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Group Discussions: How to Handle it – In Detail

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3:29 pm
December 16, 2009

kiran

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GD Guidelines

How to Handle Group Discussions

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

General Tips for Group Discussion

A good level of general awareness will come in handy so that you
aren't at a loss of words on certain issues.
Understand the topic and analyse it mentally before speaking.
Be clear about the purpose and content of your viewpoint.
One should be able to communicate his views in an effective manner to
everyone. Be clear in speech, audible but not too loud and above all
remain confident.
Remember the six C's of effective communication — Clarity,
Completeness, Conciseness, Confidence, Correctness and Courtesy.
You should mantain eye contact with all others in the group and not
focus on a particular person for he may benefit from that.
Be responsive to ideas from other people and seem to be very
receptive and open-minded but don't allow others to change your own
viewpoint..
Starting the discussion is considered to be good however it isn't
that important; what is important is that you speak for a period long
enough for you to be able to communicate your viewpoint .
Always mantain your calm and never get aggresive. If you haven't been
able to talk then one can cut in saying "Excuse me, but what I think
is ………." or something of that sort.
Never lose your temper and never attack anyone on a personal front.
Your attitude should be one of cooperation and not one of conflict.
Don't lose sight of the goal of the discussion.
Listen to any criticisms and give them a thought before trying to
defend your views.

How is Evaluation Done in a Group Discussion

Group Discussion: Winners' skills Group discussion is an important
dimension of the selection process. Any institute requires students
to work with others for effective functioning. Therefore, people
skills are an important aspect of any MBA program.

In today's context, the educational institutes and organizations are
interested in team players rather than individual contributors.
During the Group Discussion, the panel essentially evaluates the
candidate's potential to be a leader and also his/her ability to work
in teams. Remember that institutes are typically on the look out for
candidates who will inspire to lead and succeed and for that you need
to be a good team player.

Here is a sample list of skills assessed during a group discussion:

Leadership skills:
Ability to take leadership roles and ability to lead, inspire and
carry the team along to help them achieve group's objectives.
Example: To be able to initiate the group discussion, or to be able
to guide the group especially when the discussion begins losing
relevance or try to encourage all members to participate in the
discussion.

Communication skills:

The participating 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.
Example: To be able to use simple language and explain concepts
clearly so that it is easily understood by all. You actually get
negative marks for using esoteric jargons in an attempt to show-off
your knowledge.

Interpersonal skills:

Is reflected in the ability of the individual 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.
Example: To remain cool even when someone provokes you by with
personal comment, ability to remain objective, ability to empathize,
non-threatening and more of a team player.

Persuasive skills:

Ability to analyze and persuade others to see the problem from
multiple perspectives without hurting the group members.
Example: While appreciating someone else's point of view, you should
be able to effectively communicate your view without overtly hurting
the other person.

Problem solving skills:

Ability to come out with divergent and offbeat solutions and use
one's own creativity.
Example: While thinking of solutions, don't be afraid to think of
novel solutions. This is a high- risk high-return strategy.
Conceptualizing skills:

The ability to grasp the situation, take it from the day to day
mundane problem level and apply it to a macro level.
Example: At the end of the discussion, you could probably summarize
the findings in a few sentences that present the overall perspective.
Don't be disheartened if you don't make it after your first group
discussion. The best possible preparation for a group discussion is
to learn from one's past mistakes…

Group Discussion : Frequently Asked Questions / Doubts on GD

What is the normal duration of a GD?

A GD is generally of 15-20 minutes duration.

How many panel members are there to evaluate?

There are usually 3-4 panel members to evaluate.

Is there time given for preparation after the topic is given and
before starting the GD?

Usually some time (2-5 minutes) is given to collect one's thoughts,
but 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 members?

Don't ever make the mistake of addressing the panel members. The GD
is between you and the other members, not the panel members. You must
avoid even looking at the panel members while the GD is in progress.
Just ignore their existence.

What is the seating arrangement like?

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 members?

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 topic, should I say all of it?

You would not be looked upon favourably if you kept speaking all the
time and did not listen to anyone else. Contrary to the
misconception, the person who talks the most is not necessarily the
one who is judged the best. The quality and not the quantity of your
contribution is the success factor.

Should I encourage others to speak up?

Do not directly put someone who is consistently silent on the spot by
asking him/her to speak up. If someone has been trying to speak and
has a good point but is cut off constantly, you may encourage him/her
to continue with her point as you would like to hear her out.

Are the group members supposed to keep track of the time or will the
panel keep track?

It 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 to the discussion.

Group Discussion : Dos & Donts

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 (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you
do in the GD is to say "let us hear what the young lady with the blue
scarf has to say," or "Raghu, let us hear your views" – Essentially
be subtle), and listen to their views. Be receptive to others'
opinions and do not be abrasive or 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

Common Mistakes in a Group Discussion

Wise men learn from others mistakes, while the less fortunate, from
their own.

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 subject
• Treat the discussion as a forum to air her own views.
• Lose objectivity 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
discussion.
• Assessment is not only on your communication skills but also on
your ability to be a team player.
• Evaluation is based on quality, and not on quantity. Your
contribution must be relevant.
• The mantra is "Contributing meaningfully 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 they perceived that he was cooking up the data.
• Exercise restraint in anything. You will end up being frowned upon
if you attempt showing-off your knowledge.
• Facts and figures need not validate all your statements.
• Its your analysis and interpretation that are equally important -
not just facts and figures.
• You might be appreciated for your in-depth knowledge. But you will
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.
• False starts are extremely expensive. They cost you your admission.
It 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. Use a pen and paper
to jot down your ideas.
• Listen! It 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.
• Your personality is also being evaluated. Your verbal and non
verbal cues are being read.
• Remember, you are the participant in the GD; not the evaluator. So,
rather than evaluating others and your performance, participate in
the discussion.
• Your confidence level is being evaluated. Decent communication
skills with good confidence is a must to crack the GDs.

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.

Probable GD Topics

1. US war on Iraq-justified or not.

2. Role of UN in peacekeeping.

3. Position of Women in India compared to other nations.

4. Environment MAnagement.

5. Is China better than India in software.

6.Should SONIA gandhi be made the PM

7. BPOs in INDIA

8. Govt contribution to IT

9. Will punch lines rule the Advt

10. Prematial sex

11. Is China a threat to Indian industry