Group Discussion (GD) Overview
GD is Participation in a systematic way on a particular topic, not a wrestling
match to score points
#Difference between Group Discussion and Debate
Debate – Either Winning or Losing.
Discussion – Expression of your point of view and respecting another's point of
view.
A debate is a perfect situation for expressing intense emotions.
A GD, however, calls for a lot more maturity and logic.
GROUP DISCUSSION
Group Discussion (GD) is extensively used along with personal interviews for the
final selection of candidates for admission to professional courses and in Job
interviews.
It helps in selecting the best among the candidates. All candidates are placed on
an equal footing in a GD
It is also designed as a situation test wherein a candidate's group worthiness and
potential as an employee comes out explicitly.
It is also designed as a situation test to see a candidate's ability to express
himself/herself amidst peer presence and sometimes peer pressure.
Features of GD
GD is
An exchange of ideas among individuals of a group on a specific topic.
Used as a reliable, testing device - as one of the tools to assess all the
candidates from a group at one go -in order to select the most positive,
competitive, and spirited amongst the lot
An informal discussion in which participants of the same educational
standard/experience discuss a topic of current interest.
Known as leaderless discussion. It means its aim is to find out the natural
leadership qualities of the candidates.
Conducted in a competitive mode.
Helps you come across as a person with sound, logical reasoning and the ability to
respect and accept another's viewpoint.
NATURE
The dynamics of the group will stimulate each participant to reveal his/her
inherent natural leadership qualities in a spontaneous manner.
As all the participants are rivals, there is bound to be competition and a clash of
interests among them.
In this free for all act- you have to manage yourself and others and get the
cooperation of the group by continuously relating to situations as they keep
developing and changing.
Each one in the group would be keen to top in the discussion, resulting in a good
deal of rivalry and maneuvering for situations of advantage.
GD is a verbal-oriented performance and you have to talk your way out. With one's
gift of the gab or power of expression. GD requires the verbal display of the
knowledge of the candidate.
Only if one remains alert by adapting himself/herself to the changing situations as
they emerge, and only those who utilize the opportunities with enterprise,
imagination, and tact can come out successfully.
Under GD circumstances, the conduct and behavior of each candidate will bring to
the surface his or her natural leadership,
WHAT ALL ARE TESTED/OBSERVED?
Leadership-Convincing capacity-Knowledge-Time Management-Logical reasoning
Self Confidence-Diplomacy-Knowledge-Assertiveness-Communication Skills-
Team Spirit-Presence of mind-Attitude-Rationality-Empathy-Respect for others
The above are tested in a GD.
INITIATION/START
There is always an advantage if the initiation is perfect as an opening-However it
doesn’t mean that one has to start first-whenever one starts-1st or 2nd or 5th or
in any order-if one can initiate his views in the below manner-the impact will be
positive.
Initiation Techniques
Initiating a GD is a high profit-high loss strategy.
Initiate one only if you have in-depth knowledge about the topic at hand.
Do not stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong facts and figures.
How to make a good first impression when you start?
Quotes
Quotes are an effective way of initiating a GD.
Example-For a GD topic like, Customer is King, you could quote Sam (Wal-mart)
Walton's famous saying, 'There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire
everybody in the company -- from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money
somewhere else.'
Definition-
Start a GD by defining the topic or an important term in the topic.
Example-If the Topic of GD is-“Why soft skills are important?”-Why not start with-
“As we know Soft skills is a sociological term relating to a person's "EQ", the
cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal
habits, friendliness, and optimism that characterize relationships with other
people.
The power of Question in GD-
Asking a question is an impactful way of starting a GD.
It does not signify asking a question to any of the candidates in a GD so as to
hamper the flow. It implies asking a question and answering it yourself.
For a topic like, “Should India go to war with Pakistan”, you could start by
asking, 'What does war bring to the people of a nation? We have had four clashes
with Pakistan. The pertinent question is: what have we achieved?'
Facts, figures, and statistics-
If you decide to initiate your GD with facts, figures and statistics, make sure to
quote them accurately.
The approximation is allowed in macro-level figures, but micro-level figures need
to be correct and accurate.
For example, you can say, approximately 70 percent of the Indian population stays
in rural areas (macro figures, approximation allowed).
But you cannot say 30 states of India instead of 28 (micro figures, no
approximations).
Stating wrong facts works to your disadvantage
General Statement-
Use a general statement to put the GD in proper perspective.
For example, if the topic is, Should a younger person be the prime minister of
India?, you could start by saying, ('Before jumping to conclusions like, 'Yes,
should be, or 'No, should not be), let's first find out the qualities one needs to
be a good prime minister of India. Then we can compare these qualities the current
younger generation possesses. This will help us reach the conclusion in a more
objective and effective manner.'
#SUMMARISATION (Closing)
Most GDs do not really have conclusions.
Keep the following points in mind while summarising a discussion:
Avoid raising new points.
Avoid stating only your viewpoint.
Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.
Keep it brief and concise.
It must incorporate all the important points that came out during the GD.
If the examiner asks you to summarise a GD, it means the GD has come to an end. Do
not add anything once the GD has been summarised.
IMPORTANT POINTS
Build your knowledge base.
Analyze issues from various angles.
Maintain a positive attitude.
Stay motivated and excited about the upcoming challenge.
Stay focused and competitive.
See things from the other person's viewpoint and respect it even if you strongly
disagree.
DO’s of GD
Make original points & support them with substantial reasoning.
Listen to the other participants actively &carefully.
Whatever you say must be with a logical flow, &validate it with an example as far
as possible.
Make only accurate statements.
Modulate the volume, pitch, and tone.
Be considerate of the feelings of others.
Try to get your turn.
Be an active and dynamic participant by listening.
Talk with confidence and self-assurance.
DON’Ts of GD
Being shy /nervous/avoiding/skipping your turn
Interrupting another participant before his arguments are over
Change opinions
Don’t make fun of any participant even if his arguments are funny.
Don’t engage yourself in sub-group conversation.
Don’t repeat the points
Don’t talk pessimistic
Don’t point your fingers or thump the table
Don’t deviate from the topic
Don’t raise your voice in unnecessary**
WHO GETS SELECTED?
The person who expresses his ideas well.
The person with sound arguments, and demonstrates keenness and interest.
The person who has sufficient knowledge of the subject and is able to convince
The person who applies a logical and systematic approach.
A person who has a positive attitude and is also assertive
Most importantly the person who has the tendency to cooperate and who
coordinates the group
What is tested/observed during the Group Discussion?
Leadership
Convincing capacity
Knowledge
Time Management
Logical reasoning
Self Confidence
Diplomacy
Knowledge
Assertiveness
Communication Skills
Team Spirit
Presence of mind
Attitude
Rationality
Empathy
Respect for others
GD will be usually only for 10 minutes with feedback of 10 minutes.
