GROUP DISCUSSION

             The Group discussion tests how you function as a part of a team. As a manager, you will always be working in teams, as a leader or as a member. So, how you interact in a team becomes an important reason for your selection. Managers have to work in a team and get best results out of teamwork. That is the reason why management institutes include GD as a component of the selection procedure.

Companies conduct Group Discussion after the written test to check your interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people. It  is to check how you  participate and contribute in a group, how you behave, how much importance do you give to the group objective as well as your own, how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own and how well do you listen to viewpoints of others. The aspects which make up a GD are conformation to norms, verbal communication, decision-making ability, non-verbal behavior and cooperation. You should try to be as true as possible to these aspects.

A Group Discussion focuses on:

1. Communication Skills
2. Team Skills
3. Negotiation Skills    and your
4. Knowledge and ideas regarding a given subject

How to address?

In a group discussion it is not necessary to address anyone by name. It is always better to address the group as a whole.

Communication Skills:

In a group discussion, a candidate has to present effectively 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 pompous vocabulary. Your knowledge on a given subject, your precision, and clarity of thought are the things that are evaluated. You should be able to convey your thoughts satisfactorily and convincingly before a group of people.

Capability to co-ordinate and lead:

The basic aim of a group discussion is to judge a candidate's leadership qualities. Once the discussion starts ,the examiner withdraws and becomes a silent spectator. A candidate should display skill, understanding, knowledge, and tactfulness on varied topics, forcefulness, enterprise and other leadership qualities to influence and motivate 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 organizations where there is a high level of competition. The number of participants in a group can be between 5 and 15. Mostly a topic is given to group members who have to discuss it within 10 to 20 minutes.

The reason 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  leadership skills, team member skills, articulation skills, and listening skills.

Knowledge and ideas regarding a given subject:

Knowledge of the subject under discussion and clarity of ideas are important. Knowledge comes from consistent reading of 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.

Thorough preparation:

Start making preparations for interview and group discussions from now, 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.

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 behavior and communication skills are on test.

GD's Do's & Dont's

Do's

• 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 clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject.
• Don't start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject.
• Work out various strategies to help you make an entry: initiate the discussion or agree with someone else's point and then move onto express your views.
• Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition. If you do not give valuable insights during the discussion, all your efforts of initiating the discussion will be in vain.
• Your body language says a lot about you. Your gestures and mannerisms are more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say.
• Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your points across clearly and fluently.
• 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 object to. The key is to stay objective: Don't take the discussion personally.
• Always be polite: Try to avoid using extreme phrases like: `I strongly object' or `I disagree'. Instead try phrases like: `I would like to share my views on…' or `One difference between your point and mine…' or "I beg to differ with you"
• Brush up on your leadership skills; motivate the other members of the team to speak. Be receptive to others' opinions and do not be aggressive.
• If 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.
• Apart from the above points, the panel will also judge team members for their alertness and presence of mind, problem-solving abilities, ability to work as a team without alienating certain members, and creativity.

DON'TS

• DON'T Lose your temper. A discussion is not an argument.
• DON'T Shout. Use a moderate tone and medium pitch.
• DON'T Use too many gestures when you speak. Gestures like finger pointing and table thumping can appear aggressive.
• DON'T Dominate the discussion. Confident speakers should allow quieter students a chance to contribute.
• DON'T Draw too much on personal experience or anecdote. Although some tutors encourage students to reflect on their own experience, remember not to generalize too much.
• DON'T Interrupt. Wait for a speaker to finish what they are saying before you speak.