GROUP DISCUSSIONGROUP DISCUSSION

GROUP DISCUSSIONGROUP DISCUSSION

A GD is a methodology used A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has whether the candidate has certain personality traits and certain personality traits and skills that it desires in its skills that it desires in its members. In this methodology, members. In this methodology, the group of candidates is given the group of candidates is given a topic or a situation, given a a topic or a situation, given a few minutes to think about the few minutes to think about the same, and then asked to discuss same, and then asked to discuss the it among themselves for 15-the it among themselves for 15-20 minutes20 minutes..

What is G.D.?What is G.D.?

““It is the process of It is the process of incorporating views of team incorporating views of team members to reach a members to reach a common common goalgoal””

TYPES OF GD TYPES OF GD

FACTUAL TOPICSFACTUAL TOPICS Factual topics are about practical things, which Factual topics are about practical things, which

an ordinary person is aware in his day-to-day life. an ordinary person is aware in his day-to-day life. Typically these are about socio-economic topics. Typically these are about socio-economic topics.

E.g. The education policy of India, Tourism in E.g. The education policy of India, Tourism in India India

CONTROVERSIAL TOPICSCONTROVERSIAL TOPICS Controversial topics are the ones that are Controversial topics are the ones that are

argumentative in nature. They are meant to argumentative in nature. They are meant to generate controversy.generate controversy.

E.g. Reservations should be removed, Women E.g. Reservations should be removed, Women make better managers make better managers

ABSTRACT TOPICS:ABSTRACT TOPICS:

Abstract topics are about intangible Abstract topics are about intangible things. These topics are not given often things. These topics are not given often for discussion, but their possibility for discussion, but their possibility cannot be ruled out. These topics test cannot be ruled out. These topics test your lateral thinking and creativity.your lateral thinking and creativity.

E.g. A is an alphabet, The number 10E.g. A is an alphabet, The number 10

It helps you to understand a subject It helps you to understand a subject more deeply. more deeply.

It improves your ability to think It improves your ability to think critically. critically.

It helps in solving a particular problem. It helps in solving a particular problem. It helps the group to make a particular It helps the group to make a particular

decision. decision. It gives you the chance to hear other It gives you the chance to hear other

student’s ideas. student’s ideas. It improves your listening skills. It improves your listening skills. It increases your confidence in speaking. It increases your confidence in speaking. It can change your attitudesIt can change your attitudes. .

Communication Skills Communication Skills Knowledge and ideas regarding a Knowledge and ideas regarding a

given subject given subject Capability to co-ordinate and lead Capability to co-ordinate and lead Exchange of thoughts Exchange of thoughts Addressing the group as a whole Addressing the group as a whole Thorough preparationsThorough preparations

Avoid raising new points. Avoid raising new points. Avoid stating only your viewpoint. Avoid stating only your viewpoint. Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the

GD. GD. Keep it brief and concise. Keep it brief and concise. It must incorporate all the important It must incorporate all the important

points that came out during the GD. points that came out during the GD. If the examiner asks you to summaries a If the examiner asks you to summaries a

GD, it means the GD has come to an end. GD, it means the GD has come to an end. Do not add anything once the GD has Do not add anything once the GD has

been summarized. been summarized.

THE ROLE PLAYERSTHE ROLE PLAYERS

1.1. InitiatorInitiator : A good candidate should be : A good candidate should be able to initiate the process of able to initiate the process of discussion. He can guide the group in discussion. He can guide the group in the way to begin and complete the the way to begin and complete the discussion process.discussion process.

2.2. IllustratorIllustrator : A good participant must be : A good participant must be able to elaborate or clarify points made able to elaborate or clarify points made by others, make them relevant to the by others, make them relevant to the given topic, and develop his own opiniongiven topic, and develop his own opinion

3.3. InformerInformer :: A good participant must A good participant must have sound general knowledge. Only have sound general knowledge. Only then can he provide the required then can he provide the required information on any given topic to the information on any given topic to the group.group.

4. 4. Coordinator Coordinator :: A good participant must A good participant must be able to bring the dissenting members be able to bring the dissenting members of the group to some kind of agreement of the group to some kind of agreement and be able to make them participate in and be able to make them participate in the discussion in a disciplined manner.He the discussion in a disciplined manner.He must also gather the divergent points must also gather the divergent points raised by different participants and relate raised by different participants and relate them to the given topic.them to the given topic.

5. 5. OrienterOrienter :: A candidate who possesses A candidate who possesses good leadership attributes keeps the good leadership attributes keeps the group directed towards the goal. He group directed towards the goal. He displays his skills of organization through displays his skills of organization through this role. Such a candidate has the this role. Such a candidate has the potential for helping to run an potential for helping to run an organization.organization.

SUCCESS IN A GDSUCCESS IN A GD1.1. Be AssertiveBe Assertive:: An assertive person is direct and An assertive person is direct and

honest and careful about not hurting other’s honest and careful about not hurting other’s self respect.Eye contact is a means of self respect.Eye contact is a means of expressing sincerity , while an erect posture expressing sincerity , while an erect posture and direct body position may increase the and direct body position may increase the impact of the message.impact of the message.

2.2. A Patient ListenerA Patient Listener :Listening to another :Listening to another person is one way of showing appreciation.person is one way of showing appreciation.

3.3. Right LanguageRight Language : : Words can make friends and Words can make friends and foes of men. It is possible to disagree without foes of men. It is possible to disagree without sounding rude or losing one’s temper.sounding rude or losing one’s temper.

4.4. Be Analytical and Fact –OrientedBe Analytical and Fact –Oriented : : It is It is necessary to make relevant points which can necessary to make relevant points which can be supported with facts and analysed logically. be supported with facts and analysed logically. Vague arguments do not hold good in GD.Vague arguments do not hold good in GD.

5.5. Accept CriticismAccept Criticism : : The criticism must be The criticism must be viewed positively and if it carries weight, viewed positively and if it carries weight, the person making the point must be the person making the point must be appreciated and thanked. In case the appreciated and thanked. In case the criticism is flimsy, the same can be criticism is flimsy, the same can be pointed out politely.pointed out politely.

6.6. Maximize ParticipationMaximize Participation : : Thus one must Thus one must try to contribute fully ,vigorously, and try to contribute fully ,vigorously, and steadily throughout the discussion. steadily throughout the discussion. Silence may indicate lack of initiative, Silence may indicate lack of initiative, information, and communication skill.information, and communication skill.

7.7. Respect other speakersRespect other speakers : : It is impolite to It is impolite to laugh at other participants and comment laugh at other participants and comment on their ignorance or inability. A good on their ignorance or inability. A good candidate always encourages the other candidate always encourages the other members of his group without making members of his group without making fun of their feelings.fun of their feelings.

8.8. Show Leadership AbilityShow Leadership Ability :Leadership :Leadership is the ability to persuade others to is the ability to persuade others to seek defined objectives seek defined objectives enthusiastically. It is the human factor enthusiastically. It is the human factor that binds a group together and that binds a group together and motivates it towards a goal. motivates it towards a goal. Leadership transforms the potential Leadership transforms the potential into real.into real.

9.9. Be PreciseBe Precise : : It is important to express It is important to express yourself precisely and exactly without yourself precisely and exactly without beating about the bush or being beating about the bush or being verbose as a GD takes place in a given verbose as a GD takes place in a given time.time.

Benefits in Group Benefits in Group discussiondiscussion

Stimulation of thinking in a new Stimulation of thinking in a new way. way.

Expansion of knowledgeExpansion of knowledge Understanding of your strength Understanding of your strength

and weakness.and weakness. Your true personality is revealed Your true personality is revealed

and qualities of leadership and qualities of leadership crystallizecrystallize

Benefits of group discussionBenefits of group discussion provides chance to Exposeprovides chance to Expose Language skillsLanguage skills Academic knowledgeAcademic knowledge Leadership skillsLeadership skills people handling skillspeople handling skills Team workTeam work General knowledge.General knowledge.

Speak pleasantly and politely to the group. Speak pleasantly and politely to the group. Respect the contribution of every speaker. Respect the contribution of every speaker. Remember that a discussion is not an Remember that a discussion is not an

argument. Learn to disagree politely. argument. Learn to disagree politely. Think about your contribution before you Think about your contribution before you

speak. speak. Try to stick to the discussion topic. Don't Try to stick to the discussion topic. Don't

introduce irrelevant information. introduce irrelevant information. Be aware of your body language when you Be aware of your body language when you

are speaking. are speaking. Agree with and acknowledge what you find Agree with and acknowledge what you find

interesting. interesting.

DONT’SDONT’S Lose your temper. A discussion is not an Lose your temper. A discussion is not an

argument. argument. Shout. Use a moderate tone and medium Shout. Use a moderate tone and medium

pitch. pitch. Use too many gestures when you speak. Use too many gestures when you speak.

Gestures like finger pointing and table Gestures like finger pointing and table thumping can appear aggressive. thumping can appear aggressive.

Dominate the discussion. Confident speakers Dominate the discussion. Confident speakers should allow quieter students a chance to should allow quieter students a chance to contribute. contribute.

Draw too much on personal experience or Draw too much on personal experience or anecdote. Although some tutors encourage anecdote. Although some tutors encourage students to reflect on their own experience, students to reflect on their own experience, remember not to generalize too much. remember not to generalize too much.

Interrupt. Wait for a speaker to finish what Interrupt. Wait for a speaker to finish what they are saying before you speak.  they are saying before you speak.