group discussion common tips

8/21/2019 Group Discussion Common Tips

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Group Discussion Common Tips From FreshersHome.com Team!

The tips given below are appicable in any GD. The only difference between most

other GDs and the GDs conducted by the IIMs after CAT or other top B Schools is

the intensity of the competition.

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

Be yourself.

• A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal. The evaluator

wants to hear you speak.

• Take time to organize your thoughts. Think of what you are going to

say.

• Seek clarication if you have any doubts regarding the subect.

• Don!t start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzedthe subect.

• "ork out various strategies to help you make an entry# initiate the

discussion or agree with someone else!s point and then move onto

e$press your views.

• %pening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and

recognition. &f you do not give valuable insights during the discussion' all

your e(orts of initiating the discussion will be in vain.

• )our body language says a lot about you * your gestures and

mannerisms are more likely to re+ect your attitude than what you say.• ,anguage skills are important only to the e(ect as to how you get

your points across clearly and +uently.

• Be assertive not dominating- try to maintain a balanced tone in your

discussion and analysis.

• Don!t lose your cool if anyone says anything you obect to. The key

is to stay obective# Don!t take the discussion personally.

• Always be polite# Try to avoid using e$treme phrases like# & strongly

obect! or & disagree!. &nstead try phrases like# & would like to share my

views on/! or %ne di(erence between your point and mine/! or 0& beg to

di(er with you0

• Brush up on your leadership skills- motivate the other members of

the team to speak 1this surely does not mean that the only thing that you

do in the 2D is to say 0let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf

has to say'0 or 03aghu' let us hear your views0 * 4ssentially be subtle5' and

listen to their views. Be receptive to others! opinions and do not be

abrasive or aggressive.


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• &f you have a group of like*minded friends' you can have a mock

group discussion where you can learn from each other through giving and

receiving feedback.

Freshers GD common mistakes

While selection tools and techniques like tests, interviews etc. provide good data

about an individual, they fall short in providing real life data of how an individual

would be performing in a real life situation especially a group situation. Team work

being an integral part of the BPO work profile, it is important to ascertain group and

inter-personal qualities of an individual. Group discussion is a useful tool to ascertain

these qualities and many organizations use GDs as a selection tool along with

Personal Interviews, aptitude tests etc. A GD is an activity where

• 2roups of 6*78 candidates are formed into a leaderless group' and

are given a specic situation to analyse and discuss within a given time

limit' which may vary between twenty minutes and forty*ve minutes' or

• They may be given a case study and asked to come out with a

solution for a problem

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

1. Preparing for a Group Discussion:While GD reflects the inherent qualities of

an individual, appearing for it unprepared may not augur well for you. These tips

would help you prepare for GDs:

Reading: This is the first and the most crucial step in preparation. This is a never

ending process and the more you read, the better you are in your thoughts. While

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

with current affairs, the debates and hot topics of discussion and also with the latest

in the IT and ITES industry. Chances are the topics would be around these. Read

both for the thoughts as well as for data. Also read multiple view points on the same

topic and then create your point of view with rationale. Also create answers for

counter arguments for your point of view. The electronic media also will be of good

use here.

Mocks: Create an informal GD group and meet regularly to discuss and exchange

feedback. This is the best way to prepare. This would give you a good idea about

your thoughts and how well can you convince. Remember, it is important that you


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are able to express your thoughts well. The better you perform in these mocks the

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

participate in other GD groups. This will develop in you a skill to discuss with

unknown people as well.

2. During the Group Discussion:

What do the panelists assess:Some of the qualities assessed in a GD are:

Leadership Skills- Ability to take leadership roles and be able to lead, inspire and

carry the team along to help them achieve the group's objectives.

Communication Skills - Candidates will be assessed in terms of clarity of thought,

expression and aptness of language. One key aspect is listening. It indicates a

willingness to accommodate others views.

Interpersonal Skills - People skills are an important aspect of any job. They are

reflected in the ability to interact with other members of the group in a brief situation.

Emotional maturity and balance promotes good interpersonal relationships. The

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

Persuasive Skills - The ability to analyze 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 tomake your point in a team-based environment.

These are some of the sub-skills that also get assessed with the skills mentioned

above:

• 9larity of thought

• 2roup working skills 1especially during a group task of case study

discussion5

• 9on+ict handling

• ,istening and probing skills

• :nowledge about the subect and individual point of view

• Ability to create a consensus

• %peness and +e$ibility towards new ideas

• Data based approach to decision making


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While, it is not possible to reflect all these qualities in a short time, you would do well

if you are able to show a couple or more qualities and avoid giving negative

evidence on others.

{mospagebreak}

How do I take my chance to speak: Trying to interrupt others while speaking would

only harm your chances. Instead, you may try to maintain an eye-contact with the

speaker. This would show your listening skills also and would help you gauge from

his eye-movement and pitch of voice that he is about to close his inputs. You can

quickly take it from there. Also, try and link your inputs with what he has spoken

whether you are adding to or opposing his arguments. This would reflect that you

are actually being participative rather than just doing a collective monologue.

• How to I communicate in a GD: Be crisp and to the point. Be factbased and avoid making individual opinions that do not have a factual

base. ;ake eye contact with all the members in the group and avoid

looking at the panelists while speaking. The average duration of the

group discussion provides an average of about times. ?ence'

you need to be really crisp to re+ect the most in those =8*>8 sec. slots.

• How do I convince others and make them agree to my view

point: A lot of candidates make it their mission to make the group reachto a conclusion on the topic. Do not forget that some of the topics have

been eternal debates and there is no way you can get an agreement in 7@

mins. on them. The obective is not to make others toe your line but to

provide fact based' convincing arguments which create an impact. Stick

to this approach.

• Do leadership skills include moderating the group

discussion: This is a myth and many people do try to impose their order

on the 2D' ordering people when to speak and when not to. This onlyre+ects poor leadership. ,eadership in a 2D would be re+ected by your

clarity of thought' ability to e$pand the topic in its di(erent dimensions'

providing an opportunity to a silent participant to speak' listening to

others and probing them to provide more information. ?ence' work on

these areas rather than be a self*appointed moderator of the group.

• Listening: This is a key uality assessed during the 2D about which

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

would also provide you with data to discuss. Also' if you have an average

of


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in active listening. or this' maintain eye contact with the speakers'

attend to them 1like nodding' using acknowledging words like *& see ok'

ne' great etc.5. This would also make you be the centre of attraction as

you would appear non*threatening to the speakers.

• Behaviour during the GD: Be patient- don!t get upset if anyone

says anything you obect to. Stay obective and don!t take the discussion

personally. Also' remember the si$ 9!s of communication * 9larity'

9ompleteness' 9onciseness' 9ondence' 9orrectness and 9ourtesy. Be

appreciative C receptive to ideas from other people and open*minded but

do not let others to change your own viewpoint. Be 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 would

be assessed on a range of di(erent skills and you may think thatleadership is key' you need to be careful that you don!t dominate the

discussion.

• Quality Vs Quantity: %ften' participants think that success in

group discussions depends on how much and how loudly they speak.

&nterestingly' it!s the opposite. Also' making your point on the topic' your

views are important and the group needs to know. This will tell you are

knowledgeable and that you participate in groups

• Summariing: &f you have not been able to initiate the discussion'try to summaries and close it. 2ood summarizing would get you good

reward points. A conclusion is where the whole group decides in favour or

against the topic and most 2Ds do not have a closure. But every 2D can

be summarized by putting forth what the group has discussed in a

nutshell. :eep the following points in mind while summarizing a

discussion#

Avoid raising new points.

Avoid stating only your viewpoint.

Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the 2D

:eep it brief and concise.

&t must include all the important points that came out during

the 2D

&f you are asked to summarise a 2D' it means the 2D has

come to an end.


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Do not add anything once the 2D has been summarised.

Some Positive Task Roles in a Group Discussion:You may want to play one or

more of them:

• Initiator

• In!ormation seeker

• In!ormation giver

• "rocedure !acilitator

• #pinion seeker

• #pinion giver

• $lari%er

• Social Supporter

• Harmonier

• &ension 'eliever

• (nergier

•

$ompromiser

• Gatekeeper

• Summarier

Negative Roles to be Avoided

• Disgruntled non)participant

• *ttacker

• Dominator

• "atronier

• $lown

Feedback template:While doing mocks for GD preparation, you would get

benefited by the feedback of others. For the purpose, we are providing a template for

feedback - both quantitative and qualitative. The items described over there are a

suggested list and not a complete one. You may make changes in it depending upon

your need.


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Freshers - How to face GD

A group discussion consists of -

7. 9ommunication Skills

. 4$change of thoughts

@. Addressing the group as a whole

. Thorough preparations

Communication Skills -

The first aspect is one's power of expression. In a group discussion, a candidate has

to talk effectively so that he is able to convince others. For convincing, one has to

speak forcefully and at the same time create an impact by his knowledge of the

subject. A candidate who is successful in holding the attention of the audience

creates a positive impact.

It is necessary that you should be precise and clear. As a rule evaluators do not look

for the wordage produced. Your knowledge on a given subject, your precision andclarity of thought are the things that are evaluated. Irrelevant talks lead you nowhere.

You should speak as much as necessary, neither more nor less. Group discussions

are not debating stages.

Ability to listen is also what evaluators judge. They look for your ability to react on

what other participants say. Hence, it is necessary that you listen carefully to others

and then react or proceed to add some more points. Your behavior in the group is

also put to test to judge whether you are a loner or can work in a group.

You should be able to convey your thoughts satisfactorily and convincingly before a

group of people. Confidence and level headedness in doing so is necessary. These

add value to your presentation. In case you are not good at it, you might gain by

joining an institute that offers specialized courses in public speaking. For instance,

British Council Division's English Language Teaching Centre offers a wide range of

courses like conversation skills, business communication skills, business writing,

negotiation skills and presentation skills. Mostly people attend these courses to

improve their communication skills. Students here are involved in activities which

use communication skills and teachers provide inputs, monitor and facilitate the


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classes. The course at the Centre makes you confident enough to speak before

people without any nervousness.

Knowledge and Ideas Regarding a Given Subject -

Knowledge of the subject under discussion and clarity of ideas are important.

Knowledge comes from consistent reading on various topics ranging from science

and technology to politics. In-depth knowledge makes one confident and

enthusiastic and this in turn, makes one sound convincing and confident.

Leadership and Coordinating Capabilities -

The basic aim of a group discussion is to judge a candidate's leadership qualities.

The examiner withdraws and becomes a silent spectator once the discussion starts.

A candidate should display tactfulness, skill, understanding and knowledge on

varied topics, enterprise, forcefulness and other leadership qualities to motivate and

influence other candidates who may be almost equally competent.

Exchange of Thoughts -

A group discussion is an exchange of thoughts and ideas among members of a

group. These discussions are held for selecting personnel in organisations where

there is a high level of competition. The number of participants in a group can vary

between 8 and 15. Mostly a topic or a situation is given to group members who have

to discuss it within 10 to 20 minutes.

The purpose is to get an idea about candidates in a short time and make

assessments about their skills, which normally cannot be evaluated in an interview.

These skills may be team membership, leadership skills, listening and articulation

skills.

A note is made of your contributions to the discussion, comprehension of the main

idea, the rapport you strike, patience, assertion, accommodation, amenability, etc.Body language and eye contact too are important points which are to be considered.

.

Addressing the Group as a Whole -

In a group discussion it is not necessary to address anyone by name. Even

otherwise you may not know everyone's names. It better to address the group as a

whole.


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Address the person farthest from you. If he can hear you everyone else too can.

Needless to add, as for the interview, attend the group discussion in formal dress.

The language used should also be formal, not the language used in normal

conversations. For instance, words and phrases like "yar", "chalta hai", "CP", "I

dunno", etc. are out. This is not to say you should use a high sounding, pedanticlanguage. Avoiding both, just use formal, plain and simple language. Hinglish,

(mixture of Hindi and English) should be discarded.

Confidence and coolness while presenting your viewpoint are of help. See that you

do not keep repeating a point. Do not use more words than necessary. Do not be

superfluous. Try to be specific. Do not exaggerate.

Thorough Preparation -

Start making preparations for interview and group discussions right away, without

waiting till the eleventh hour, this is, if and when called for them. Then the time left

may not be adequate. It is important to concentrate on subject knowledge and

general awareness. Hence, the prime need for thorough preparation. Remember,

the competition is very tough. Only 460 candidates make it to the final list from 2.75

lakh civil service aspirants each year.

It may so happen that you are called for interviews and group discussions from three

or four organizations but are not selected by any. The reason obviously lies in your

not being well-prepared.

In a group discussion you may be given a topic and asked to express your views on

it. Or in a case study GD, students have to read a case study and suggest ways of

tackling the problem. For this you should have a good general knowledge, need to

be abreast with current affairs, should regularly read newspapers and magazines.

Your group behaviour and communication skills are on test, i.e. how you convince

the others and how clearly you are able to express your points of view. You should

be articulate, generate ideas, not sound boring, should allow others to speak, and

adopt a stand on a given subject. During the course of the GD this stand can even

be changed, giving the impression that you are open to accommodate others'

viewpoints.

Additional marks may be given for starting or concluding the discussion.

Points to Remember -

• :nowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has

more chances of success. &n other words' sound knowledge on di(erent

topics like politics' nance' economy' science and technology is helpful.


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• Eower to convince e(ectively is another uality that makes you

stand out among others.

• 9larity in speech and e$pression is yet another essential uality.

• &f you are not sure about the topic of discussion' it is better not toinitiate. ,ack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression.

&nstead' you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. ,isten attentively

to others' may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later.

• A 2D is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.

• A 2D is not a debating stage. Earticipants should conne themselves

to e$pressing their viewpoints. &n the second part of the discussion

candidates can e$ercise their choice in agreeing' disagreeing or

remaining neutral.

• ,anguage use should be simple' direct and straight forward.

• Don!t interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by

increasing your size' not by cutting others short.

• ;aintain rapport with fellow participants. 4ye contact plays a maor

role. Fon*verbal gestures' such as listening intently or nodding while

appreciating someone!s viewpoint speak of you positively.

• 9ommunicate with each and every candidate present. "hile

speaking don!t keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group

in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.

Freshers - Why do we need GD

Why do we Need a GD

• &t helps us to understand a subect more deeply.

• &t improves your ability to think critically.

• &t helps in solving a particular problem.

• &t helps the group to make a particular decision.

• &t gives you the chance to hear other students! ideas.

• &t improves your listening skills.

• &t increases your condence in speaking.

• &t can change your attitudes.


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Strategies for Improving GD Skills for Tutorials & Seminars

Asking questions and joining in discussions are important skills for university study.

If you find it difficult to speak or ask questions in tutorials, try the following strategies.

Observe

Attend as many seminars and tutorials as possible and notice what other students

do. Ask yourself:

• ?ow do other students make critical commentsG

• ?ow do they ask uestionsG

• ?ow do they disagree with or support argumentsG

• "hat special phrases do they use to show politeness even when

they are voicing disagreementG

• ?ow do they signal to interrupt' ask a uestion or make a pointG

Practice

Start practicing your discussion skills in an informal setting or with a small group.

Start with asking questions of fellow students. Ask them about the course material.

Ask for their opinions. Ask for information or ask for help.

Participate

Take every opportunity to take part in social/informal discussions as well as more

structured/formal discussion. Start by making small contributions to tutorial

discussions; prepare a question to ask, or agree with another speaker's remarks.

Discussion Etiquette (or minding your manners)

Do

• Speak pleasantly and politely to the group.

• 3espect the contribution of every speaker.

• 3emember that a discussion is not an argument. ,earn to disagree

politely.

• Think about your contribution before you speak. ?ow best can you

answer the uestionH contribute to the topicG

• Try to stick to the discussion topic. Don!t introduce irrelevantinformation.


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• Be aware of your body language when you are speaking.

• Agree with and acknowledge what you nd interesting.

Don't

• ,ose your temper. A discussion is not an argument.

• Shout. Ise a moderate tone and medium pitch.

• Ise too many gestures when you speak. 2estures like nger

pointing and table thumping can appear aggressive.

• Dominate the discussion. 9ondent speakers should allow uieter

students a chance to contribute.

• Draw too much on personal e$perience or anecdote. Although sometutors encourage students to re+ect on their own e$perience' remember

not to generalise too much.

• &nterrupt. "ait for a speaker to nish what they are saying before

you speak.

Leading a Discussion

You may be in a seminar group that requires you to lead a group discussion, or lead

a discussion after an oral presentation. You can demonstrate leadership by:

• introducing yourself and the members of the group

• stating the purpose of the discussion

• inviting uiet group members to speak

• being obective

• summarizing the discussion

Chairing a Group Discussion

When chairing a discussion group you must communicate in a positive way to assist

the speakers in accomplishing their objective. There are at least four leadership

skills you can use to influence other people positively and help your group achieve

its purpose. These skills include:

• introducing the topic and purpose of the discussion'

• making sure all members have appro$imately the same time' 1i.e.

no one dominates the discussion by taking too much time5


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• thanking group members for their contribution

• being obective in summarizing the group!s discussion and

achievements.

Some GD Topics

Social Topics:

&. Bride burning and dowry may look bad' but are an integral part of &ndia.

&&. %ur 9ulture is Decaying&&&. "e are not serious about saving "ildlifeH4nvironment

&J. Are Big Dams FecessaryG

J. ilms are corrupting the &ndian )outh

J&. A 2andhian State selling liuor is an anomaly

J&&. &mpact of Televsion on 9hildrensG

J&&&. Do 4lections have any meaningG

&K. "hy do we need democracyG

K. The education system needs serious reforms.

K&. The impact of ;TJ on our psyche

K&&. Showing Jiolence and 9rimes should not be allowed in lms and on

television. ,et us legalise gambling

Hot Topics:

&. ?ow to deal with international terrorism.

&&. Should we pursue our policy of dialogue with EakistanG

&&&. &s peace and non*violence outdated conceptsG

Management Topics:

&. &s management an art or a scienceG

&&. The 3ush for ;BA is really a rush for big money

&&&. 4thics in Business are ust a passing fashion

&J. amily owned business vs professionally run businesses

J. Smaller businesses and start*ups have more scope for professional growth.

J&. Dot com or doubt comG

J&&. The obective of ;anagement is to ma$imise prots

J&&&. Do professional managers have a chance in our family run businessesG

&K. The &nternet is an e$ercise in hype

K. &s an ;BA necessary to succeed in lifeG


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Nature Topics:

&. "hy do we care for FatureG

&&. &mpact of Smoking on 2lobal "armingG

&&&. 9an we live without uelG

&J. Do we need to protect 4ndangeruod speciesG

Polictic Topics:

&. 3eserving seats for women in Eanchayat has not only been a farce but has

distracted from developing a more genuine voice of women.

&&. ?ave the nuclear tests of 7LL6 beneted or harmed &ndiaG

&&&. Joters' not' political parties are responsible for the criminalisation of

politics.

&J. The voters are reuired to be well informed and educated about their

candidates so that they can elect the right aspirant by their own

assessment.

J. &ndia should go for the presidential form of democracy.

Economic Topics:

&. &n our economic matters' there is an e$cessive tendency towards the

thinking rather than doing.

&&. 4very cloud has a silver lining

&&&. 9an the economy achieve an 6 percent growth rateG.

&J. &s disinvestment really that good for &ndia or is a rethink in order GJ. Are co*operatives relevant in today!s globalised environmentG.

J&. oreign aid is a dangerous drug that can stimulate in small doses but

become fatally addictive in larger doses.

J&&. ;odern day sport in industrialised society is an industry' as anything else.

J&&&. 2overnment should clean its own hands before pointing nger at the

private sector for corruption.

&K. &s the FEA ordinance too harshG

K. 3eforms have to grow up.

K&. The future lies with glocalisation .

K&&. Developing countries need trade' not aid.

K&&&. "hy do we lag behind 9hinaG

K&J. 9apitalism is a very +awed system but the others are so much worse.

KJ. le$ibility of labour laws is the key to attracting more oreign Direct

&nvestment.

KJ&. &s the business of business only businessG

KJ&&. &s the consumer really the king in &ndiaG.

KJ&&&. 2lobalisation versus nationalism

K&K. 9onditional access system for cable TJ watchers# boon or baneG


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KK. &f &ndia is poorly governed' the reason is that we have designed our

system of governance for protecting' if not encouraging' corruptionG

KK&. 9ommercialisation of health care # 2ood or Bad G

KK&&. or globalisation to succeed in &ndia people must be able to see what is in

it for themKK&&&. &s the IS economy headed the Mapanese economy wayG

KK&J. 4conomic freedom not old fashioned theories of development will lead to

growth and prosperity

KKJ. ;arkets left to themselves encourage greed.

KKJ&. or globalisation to succeed in &ndia people must be able to see what is in

it for them

KKJ&&. Should businessmen run the nance ministry

KKJ&&&. Should important services like transport be left to market forcesG.

KK&K. &s there any point in having a business strategy when the world changes

from month to monthG

KKK. &s the patents bill good for &ndiaG .

KKK&. &s the business of business only businessG.

KKK&&. 2lobalisation is good for developing countries

KKK&&&. Eublic sector being a guarantor of ob security is a myth.

KKK&J. &s industryless growth here to stay G

KKKJ. 9apitalism is a very +awed system but the others are so much worse G

KKKJ&. ?ow can business get rid of the bad name that it has earnedG

KKKJ&&. 2overnment pumping money into the economy is not the solution for our

economic problems

KKKJ&&&. Business ethics are no longer a lu$ury for corporates but a necessityG

KKK&K. ?ow should privatisation proceeds be utilised G

K,. &s the budgeting e$ercise of any useG

K,&. Should agricultural subsidies be stopped G

K,&&. "ill ;umbai!s lm industry ever evolve into a truly modern corporatised

oneG

K,&&&. "ill market reforms enrich rich states further' while poorer ones lag

furtherG.

K,&J. "hy do we lag behind 9hina G

K,J. "ho says ;F9s are superior to &ndian companies G.

K,J&. "hy not use a brand inde$ to measure national prosperityG.

K,J&&. "hat we need to reduce scams is better regulatory bodies.

K,J&&&. "ar rhetoric is misplaced in a country like &ndia which is trying to globalise

its economy.

K,&K. Trade can help the poor G

,. The power ministry should cut o( supplies to all the defaulting S4Bs.


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,&. Steal a few lakhs and you!re a criminal. Steal a few hundred crores and

you become an industrialist.

,&&. Should ESIs be divested through strategic sale or public o(erG

,&&&. The state is above the lawG

Management Education Topics

&. ;anagerial skills learnt in the classroom can never match those learnt

from e$perience

&&. Democracy is hampering &ndia progress

&&&. ;BA in &ndia is highly overrated.N

Freshers GD common mistakes

Learning from a mistake is one who has won wisdom, and who does not learn

and repeats mistake is the one who does not.

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

Emotional outburst

Rashmi was offended when one of the male participants in a group discussion made

a statement on women generally being submissive while explaining his point of view.

When Rashmi 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 went on to defend women in general.

What Rashmi essentially did was to

• Deviate from the subect.

• Treat the discussion as a forum to air her own views.

• ,ose obectivity and make personal attacks.

Her behaviour would have been perceived as immature and demotivating to the rest

of the team.

Quality Vs Quantity

Gautam believed that the more he talked, the more likely he was to get through the

GD. So, he interrupted other people at every opportunity. He did this so often that the

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


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discussion.

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

your ability to be a team player.

•

4valuation is based on uality' and not on uantity. )our contributionmust be relevant.

• The mantra is +$ontri,uting meaning!ully to the team-s

success.+ Domination is frowned upon.

Egotism Showing off

Krishna was happy to have got a group discussion topic he had prepared for. So, he

took pains to project his vast knowledge of the topic. Every other sentence of his

contained statistical data - "20% of companies; 24.27% of parliamentarians felt that; I

recently read in a Jupiter Report that..." and so on so forth. Soon, the rest of the

team either laughed at him or ignored his attempts to enlighten them as theyperceived that he was cooking up the data.

• 4$ercise restraint in anything. )ou will end up being frowned upon if

you attempt showing*o( your knowledge.

• acts and gures need not validate all your statements.

• &ts your analysis and interpretation that are eually important * not

ust facts and gures.

• )ou might be appreciated for your in*depth knowledge. But youwill

fail miserably in your people skills.Such a behavior indicates how self-centered you are and highlights your inability to

work in an atmosphere where different opinions are expressed.

Get noticed - But for the right reasons

Srikumar knew that everyone would compete to initiate the discussion. So as soon

as the topic - "Discuss the negative effects of India joining the WTO" - was read out,

he began talking. In his anxiety to be the first to start speaking, he did not hear the

word "negative" in the topic. He began discussing the ways in which the country had

benefited by joining WTO, only to be stopped by the evaluator, who then corrected

his mistake.

• alse starts are e$tremely e$pensive. They cost you your admission.

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

opinions.

• Spending a little time analyzing the topic may provide you with

insights which others may not have thought about. Ise a pen and paper

to ot down your ideas.


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• ,istenO &t gives you the time to conceptualize and present the

information in a better manner.

Some mistakes are irreparable. Starting off the group discussion with a mistake is

one such mistake, unless you have a great sense of humor.

Managing one's insecurities

Sumati was very nervous. She thought that some of the other candidates were

exceptionally good. Thanks to her insecurity, she contributed little to the discussion.

Even when she was 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.

• 3emember' you are the participant in the 2D- not the evaluator. So'rather than evaluating others and your performance' participate in the

discussion.

• )our condence level is being evaluated. Decent communication

skills with good condence is a must to crack the 2Ds.

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

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

language.

Freshers GD FAQ

/hat is the normal duration o! a GD0

A GD is generally of 15-20 minutes duration.

How many panel mem,ers are there to evaluate0

There are usually =*> panel members to evaluate.

Is there time given !or preparation a!ter the topic is given and

,e!ore starting the GD0

Isually some time 1


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there could be instances when this does not happen' so it is best not to

bank on this.

Should I address the panel or the group mem,ers0

Don!t ever make the mistake of addressing the panel members. The 2D is

between you and the other members' not the panel members. )ou mustavoid even looking at the panel members while the 2D is in progress. Must

ignore their e$istence.

/hat is the seating arrangement like0

It could be semi-circular, or circular, or seating along side a rectangular table,

depending upon the venue. It is best not to bother about trivial issues like this, which

you have no control over.

How should I address the other group mem,ers0

If you are initiating the discussion, you could do so by collectively addressing the

group as "Friends". Subsequently, you could use names (if the group has had a

round of self-introduction prior to starting the discussion and you remember the

names) or simply use pronouns like "he" or "she".

Suppose I have a lot to say on the topic1 should I say all o! it0

)ou would not be looked upon favourably if you kept speaking all the time

and did not listen to anyone else. 9ontrary to the misconception' the

person who talks the most is not necessarily the one who is udged the

best. The uality and not the uantity of your contribution is the success

factor.

Should I encourage others to speak up0

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

asking himHher to speak up. &f someone has been trying to speak and has

a good point but is cut o( constantly' you may encourage himHher to

continue with her point as you would like to hear her out.

*re the group mem,ers supposed to keep track o! the time or

will the panel keep track0

&t would be good if you are conscious of the time' but not to the point of

getting so distracted looking at your watch that you do not contribute tothe discussion.

*re we allowed to carry a piece o! paper during the GD !or noting

down important points0

Normally you are, but there may be instances when it is specifically forbidden to

carry paper.

Is there any particular seating arrangement1 which is !avoura,le

to the participants0

If participants are asked to sit in a circle or a semi circle, one position is as good as

another. But if you are asked to sit on either side of a rectangular table, then choosea position as close to the centre as possible.


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Should we ,egin the GD ,y appointing a leader amongst

ourselves0

No. You should not. Leadership in a GD is established implicitly through one's

performance in a GD.

Should we distri,ute the total time availa,le to all theparticipants to ensure that every,ody gets a chance to speak0

Since 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 de%nite stand in the GD and then later on during

the GD1 switch over to another stand0

Yes, provided you do it the right way. In a GD it is quite likely that some other

participant's counter-argument convinces you to your point. If this happens, then it is

best if you accept his argument and explain to the group how your previous

argument was true within a narrow range, and how the new argument is applicable

to a broader range. Naturally, it is safer not to make any rash statements for or

against a topic before you learn the facts of the argument. Blindly taking a stand will

definitely lead you to trouble. This does not mean you should sit on the fence. You

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

logical manner.

I! we do not understand the meaning o! the topic1 should we ask

the moderator to e2plain it to us0

No. You cannot. Instead of displaying your ignorance in this manner, it is better towait for some other participant to explain the meaning of the topic. So listen to the

discussion carefully for the first few minutes and when you have figured out what the

topic is about, start participating in the discussion.

Should we address the other participants ,y their names or their

assigned num,ers0

As far as possible, you should try and avoid names or numbers. It is better to use

pronouns such as "he", "she", "you" etc. while referring to the members of the group.

*re we e2pected to stick to the normally accepted line o! thought

or can we come up with something radical0By all means you can. It would demonstrate your creativity and originality. Just make

sure it is relevant to the topic.

I! I !eel strongly a,out an issue1 should I voice my !eelings0

It is important to be cool and emotionally objective in a GD. If you react emotionally

you are likely to lose control over yourself during the group discussion. You have to

be calm and logical, not emotional in a GD.

$an I use technical terms or 3argon1 which is clear to me1 ,ut not

to the group0

If you have to use technical terms, please do not use abbreviations. After mentioning


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the term in full take time out to explain to the group what it means. It 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 I ,egin my participation ,y re4uesting the group-s permission

to do so0It is not likely that you will get a chance to ask for such permission. It may also go

against you (as appearing weak on your part).

/hat is the right time to enter a GD to ensure that I am heard

properly0

In any GD, there are crests and troughs during the discussion. The crest is when the

noise level is at its peak. The trough is when there is almost total silence. Ideally,

you should enter the GD during the trough period. But in competitive GDs, the crests

occur more often and troughs may not occur at all. In such cases, you could identify

the stages in the GD, where ideas dear to you are being discussed and enter the

GD irrespective of the noise level.

How do I participate when the noise level is too high0

You could try the following strategy - Identify the most powerful speaker in the group,

and note down the points that he/she is making. The moment the noise level

reduces a little, enter supporting the powerful speaker. You will have made a strong

ally who will carry you through the noise.

Do I have to ,e cautious a,out other participants- !eelings 5on

sensitive issues like religion1 caste etc60You certainly do. Insensitivity to others displays a lack of maturity and viciousness. It

will act against your favour.

Is it ,ene%cial to ,e the %rst speaker in a group discussion0

Being the first speaker is a high risk, high return strategy. If you can make a good

opening statement, which is relevant and sets the tone for the GD, it will go in your

favour. If you do this well, you may automatically become the group leader. However

if you bungle it up (by speaking for the sake of speaking, not really having anything

pertinent to say), it will be remembered and will go against your favour.

How critical is my 7uency in (nglish to my per!ormance0Command over English is certainly advantageous but will not compensate for lack of

good content. If your content is good, then even if your English might not be great,

you must speak it out, rather than be inhibited by lack of good English. You will get

credit for soundness of ideas.

How necessary is it to use e2amples !or illustrating an idea0

Use of examples is helpful in elaborating your point, and helping others understand

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

competitive GD nobody has the patience to listen to long, drawn out examples.

{mospagebreak}


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How much or !or how long should I participate0

In a 20 minute GD with 10-12 participants, you should try and participate at least 4

times with each entry lasting at least 25-30 seconds. You could participate more

depending on your comfort level and the need for participation.

Is it good to ,e humorous in a GD0Depends on the situation. In a GD that is fairly relaxed, it may be acceptable. But in

a competitive situation, where the participants are tensed up, your attempts at

humour may fall flat.

Should we make an interim summary0

An interim summary is a way of directing the group mid-way through the GD. It helps

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

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

summary, if the discussion is already well focused.

/hat do I do i! someone else has already said what I wanted to

say0

You have two choices:

7. Agree with the point made by that person and add on to it by

displaying the applicability of the argument to di(erent situations.

By doing this you will have broadened the scope of the argument.


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speaks most is successful. But just speaking for the sake of speaking will not take

you far.

/ill I ,e 4uied a,out my 5or others6 participation in the GD0

You may be. Therefore it helps to be alert all through the GD.

Is it true that the GD is used more as an elimination techni4uerather than as a selection tool0

Depends on the institute. In most premier institutes it is used as a selection tool, not

as an elimination technique.

/hat is the level o! accuracy desired in the !acts and %gures you

4uote during the GD0

An error margin of 5% is acceptable.

Is motivating other people in the group to speak looked upon

!avoura,ly0

Depends on how it is done. If you openly request someone to speak, you may be

putting the other person in a difficult spot, and the evaluators will not look that upon

favourably. It is therefore better to use other means of motivation, such as agreeing

with a halting speaker, adding on to their points, implicitly supporting and giving

them direction.

Does the moderator have any ,iases or preconceived notions

a,out the topic0

Ideally the moderator is supposed to be unbiased and neutral. But being a human

being, the moderator cannot be totally free from bias. Since this is not a factor withinyour control, there isn't much point losing sleep over it.

$an we e2pect the moderator to stop or cut short the GD much

,e!ore the stipulated time is over0

This may happen if the GD becomes too noisy and if the level of discussion

deteriorates abysmally.

$an I ,e aggressive with a lady participant0

A GD is not the place to demonstrate chivalry. Being rude to any participant (male or

female) is downright unacceptable. You need not extend any special privileges to a

lady.Is it all right to ask pointed 4uestions to other participants

during a GD0

It is alright to ask questions for the purpose of clarification but not for the purpose of

playing the devil's advocate and proving them wrong. By playing the devil's advocate

you hamper the flow of the GD. The pointed questions unsettle the other participant

and the quality of the GD deteriorates. This would reflect badly on you and will go

against your favour.

Is it necessary that a group should arrive at a conclusion in the

stipulated time0


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Ideally a group is supposed to reach a conclusion. Normally the time constraints do

not allow the group to do so.

Is an end)summary a,solutely essential0

No. If the group has not reached a conclusion, then it would be good if someone

puts the whole discussion into perspective by summarizing. But if there isn'tsufficient time, a summary may be avoided.

Do we have to write a synopsis o! the GD once it is over0

Some institutes insist on this, but it is not universal.

Is voting an accepta,le method o! reaching a consensus0

Certainly not. A GD is not a debate.

How should a group select a topic i! asked to0

The group should brainstorm for about two minutes and narrow down the list of

topics to 3-4. After this the group should prioritize them based on the comfort level

and ease of discussion of the topics. This could be done by asking each participant

to rank the 4 topics and the most popular choice should be taken.

*re the topics decided on the ,asis o! the academic ,ackground

o! the participant0

No. Topics are usually general in nature to give a level playing field to everyone.

/hat do I do i! one mem,er is very stu,,orn and aggressive0

You could use any of the following methods.

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

• Be assertive and tell him that his argument is faulty.

• Eoint out to him that his point is well taken and that the group must

progress further by discussing the ideas presented by others.

/hat are the accepta,le ways o! interrupting some,ody else1 so

that I may make my point0

You can interrupt in any of the following ways:

•

04$cuse me' but & feel that what you are saying isn!t universallytrue..0

• 0)es' & agree with your idea' and & would like to add on to it0

• 0)es' & think you are right when you say that' but could you clarify

what if.0


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Freshers - MBA Group Discussion

GROUP DISCUSSION

A group discussion (GD) is a simulated exercise, where you cannot suddenly put up

a show, since the evaluators will see through you easily. In this page you can find

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

Here's how most group discussions work

• Formally groups of 6*78 candidates are formed into a leaderless

group' and are given a specic situation to analyze and discuss within a

given time limit.

• The group may be given a case study and asked to come out with a

solution for a problem.

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

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

OBJECTIVE

Lets start from the basic. One needs to know what one's objective in the group is. A

good definition of your objective is - to be noticed to have contributed meaningfully in

an attempt to help the group reach the rightconsensus. What does this essentially

mean?

7. The %rst implication is that you should ,e noticed by the panel.

;erely making a meaningful contribution and helping the group


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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 practiceG

• )ou must ensure that the group hears you. &f the group hears

you' so will the evaluator. That does not mean that you shout at thetop of your voice and be noticed for the wrong reasons.

• )ou have to be assertive. &f you are not a very assertive

person' you will have to simply learn to be assertive for those 7@

minutes. 3emember' assertiveness does not mean being bull*

headed or being arrogant.

• And most importantly' you have to make your chances. ;any

group discussion participants often complain that they did not get a

chance to speak. The fact is that in no group discussion will you get

a chance to speak. There is nothing more unacceptable in a 2D than

keeping one!s mouth shut or ust murmuring things which are

inaudible.

• Earticipate in as many practice 2Ds as possible before you

attend the actual 2D. There is nothing like practice to help you

overcome the fear of talking in a 2D.


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• %ne' if you do not start the 2D and are not amongst the rst

ve speakers and nd 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.

• Second' it helps to have a knowledge of how group memberswho take a stand diametrically opposite to yours will put forth their

argument and to be prepared with counter arguments.

=. 4verybody else will state the obvious. So highlight some points that

are not obvious. The di(erent perspective that you bring to the

group will be highly apprecaited by the panel. Some pointers on

being relevant while having a di(erent perspective are#

• Be careful that the 0something di(erent0 you state is still

relevant to the topic being debated.

• 9an you take the group ahead if it is stuck at one pointG

• 9an you take it in a fresh and more relevant directionG

>. The last implication is that you must be clearly seen to be

attempting to build a consensus.

• 2aining support or in+uencing colleagues is the mantra

adopted by many a successful Business ,eaders.

• Fobody e$pects a group of ten intelligent' assertive people' all

with di(erent points of view on a controversial subect to actually

achieve a consensus. But what matters is 0Did you make attempts

to build a consensusG0

• The reason why an attempt to build a consensus is important

is because in most work situations you will have to work with people

in a team' accept oint responsibilities and take decisions as a

group.

• )ou must demonstrate the fact that you are capable and

inclined to work as part of a team.

group discussion common tips

Documents