GROUP DISCUSSION

RAISON D'ÊTRE (PRINCIPLE) FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

To make students reflect on information presented

orTo examine their personal opinions

orTo seek their conclusions on some specific

topic or issueGroup discussion helps youth to test their ideas

and beliefs with their superiors.

RAISON D'ÊTRE (PRINCIPLE) FOR GROUP DISCUSSION

In present scenario organizations encourage team players rather than individual contributions.

In GD participants are judged for following qualities.Alertness and presence of mindProblem-solving abilitiesAbility to work as team without alienating to individuals.For leadership skills and Creativity

Institutes identify the candidates who can inspire and lead the group and also assess their personality.

Abilities and skills of the candidates assessed in GD

Communication skillsKnowledge and ideas regarding a given

subjectCapability to coordinate and leadListening and sharing skillsAbility to function in a group

Uses of GD

Helps you to understand a subject more deeply.

Improves your ability to think critically.Helps in solving particular problem.Helps the group to make a particular

decision.Gives you chance to hear other participants’

ideas.Improves your listening skills.Increases your confidence in speaking.

Communication skills

Candidate should be able to talk effectively and convincingly (speak forcefully and exhibit knowledge)

Hold the attention of the audience.Be precise and clear.A participant should exhibit knowledge and

relevance to the given subject and clarity of thoughts.

Remember GD is not a debating forum.Participant must be good listeners.Also must have confidence.

Knowledge and ideas regarding the subject

Knowledge makes one confident and enthusiastic.

Makes you able to convincing soundly.

For sound knowledge Keep reading regularly.

Leadership and Coordinating capabilities.

Display tactfulness, skill, understanding and knowledge on varied topics

Be forceful and inculcate other leadership qualities to motivate and influence other candidates.

Addressing the group as a whole

Address the group not the individual members.

Avoid informal and intimate knowledge.Don’t undergo dyadic discussion.

The mechanics of GD

A leaderless group of 8-10 candidates is formed.

A case study or problem is given to come to a solution.

orThe group may be given topic and asked to

discuss on the same.The panel observes the proceedings of GD

and evaluates the candidates.

Precision and succinctness (necessities for GD)

You should have a good general knowledge.Be familiar with current affairs (read, read &

read…)Group behaviour & communication skills testedo Your ability to convince otherso You should be able to articulate ideas.o Allow others to speako Adopt a stand on given pointo This stand may change during the course of GD.o You get additional advantage of starting and/or

concluding the discussion.

Precision and succinctness (necessities for GD)

REMEMBER Sound knowledge on different topics is the key

to success (keep reading).Power to convince othersClarity in speech and expressionIf you don’t have adequate knowledge of the

topic don’t initiate. Listen attentively & form your views.

don’t use slang.Don’t go on debating. In the latter part of GD

speak on your viewpoint on the topic – agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral. (Contd…)

Precision and succinctness (necessities for GD)

language used be simple, direct and straight forward.

Don’t interrupt a speaker, try to get advantage of speaking more than others.

Maintain rapport with others. Non verbal gestures bring positive points to you.

GD is not dyadic discussion. Speak to all the members.

GD skills

Interpersonal skillsAbility to interact with others. Emotional

maturity balance tends to good interpersonal relationship. Be more people centric and not self-centered. (neglect personal comments, remain objective, empathize, non threatening, be sportive.

Persuasive skillsAbility to analyze and persuade others,

testing the issue from various perspectives without hurting the members.

GD Skills

Problem solving skillsAbility to think out-of-box and be creative.

(don’t hesitate to give novel solution, can adopt high-risk high-return strategy)

Conceptualizing skillsAbility to grasp the situation. Think of

ordinary and make it universal (general). (a few summarizing sentences may present overall situation)

Important tipsBe natural. Don’t try to be someone else. Be yourself.Try to be more vocal.Take time to organize things. Think of what you are

going to say.Seek clarifications of your doubts for the subject.Start speaking after clearly analyzing and

understanding the problem.Work out and decide strategies to initiate your speech.

Initiate or agree with someone and then express your views.

unless you give valuable insight during the discussion, even if you initiate the discussion is no worth.

Maintain positive body language. (Contd….)

Important tips

Improve language skills. Express your points clearly and fluently.

Be assertive and not dominating. Maintain a balanced tone.

Be cool even in adverse situations. Be objective. Don’t take anything personally.

Be polite always.Use leadership skill. Motivate reticent to

speak. Be receptive to others’ opinions. Don’t be abrasive or aggressive.

For practice arrange mock GD

Practice

OBSERVE Attend as many seminars and tutorials as

possible.Notice what other students do.How do they make critical comments?How do they ask questions?How do they disagree or support arguments?What special polite phrases they use even when

they disagree?what they do to interrupt, ask question or make

a point?

Discussion etiquette

DO’SRespect the contribution of other speakers.Speak pleasantly and with courtesy.Listen carefully to the others’ ideas.Remember GD is not a battlefield. Disagree

politely.Remember others have different views, which

are not necessarily ‘wrong’.Think about your contribution before you

speak. (contd…)

Discussion etiquette

Stick to the discussion topic. Avoid irrelevant information

Keep your body language open and friendly.Avoid aggressive gestures.Agree and acknowledge what appears

interesting.Keep the discussion to the topic.Try to speak clearly. Don’t whisper.

Discussion etiquetteDON’TsDon’t take offence if a person disagrees with

you.Don’t ridicule the contribution of others.Don’t try to intimidate or insult another

speaker.Don’t use a loud or angry tone.Avoid negative body language while

speaking.Don’t try to dominate the discussion.Avoid drawing too much on personal

experience or anecdote.Don’t interrupt or talk over another speaker.

Leading discussion

DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP BYIntroducing yourself and other group membersStating the purpose of the discussionAsking question to stimulate discussionInviting quiet group members to speakBeing objectiveEnsuring only one member speaks at a timeEnsuring the discussion remains relevant to the

topicSummarizing the a speaker’s point.Summarizing the discussion.

Chairing the discussion

Four skill to influence the other members positively

Introduce the topic and the purpose of the discussion

Make sure all the members have approximately the same time.

Thanking group members for their contribution

Being objective in summarizing the GD and achievements.

Types of GD

Factual topicsFactual topics are about practical things. A candidate is given chance to prove that he is aware of his

environment.Controversial topicsAre argumentative in nature and are meant to generate

controversy.Your maturity is tested on the basis of rational and logical

arguments. Abstract topicsAre about intangible things These topics test your imaginative thinking and creativity.

Case based GD

Uses case instead of a topic.Case study tries to reproduce a real life

situation.Information about the situation is given and

you may be asked to give resolve to the situation.

There are no incorrect answers or perfect solutions.

The objective of the case study is to make you think of the situation from various angles.

THANKS