ability plays an important role hile e2pressing your opinions or ideas

at a GD.

6or e9ample, on (ndia=s growth and its effect=s#

Any Anser for this should be based on reasons" not assumptions.

?. 2eadership

4here are three types of situations that can arise in a GD;

@ A GD here participants are unable to establish a proper rapport and do not

speak much.

@ A GD here participants get emotionally charged and the GD gets chaotic.

@ A GD here participants discuss the topic assertively by touching on all its

nuances and try to reach the ob(ective.

'ere" a leader ould be someone ho facilitates the third situation at a GD.

* leader would have the following >ualities#

@0he shos direction to the group henever group moves aay from the topic.@0he coordinates the effort of the different team members in the GD.

@0he contributes to the GD at regular intervals ith valuable insights.

@0he also inspires and motivates team members to e2press their vies.

Caution; ,eing a mere coordinator in a GD does not help" because it is a secondary

role.

Contribute to the GD ith your ideas and opinions" but also try and steer the



conversation toards a goal.

. 6le9ibility

#ou must be open to other ideas as ell as to the evaluation of your ideas; 4hat is

hat fle2ibility is all about.,ut first" remember; 5ever ever start your GD ith a stand or a conclusion.

ay the topic of a GD is" Bhould (ndia ?an night work for Women at night

hours%B

ome participants tend to get emotionally attached to the topic and take a stand

either in favour or against the topic" ie B#es" +ndia shouldB" or" B5o" +ndia should

notB.

,y taking a stand" you have already given your decision ithout discussing the

topic at hand or listening to the vies of your team members.

Also" if you encounter an opposition ith a very strong point at the 66th hour" you

end up in a typical catch88 situation;

@+f you change your stand" you are seen as a fickleminded or a himsical person.

@+f you do not change your stand" you are seen as an infle2ible" stubborn and

obstinate person.

:. *ssertiveness

#ou must put forth your point to the group in a very emphatic" positive and

confident manner.)articipants often confuse assertiveness ith aggressiveness.

Aggressiveness is all about forcing your point on the other person" and can be a

threat to the group. An aggressive person can also demonstrate negative body

language" hereas an assertive person displays positive body language.

. (nitiative

A general trend amongst students is to start a GD and get the initial kitty of points

earmarked for the initiator.

,ut that is a high riskhigh return strategy.+nitiate a GD only if you are ell versed ith the topic. +f you start and fail to

contribute at regular intervals" it gives the impression that you started the GD (ust

for the sake of the initial points.

Also" if you fumble" stammer or misquote facts" it may ork against you.

>emember; #ou never ever get a second chance to create a first impression.

. :reativity; <ut of the bo9 thinking



An idea or a perspective hich opens ne hori9ons for discussion on the GD topic

is alays highly appreciated.

$hen you put across a ne idea convincingly" such that it is discussed at length by

the group" it can only be positive.

#ou ill find yourself in the good books of the e2aminer.

E. (nspiring ability

A good group discussion should incorporate vies of all the team members.

+f some team members ant to e2press their ideas but are not getting the

opportunity to do so" giving them an opportunity to e2press their ideas or opinions

ill be seen as a positive trait.

Caution; +f a participant is not illing to speak" you need not necessarily go out of

the ay to ask him to e2press his vies. 4his may insult him and hamper the flo

of the GD.

. 2istening

Alays try and strike a proper balance beteen e2pressing your ideas and

imbibing ideas.

67. *wareness

#ou must be ell versed ith both the micro and macro environment.

#our aareness about your environment helps a lot in your GD content" hich

carries ma2imum eightage.

Group Discussion :ommon 7ips 6rom 6reshersHome.com 7eam@

4he tips given belo are applicable in any GD. 4he only difference beteen most

other GDs and the GDs conducted by the ++3s after CA4 or other top , chools is

the intensity of the competition.

• ,e as natural as possible. Do not try and be someone you are not. ,e

yourself.

• A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal. 4he evaluator ants to

hear you speak.

• 4ake time to organi9e your thoughts. 4hink of hat you are going to say.

• eek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the sub(ect.



• DonBt start speaking until you have clearly understood and analysed the

sub(ect.

• $ork out various strategies to help you make an entry; initiate the

discussion or agree ith someone elseBs point and then move onto e2press

your vies.

• pening the discussion is not the only ay of gaining attention and

recognition. +f you do not give valuable insights during the discussion" all

your efforts of initiating the discussion ill be in vain.

• #our body language says a lot about you your gestures and mannerisms are

more likely to reflect your attitude than hat you say.

• &anguage skills are important only to the effect as to ho you get your

points across clearly and fluently.

• ,e assertive not dominatingH try to maintain a balanced tone in your

discussion and analysis.

• DonBt lose your cool if anyone says anything you ob(ect to. 4he key is to stay

ob(ective; DonBt take the discussion personally.

• Alays be polite; 4ry to avoid using e2treme phrases like; I+ strongly ob(ectB

or I+ disagreeB. +nstead try phrases like; I+ ould like to share my vies

onJB or Ine difference beteen your point and mineJB or K+ beg to differ

ith youK

• ,rush up on your leadership skillsH motivate the other members of the team

to speak <this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD

is to say Klet us hear hat the young lady ith the blue scarf has to say"K or

K>aghu" let us hear your viesK /ssentially be subtle=" and listen to their

vies. ,e receptive to othersB opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive.

• +f you have a group of likeminded friends" you can have a mock group

discussion here you can learn from each other through giving and

receiving feedback.

Apart from the above points" the panel ill also (udge team members for their

alertness and presence of mind" problemsolving abilities" ability to ork as a team

ithout alienating certain members" and creativity.



What is the normal duration of a GD

A GD is generally of 6:87 minutes duration.

How many panel members are there to evaluate

4here are usually ? panel members to evaluate.

(s there time given for preparation after the topic is given and before starting

the GD

1sually some time <8: minutes= is given to collect oneBs thoughts" but there could

be instances hen this does not happen" so it is best not to bank on this.

hould ( address the panel or the group members

DonBt ever make the mistake of addressing the panel members. 4he GD is beteen

you and the other members" not the panel members. #ou must avoid even looking

at the panel members hile the GD is in progress. Lust ignore their e2istence.

What is the seating arrangement like

+t could be semicircular" or circular" or seating along side a rectangular table"

depending upon the venue. +t is best not to bother about trivial issues like this"

hich you have no control over.

How should ( address the other group members

+f you are initiating the discussion" you could do so by collectively addressing thegroup as KFriendsK. ubsequently" you could use names <if the group has had a

round of selfintroduction prior to starting the discussion and you remember the

names= or simply use pronouns like KheK or KsheK.

uppose ( have a lot to say on the topic, should ( say all of it

#ou ould not be looked upon favourably if you kept speaking all the time and did

not listen to anyone else. Contrary to the misconception" the person ho talks the

most is not necessarily the one ho is (udged the best. 4he quality and not the

quantity of your contribution is the success factor.

hould ( encourage others to speak up

Do not directly put someone ho is consistently silent on the spot by asking

him0her to speak up. +f someone has been trying to speak and has a good point but

is cut off constantly" you may encourage him0her to continue ith her point as you

ould like to hear her out.



*re the group members supposed to keep track of the time or will the panel

keep track

+t ould be good if you are conscious of the time" but not to the point of getting so

distracted looking at your atch that you do not contribute to the discussion.

*re we allowed to carry a piece of paper during the GD for noting downimportant points

5ormally you are" but there may be instances hen it is specifically forbidden to

carry paper.

(s there any particular seating arrangement, which is favourable to the

participants

+f participants are asked to sit in a circle or a semi circle" one position is as good as

another. ,ut if you are asked to sit on either side of a rectangular table" then choose

a position as close to the centre as possible.

hould we begin the GD by appointing a leader amongst ourselves

5o. #ou should not. &eadership in a GD is established implicitly through oneBs

performance in a GD.

hould we distribute the total time available to all the participants to ensure

that everybody gets a chance to speak

ince a GD is not a debate or elocution" the participants should not resort to the

strategy of distributing time amongst themselves.

:an we take a definite stand in the GD and then later on during the GD,switch over to another stand

#es" provided you do it the right ay. +n a GD it is quite likely that some other

participantBs counterargument convinces you to your point. +f this happens" then it

is best if you accept his argument and e2plain to the group ho your previous

argument as true ithin a narro range" and ho the ne argument is applicable

to a broader range. 5aturally" it is safer not to make any rash statements for or

against a topic before you learn the facts of the argument. ,lindly taking a stand

ill definitely lead you to trouble. 4his does not mean you should sit on the fence.

#ou may participate actively by pointing out both sides of the issue in a reasonable

and logical manner.

(f we do not understand the meaning of the topic, should we ask the

moderator to e9plain it to us

5o. #ou cannot. +nstead of displaying your ignorance in this manner" it is better to

ait for some other participant to e2plain the meaning of the topic. o listen to the

discussion carefully for the first fe minutes and hen you have figured out hat



the topic is about" start participating in the discussion.

hould we address the other participants by their names or their assigned

numbers

As far as possible" you should try and avoid names or numbers. +t is better to use

pronouns such as KheK" KsheK" KyouK etc. hile referring to the members of thegroup.

*re we e9pected to stick to the normally accepted line of thought or can we

come up with something radical

,y all means you can. +t ould demonstrate your creativity and originality. Lust

make sure it is relevant to the topic.

(f ( feel strongly about an issue, should ( voice my feelings

+t is important to be cool and emotionally ob(ective in a GD. +f you react

emotionally you are likely to lose control over yourself during the groupdiscussion. #ou have to be calm and logical" not emotional in a GD.

:an ( use technical terms or !argon, which is clear to me, but not to the

group

+f you have to use technical terms" please do not use abbreviations. After

mentioning the term in full take time out to e2plain to the group hat it means. +t is

quite likely that other participants of the group have a different academic

background from you" and you should make sure you are all on a level playing

field.

Do ( begin my participation by re>uesting the group=s permission to do so

+t is not likely that you ill get a chance to ask for such permission. +t may also go

against you <as appearing eak on your part=.

What is the right time to enter a GD to ensure that ( am heard properly

+n any GD" there are crests and troughs during the discussion. 4he crest is hen the

noise level is at its peak. 4he trough is hen there is almost total silence. +deally"

you should enter the GD during the trough period. ,ut in competitive GDs" the

crests occur more often and troughs may not occur at all. +n such cases" you could

identify the stages in the GD" here ideas dear to you are being discussed andenter the GD irrespective of the noise level.

How do ( participate when the noise level is too high

#ou could try the folloing strategy +dentify the most poerful speaker in the

group" and note don the points that he0she is making. 4he moment the noise level

reduces a little" enter supporting the poerful speaker. #ou ill have made a



strong ally ho ill carry you through the noise.

Do ( have to be cautious about other participants= feelings Aon sensitive issues

like religion, caste etc%

#ou certainly do. +nsensitivity to others displays a lack of maturity and

viciousness. +t ill act against your favour.

(s it beneficial to be the first speaker in a group discussion

,eing the first speaker is a high risk" high return strategy. +f you can make a good

opening statement" hich is relevant and sets the tone for the GD" it ill go in your

favour. +f you do this ell" you may automatically become the group leader.

'oever if you bungle it up <by speaking for the sake of speaking" not really

having anything pertinent to say=" it ill be remembered and ill go against your

favour.

How critical is my fluency in Bnglish to my performanceCommand over /nglish is certainly advantageous but ill not compensate for lack

of good content. +f your content is good" then even if your /nglish might not be

great" you must speak it out" rather than be inhibited by lack of good /nglish. #ou

ill get credit for soundness of ideas.

How necessary is it to use e9amples for illustrating an idea

1se of e2amples is helpful in elaborating your point" and helping others understand

your idea better. ,ut please remember to keep it short and simple because in a

competitive GD nobody has the patience to listen to long" dran out e2amples.

MmospagebreakN

How much or for how long should ( participate

+n a 87 minute GD ith 6768 participants" you should try and participate at least

times ith each entry lasting at least 8:?7 seconds. #ou could participate more

depending on your comfort level and the need for participation.

(s it good to be humorous in a GD

Depends on the situation. +n a GD that is fairly rela2ed" it may be acceptable. ,ut

in a competitive situation" here the participants are tensed up" your attempts at

humour may fall flat.

hould we make an interim summary

An interim summary is a ay of directing the group miday through the GD. +t

helps the group to pick out and focus on the most important points and thus use the

remaining time more effectively. 'oever it is not necessary to make an interim

summary" if the discussion is already ell focused.



What do ( do if someone else has already said what ( wanted to say

#ou have to choices;

Agree ith the point made by that person and add on to it by displaying the

applicability of the argument to different situations. ,y doing this you ill

have broadened the scope of the argument.

Drop the point and think of fresh points.

4o avoid getting into a situation here someone else has already spoken

your points" do speak up in the first : minutes of the GD. +f you ait

longer" it is almost inevitable that someone ould have spoken your points.

(s the use of slang;collo>uialism permitted

+t is best to avoid using slang.

:an ( use a language other than Bnglish to drive home my point

5o. #ou ill have to stick to /nglish.

How is aggression taken and measured in a GD

4he moment you notice people reacting to you negatively or strongly" you may

take it that you are being too aggressive. 4he degree of the reaction is the measure

of your aggression.

What level of aggression is seen acceptable

4here is a very thin line beteen aggression and assertiveness. #ou should alays

aim to sound assertive and not stubborn.

(s it true that the person who speaks the most in a GD is the one who is most

successful

4his is a myth. Generally the person ho has a sound knoledge of the topic and

is a clear thinker speaks more. 4his leads the students into believing that hoever

speaks most is successful. ,ut (ust speaking for the sake of speaking ill not take

you far.

Will ( be >uiCCed about my Aor others% participation in the GD

#ou may be. 4herefore it helps to be alert all through the GD.

(s it true that the GD is used more as an elimination techni>ue rather than as

a selection tool

Depends on the institute. +n most premier institutes it is used as a selection tool" not

as an elimination technique.

What is the level of accuracy desired in the facts and figures you >uote during

the GD



An error margin of :O is acceptable.

(s motivating other people in the group to speak looked upon favourably

Depends on ho it is done. +f you openly request someone to speak" you may be

putting the other person in a difficult spot" and the evaluators ill not look that

upon favourably. +t is therefore better to use other means of motivation" such asagreeing ith a halting speaker" adding on to their points" implicitly supporting and

giving them direction.

Does the moderator have any biases or preconceived notions about the topic

+deally the moderator is supposed to be unbiased and neutral. ,ut being a human

being" the moderator cannot be totally free from bias. ince this is not a factor

ithin your control" there isnBt much point losing sleep over it.

:an we e9pect the moderator to stop or cut short the GD much before the

stipulated time is over4his may happen if the GD becomes too noisy and if the level of discussion

deteriorates abysmally.

:an ( be aggressive with a lady participant

A GD is not the place to demonstrate chivalry. ,eing rude to any participant <male

or female= is donright unacceptable. #ou need not e2tend any special privileges

to a lady.

(s it all right to ask pointed >uestions to other participants during a GD

+t is alright to ask questions for the purpose of clarification but not for the purposeof playing the devilBs advocate and proving them rong. ,y playing the devilBs

advocate you hamper the flo of the GD. 4he pointed questions unsettle the other

participant and the quality of the GD deteriorates. 4his ould reflect badly on you

and ill go against your favour.

(s it necessary that a group should arrive at a conclusion in the stipulated

time

+deally a group is supposed to reach a conclusion. 5ormally the time constraints do

not allo the group to do so.

(s an end-summary absolutely essential

5o. +f the group has not reached a conclusion" then it ould be good if someone

puts the hole discussion into perspective by summari9ing. ,ut if there isnBt

sufficient time" a summary may be avoided.

Do we have to write a synopsis of the GD once it is over

ome institutes insist on this" but it is not universal.



(s voting an acceptable method of reaching a consensus

Certainly not. A GD is not a debate.

How should a group select a topic if asked to

4he group should brainstorm for about to minutes and narro don the list of

topics to ?. After this the group should prioriti9e them based on the comfort leveland ease of discussion of the topics. 4his could be done by asking each participant

to rank the topics and the most popular choice should be taken.

*re the topics decided on the basis of the academic background of the

participant

5o. 4opics are usually general in nature to give a level playing field to everyone.

What do ( do if one member is very stubborn and aggressive

ou could use any of the following methods.

• +gnore him and address the other members of the group.

• ,e assertive and tell him that his argument is faulty.

• )oint out to him that his point is ell taken and that the group must progress

further by discussing the ideas presented by others.

What are the acceptable ways of interrupting somebody else, so that ( may

make my point

ou can interrupt in any of the following ways#

• K/2cuse me" but + feel that hat you are saying isnBt universally true..K

• K#es" + agree ith your idea" and + ould like to add on to itK

• K#es" + think you are right hen you say that" but could you clarify hat if.K

Who 2earns from mistake=s is the one who has the wisdom, and who repeatsmistake is the one who does not.

'ereBs a list of the most common mistakes made at group discussions

Bmotional outburst

>ashmi as offended hen one of the male participants in a group discussion



made a statement on omen generally being submissive hile e2plaining his point

of vie. $hen >ashmi finally got an opportunity to speak" instead of focussing on

the topic" she vented her anger by accusing the other candidate for being a male

chauvinist and ent on to defend omen in general.

$hat >ashmi essentially did as to

• Deviate from the sub(ect.

• 4reat the discussion as a forum to air her on vies.

• &ose ob(ectivity and make personal attacks.

'er behaviour ould have been perceived as immature and demotivating to the

rest of the team.

Euality Fs Euantity

Gautam believed that the more he talked" the more likely he as to get through the

GD. o" he interrupted other people at every opportunity. 'e did this so often that

the other candidates got together to prevent him from participating in the rest of the

discussion.

• Assessment is not only on your communication skills but also on your

ability to be a team player.

•

/valuation is based on quality" and not on quantity. #our contribution must be relevant.

• 4he mantra is :ontributing meaningfully to the team=s success.

Domination is froned upon.

Bgotism howing off

*rishna as happy to have got a group discussion topic he had prepared for. o" he

took pains to pro(ect his vast knoledge of the topic. /very other sentence of his

contained statistical data K87O of companiesH 8.8O of parliamentarians felt

thatH + recently read in a Lupiter >eport that...K and so on so forth. oon" the rest of

the team either laughed at him or ignored his attempts to enlighten them as they

perceived that he as cooking up the data.

• /2ercise restraint in anything. #ou ill end up being froned upon if you

attempt shoingoff your knoledge.

• Facts and figures need not validate all your statements.



• +ts your analysis and interpretation that are equally important not (ust facts

and figures.

• #ou might be appreciated for your indepth knoledge. ,ut you ill fail

miserably in your people skills.

uch a behaviour indicates ho selfcantered you are and highlights your inability

to ork in an atmosphere here different opinions are e2pressed.

Get noticed - ?ut for the right reasons

ri kumar kne that everyone ould compete to initiate the discussion. o as soon

as the topic KDiscuss the negative effects of +ndia (oining the $4K as read

out" he began talking. +n his an2iety to be the first to start speaking" he did not hear

the ord KnegativeK in the topic. 'e began discussing the ays in hich the

country had benefited by (oining $4" only to be stopped by the evaluator" ho

then corrected his mistake.

• False starts are e2tremely e2pensive. 4hey cost you your admission. +t is

very important to listen and understand the topic before you air your

opinions.

• pending a little time analy9ing the topic may provide you ith insights

hich others may not have thought about. 1se a pen and paper to (ot don

your ideas.

• &isten! +t gives you the time to conceptuali9e and present the information ina better manner.

ome mistakes are irreparable. tarting off the group discussion ith a mistake is

one such mistake" unless you have a great sense of humour.

Managing one=s insecurities

umati as very nervous. he thought that some of the other candidates ere

e2ceptionally good. 4hanks to her insecurity" she contributed little to the

discussion. /ven hen she as asked to comment on a particular point" she

preferred to remain silent.

• #our personality is also being evaluated. #our verbal and non verbal cues

are being read.

• >emember" you are the participant in the GDH not the evaluator. o" rather

than evaluating others and your performance" participate in the discussion.



• #our confidence level is being evaluated. Decent communication skills ith

good confidence is a must to crack the GDs.

Focus on your strengths and do not spend too much time thinking about ho others

are superior or inferior to you. +t is easy to pick up these cues from your body

language.

$hile selection tools and techniques like tests" intervies etc. provide good data

about an individual" they fall short in providing real life data of ho an individual

ould be performing in a real life situation especially a group situation. 4eam

ork being an integral part of the ,) ork profile" it is important to ascertain

group and interpersonal qualities of an individual. Group discussion is a useful

tool to ascertain these qualities and many organi9ations use GDs as a selection tool

along ith )ersonal +ntervies" aptitude tests etc. A GD is an activity here

• Groups of E67 candidates are formed into a leaderless group" and are givena specific situation to analyse and discuss ithin a given time limit" hich

may vary beteen tenty minutes and fortyfive minutes" or

• 4hey may be given a case study and asked to come out ith a solution for a

problem

• 4hey may be given a topic and are asked to discuss the same

$. /reparing for a Group Discussion# $hile GD reflects the inherent qualities of

an individual" appearing for it unprepared may not augur ell for you. 4hese tipsould help you prepare for GDs;

8eading# 4his is the first and the most crucial step in preparation. 4his is a never

ending process and the more you read" the better you are in your thoughts. $hile

you may read anything to everything" you must ensure that you are in good touch

ith current affairs" the debates and hot topics of discussion and also ith the latest

in the +4 and +4/ industry. Chances are the topics ould be around these. >ead

both for the thoughts as ell as for data. Also read multiple vie points on the

same topic and then create your point of vie ith rationale. Also create ansers

for counter arguments for your point of vie. 4he electronic media also ill be ofgood use here.

Mocks# Create an informal GD group and meet regularly to discuss and e2change

feedback. 4his is the best ay to prepare. 4his ould give you a good idea about

your thoughts and ho ell can you convince. >emember" it is important that you

are able to e2press your thoughts ell. 4he better you perform in these mocks the



better ould be you chances to perform on the final day. Also try to interact and

participate in other GD groups. 4his ill develop in you a skill to discuss ith

unknon people as ell.

'. During the Group Discussion#

What do the panellists assess# ome of the >ualities assessed in a GD are#

2eadership kills - *bility to take leadership roles and be able to lead, inspire

and carry the team along to help them achieve the group=s ob!ectives.

:ommunication kills - :andidates will be assessed in terms of clarity of

thought, e9pression and aptness of language. <ne key aspect is listening. (t

indicates a willingness to accommodate others views.

(nterpersonal kills - /eople skills are an important aspect of any !ob. 7hey

are reflected in the ability to interact with other members of the group in abrief situation. Bmotional maturity and balance promotes good interpersonal

relationships. 7he person has to be more people centric and less self-centered.

/ersuasive kills - 7he ability to analyCe and persuade others to see the

problem from multiple perspectives.

GD is a test of your ability to think, your analytical capabilities and your

ability to make your point in a team-based environment.

7hese are some of the sub-skills that also get assessed with the skills

mentioned above#

• :larity of thought

• Group working skills Aespecially during a group task of case study

discussion%

• :onflict handling

• 2istening and probing skills

• &nowledge about the sub!ect and individual point of view

• *bility to create a consensus

• <penness and fle9ibility towards new ideas

• Data based approach to decision making



While, it is not possible to reflect all these >ualities in a short time, you would

do well if you are able to show a couple or more >ualities and avoid giving

negative evidence on others.

How do ( take my chance to speak# 4rying to interrupt others hile speaking

ould only harm your chances. +nstead" you may try to maintain an eyecontact

ith the speaker. 4his ould sho your listening skills also and ould help you

gauge from his eyemovement and pitch of voice that he is about to close his

inputs. #ou can quickly take it from there. Also" try and link your inputs ith hat

he has spoken hether you are adding to or opposing his arguments. 4his ould

reflect that you are actually being participative rather than (ust doing a collective

monologue.

• How to ( communicate in a GD# ,e crisp and to the point. ,e fact based

and avoid making individual opinions that do not have a factual base. 3ake

eye contact ith all the members in the group and avoid looking at the

panellists hile speaking. 4he average duration of the group discussion

provides an average of about 8? minutes per participant to speak and you

should try to speak about ? times. 'ence" you need to be really crisp to

reflect the most in those ?77 sec. slots.

•

How do ( convince others and make them agree to my view point# A lotof candidates make it their mission to make the group reach to a conclusion

on the topic. Do not forget that some of the topics have been eternal debates

and there is no ay you can get an agreement in 6: mins. on them. 4he

ob(ective is not to make others toe your line but to provide fact based"

convincing arguments hich create an impact. tick to this approach.

• Do leadership skills include moderating the group discussion# 4his is a

myth and many people do try to impose their order on the GD" ordering

people hen to speak and hen not to. 4his only reflects poor leadership.

&eadership in a GD ould be reflected by your clarity of thought" ability toe2pand the topic in its different dimensions" providing an opportunity to a

silent participant to speak" listening to others and probing them to provide

more information. 'ence" ork on these areas rather than be a self

appointed moderator of the group.

• 2istening# 4his is a key quality assessed during the GD about hich many



participants forget. Active listening can fetch you credit points and ould

also provide you ith data to discuss. Also" if you have an average of 8?

minutes to speak" the rest of the 878: minutes is required to spent in active

listening. For this" maintain eye contact ith the speakers" attend to them

<like nodding" using acknoledging ords like + see ok" fine" great etc.=.

4his ould also make you be the centre of attraction as you ould appear

nonthreatening to the speakers.

• ?ehaviour during the GD# ,e patientH donBt get upset if anyone says

anything you ob(ect to. tay ob(ective and donBt take the discussion

personally. Also" remember the si2 CBs of communication Clarity"

Completeness" Conciseness" Confidence" Correctness and Courtesy. ,e

appreciative P receptive to ideas from other people and openminded but do

not let others to change your on viepoint. ,e active and interested

throughout. +t is better to participate less if you have no clue of the topic.#ou may listen to others and take clues from there and speak. #ou ould be

assessed on a range of different skills and you may think that leadership is

key" you need to be careful that you donBt dominate the discussion.

• Euality Fs Euantity# ften" participants think that success in group

discussions depends on ho much and ho loudly they speak. +nterestingly"

itBs the opposite. Also" making your point on the topic" your vies are

important and the group needs to kno. 4his ill tell you are knoledgeable

and that you participate in groups

• ummariCing# +f you have not been able to initiate the discussion" try to

summaries and close it. Good summari9ing ould get you good reard

points. A conclusion is here the hole group decides in favour or against

the topic and most GDs do not have a closure. ,ut every GD can be

summari9ed by putting forth hat the group has discussed in a nutshell.

*eep the folloing points in mind hile summari9ing a discussion;

• Avoid raising ne points.

• Avoid stating only your viepoint.

• Avoid delling only on one aspect of the GD

• *eep it brief and concise.

• +t must include all the important points that came out during the GD

• +f you are asked to summarise a GD" it means the GD has come to an



end.

• Do not add anything once the GD has been summarised.

ome /ositive 7ask 8oles in a Group Discussion##ou may ant to play one or

more of them;

• (nitiator

• (nformation seeker

• (nformation giver

• /rocedure facilitator

• <pinion seeker

• <pinion giver

• :larifier

• ocial upporter

• HarmoniCer

• 7ension 8eliever

• BnergiCer

• :ompromiser

• Gatekeeper

• ummariCer

4egative 8oles to be *voided

• Disgruntled non-participant

• *ttacker

• Dominator

• /atroniCe

• :lown

6eedback template# $hile doing mocks for GD preparation" you ould get



benefited by the feedback of others. For the purpose" e are providing a template

for feedback both quantitative and qualitative. 4he items described over there are

a suggested list and not a complete one. #ou may make changes in it depending

upon your need.

ome GD 7opics

ocial 7opics#

,ride burning and dory may look bad" but are an integral part of +ndia.

ur Culture is Decaying

$e are not serious about saving $ildlife0/nvironment

Are ,ig Dams 5ecessary%

Films are corrupting the +ndian #outh

A Gandhian tate selling liquor is an anomaly

+mpact of 4elevision on Children%

Do /lections have any meaning%

$hy do e need democracy%

4he education system needs serious reforms.

4he impact of 34Q on our psyche

hoing Qiolence and Crimes should not be alloed in films and on television.

&et us legalise gambling

Hot 7opics# 'o to deal ith international terrorism.

hould e pursue our policy of dialogue ith )akistan%

+s peace and nonviolence out dated concepts%

Management 7opics#



+s management an art or a science%

4he >ush for 3,A is really a rush for big money

/thics in ,usiness are (ust a passing fashion

Family oned business vs professionally run businesses

maller businesses and startups have more scope for professional groth.

Dot com or doubt com%

4he ob(ective of 3anagement is to ma2imise profits

Do professional managers have a chance in our family run businesses%

4he +nternet is an e2ercise in hype

+s an 3,A necessary to succeed in life%

4ature 7opics#

$hy do e care for 5ature%

+mpact of moking on Global $arming%

Can e live ithout Fuel%

Do e need to protect /ndangeruod species%

/olictic 7opics#

>eserving seats for omen in )anchayat has not only been a farce but has

distracted from developing a more genuine voice of omen.

'ave the nuclear tests of 6E benefited or harmed +ndia%

Qoters" not" political parties are responsible for the criminalisation of politics.

4he voters are required to be ell informed and educated about their candidates

so that they can elect the right aspirant by their on assessment.

+ndia should go for the presidential form of democracy.

Bconomic 7opics#

+n our economic matters" there is an e2cessive tendency toards the thinking

rather than doing.



/very cloud has a silver lining

Can the economy achieve an E percent groth rate%.

+s disinvestment really that good for +ndia or is a rethink in order %

Are cooperatives relevant in todayBs globalised environment%.

Foreign aid is a dangerous drug that can stimulate in small doses but become

fatally addictive in larger doses.

3odern day sport in industrialised society is an industry" as anything else.

Government should clean its on hands before pointing finger at the private

sector for corruption.

+s the 5)A ordinance too harsh%

>eforms have to gro up.

4he future lies ith glocalisation .

Developing countries need trade" not aid.

$hy do e lag behind China%

Capitalism is a very flaed system but the others are so much orse.

Fle2ibility of labour las is the key to attracting more Foreign Direct+nvestment.

+s the business of business only business%

+s the consumer really the king in +ndia%.

Globalisation versus nationalism

Conditional access system for cable 4Q atchers; boon or bane%

+f +ndia is poorly governed" the reason is that e have designed our system of

governance for protecting" if not encouraging" corruption%

Commercialisation of health care ; Good or ,ad %

For globalisation to succeed in +ndia people must be able to see hat is in it for

them

+s the 1 economy headed the Lapanese economy ay%



/conomic freedom not old fashioned theories of development ill lead to

groth and prosperity

3arkets left to themselves encourage greed.

For globalisation to succeed in +ndia people must be able to see hat is in it forthem

hould businessmen run the finance ministry

hould important services like transport be left to market forces%.

+s there any point in having a business strategy hen the orld changes from

month to month%

+s the patents bill good for +ndia% .

+s the business of business only business%.

Globalisation is good for developing countries

)ublic sector being a guarantor of (ob security is a myth.

+s industryless groth here to stay %

Capitalism is a very flaed system but the others are so much orse %

'o can business get rid of the bad name that it has earned%

Government pumping money into the economy is not the solution for our

economic problems

,usiness ethics are no longer a lu2ury for corporates but a necessity%

'o should privatisation proceeds be utilised %

+s the budgeting e2ercise of any use%

hould agricultural subsidies be stopped %

$ill 3umbaiBs film industry ever evolve into a truly modern corporatised one%

$ill market reforms enrich rich states further" hile poorer ones lag further%.

$hy do e lag behind China %

$ho says 35Cs are superior to +ndian companies %.



$hy not use a brand inde2 to measure national prosperity%.

$hat e need to reduce scams is better regulatory bodies.

$ar rhetoric is misplaced in a country like +ndia hich is trying to globalise its

economy.

4rade can help the poor %

4he poer ministry should cut off supplies to all the defaulting /,s.

teal a fe lakhs and youBre a criminal. teal a fe hundred crores and you

become an industrialist.

hould )1s be divested through strategic sale or public offer%

4he state is above the la%

Management Bducation 7opics

3anagerial skills learnt in the classroom can never match those learnt from

e2perience

Democracy is hampering +ndia progress

3,A in +ndia is highly overrated.R

M?* Group Discussion

G8</ D(:(<4

A group discussion <GD= is a simulated e2ercise" here you cannot suddenly put

up a sho" since the evaluators ill see through you easily. +n this page you can

find tips on GD and ho to handle them to ensure a positive outcome.

Here=s how most group discussions work

• 5ormally groups of E67 candidates are formed into a leaderless group" and

are given a specific situation to analy9e and discuss ithin a given time

limit.

• 4he group may be given a case study and asked to come out ith a solution

for a problem.

• 4he group may be given a topic and asked to discuss on the same.

A panel ill observe the proceedings and evaluate the members of the group.



<?IB:7(FB

&ets start from the basic. ne needs to kno hat oneBs ob(ective in the group is.

A good definition of your ob(ective is to be noticed to have contributed

meaningfully in an attempt to help the group reach the right consensus. $hat does

this essentially mean%

4he first implication is that you should be noticed by the panel. 3erely

making a meaningful contribution and helping the group arrive at a

consensus is not enough. #ou have to be seen by the evaluating panel to

have made the meaningful contribution. $hat does that mean in practice%

• #ou must ensure that the group hears you. +f the group hears you" so

ill the evaluator. 4hat does not mean that you shout at the top of

your voice and be noticed for the rong reasons.

• #ou have to be assertive. +f you are not a very assertive person" you

ill have to simply learn to be assertive for those 6: minutes.

>emember" assertiveness does not mean being bullheaded or being

arrogant.

• And most importantly" you have to make your chances. 3any group

discussion participants often complain that they did not get a chance

to speak. 4he fact is that in no group discussion ill you get a chance

to speak. 4here is nothing more unacceptable in a GD than keepingoneBs mouth shut or (ust murmuring things hich are inaudible.

• )articipate in as many practice GDs as possible before you attend the

actual GD. 4here is nothing like practice to help you overcome the

fear of talking in a GD.

4he second important implication is that making (ust any sort of contribution

is not enough. #our contribution has to be meaningful. A meaningful

contribution suggests that

• #ou have a good knowledge base

• #ou are able to put forth your arguments logically and are a good

communicator.

• 4he quality of hat you said is more valuable than the quantity. 4here

is this myth amongst many group discussion participants that the ay



to succeed in a group discussion is by speaking loudly and at great

length. ne could not be more rong. #ou must have meat in your

arguments.

4herefore" think things through carefully.

Alays enter the room ith a piece of paper and a pen. +n the first to

minutes (ot don as many ideas as you can.

When you !ot down points, keep these pointers in mind.

+f it is a topic here you are e2pected to take a stand" say for e2ample"

Khould +ndia sign the Comprehensive 4est ,an 4reaty%K note don points

for both sides of the argument. +t ill be useful on to counts

• ne" if you do not start the GD and are not amongst the first five

speakers and find that everyone in the group is talking for the topic"

then it makes sense to take the alternate approach and oppose the topic

even if you initially intended to talk for the topic.

• econd" it helps to have a knoledge of ho group members ho

take a stand diametrically opposite to yours ill put forth their

argument and to be prepared ith counter arguments.

/verybody else ill state the obvious. o highlight some points that are not

obvious. 4he different perspective that you bring to the group ill be highlyapprecaited by the panel. ome pointers on being relevant hile having a

different perspective are;

• ,e careful that the Ksomething differentK you state is still relevant to

the topic being debated.

• Can you take the group ahead if it is stuck at one point%

• Can you take it in a fresh and more relevant direction%

4he last implication is that you must be clearly seen to be attempting to build a

consensus.

• Gaining support or influencing colleagues is the mantra adopted by

many a successful ,usiness &eaders.

• 5obody e2pects a group of ten intelligent" assertive people" all ith



different points of vie on a controversial sub(ect to actually achieve

a consensus. ,ut hat matters is KDid you make attempts to build a

consensus%K

• 4he reason hy an attempt to build a consensus is important is

because in most ork situations you ill have to ork ith people ina team" accept (oint responsibilities and take decisions as a group.

• #ou must demonstrate the fact that you are capable and inclined to

ork as part of a team.

66028065-group-discussion.pdf

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