What is a Group Discussion?
"Group" is a collection of
individuals who have regular contact and frequent interaction and who work
together to achieve a common set of goals. "Discussion" is the
process whereby two or more people exchange information or ideas in a
face-to-face situation to achieve a goal. The goal, or end product, maybe
increased knowledge, agreement leading to action, disagreement leading to
competition or resolution or perhaps only a clearing of the air or a
continuation of the status-quo.
Who holds a Group Discussion?
"Group Discussion", popularly
labeled as GD, is a popular methodology used by a many organizations (company,
institute, business school, etc.) these days to gauge whether the candidate has
certain personality traits such as interpersonal communication skills,
confidence in public speaking, team spirit, leadership abilities, social
behavior and problem-solving skills. GDs form an important part of the
short-listing process for recruitment or admission in a company or institution.
How
is a GD Conducted?
1.
In this methodology, there are
usually 7-12 participants in a group. The group of candidates is given a topic
or a situation which could be either factual, abstract or case based, and
typically given some time to think and make notes about the same.
2.
After this, the group of
candidates is, and then asked to discuss it the topic among themselves for a
specific duration ranging between 10-40 minutes (which may vary from one
organization to another). While the group discusses the pertaining issue at
hand, the Moderators/ Panelists silently observe each candidate on various
pre-determined parameters.
Why GD is important?
1.
It helps evaluate whether a
candidate is the right fit for the organization.
2.
It helps assess how a
participant performs under different situations in a group.
3.
It helps to judge how one
conceptualizes and man oeuvres his ideas through the discussion.
4.
It helps in analyzing the
candidate’s attitude towards fellow members through one’s communication and
interpersonal skills, listening ability, humility and tolerance to others
ideas.
5.
It helps in shedding light on
candidate’s leadership and managerial skills, problem-solving aptitude,
creative thinking and knowledge on diverse topics.
Six Golden Rules to Ace a Group Discussion
Rule 1: Prepare
Prepare
well in time on as many topics as you can, not just the ones given in the past,
but related ones too. You never know when the subject would be changed. Get
into the habit of active reading. It’s different from passive reading. Passive
reading is where you read merely to understand the subject. Active reading is
where you not only understand the subject, but also begin to raise questions
and voice your opinion – positive, negative or neutral about the subject. This
is critical in the group discussion to counter or support others’ points of
view.
The next part of
rule 1 is to have mock group discussion, preferably with differing groups of
friends. The point is to train your mind to think of any given topic’s pros and
cons in a dynamic situation where you can’t predict the person’s response. More
importantly, it is about looking at all the possible angles to the topic. This
shows your logical mind, creativity and also your ability to think on your feet
which comes with preparation.
Rule 2: Know the Participants
Most people who attend GDs are as focused on
their performance as they tend to be. Take a deep breath and when the team
introduces itself, note down the participants’ names.
In the heat of
the discussion, calling out the person’s name is a good way to get their
attention. All of us respond instinctively when our name is called out, so use
this technique. Not only does it get you their attention, it also shows your
people skills and presence of mind.
Rule 3: Take Care of your Posture
Your body
posture reveals your state of mind. At the same time, it conditions you to a
particular way of thinking. Don’t lean back or lean forward. Find the balance.
Let your body
posture be of polite intensity so that you come across as a balanced individual
with plenty of energy. This also shows empathy and respect to others when they
speak and is an asset that brings you additional points.
Rule 4: Take Charge
Take charge of
the group discussion right in the beginning. It shows your leadership
capability. Introduce the topic by setting the framework for the ensuing
discussion and state your opening point before leaving it to the group.
Further, when it comes to conclusions, many GDs fall through and participants
don’t make good use of it although it brings points.
Conclude the
discussion by summing up if you can. To do this, listen actively throughout the
discussion and note down the key highlights – say, in columns of negative and
positive points on your notepad or any other format that suits the discussion.
Rule 5: Retain Your Balance
During the group
discussion itself, give your logical counterpoint without aggression when there
is a disagreement. You are not there to prove that your stand is right, but to
show your maturity and logical thinking. When the discussion drags over a
point, it is time for you to interject and turn the discussion in a new
direction, either with a related point or with an opposite view. Be to the
point and intervene when another candidate is taking all the airtime. When they
pause for breath, it is the right time to take your chance, state your point
and then, pass the chance to someone who hasn’t had their say.
Rule 6: Follow your Domain
Keep the domain
in mind while projecting your image. Let’s suppose you are facing a group
discussion for a sales function, you may have to take a more aggressive
approach whereas a marketing function could veer towards the creative and the
practical approach in assessment.
Group discussion
is as much about your knowledge and point-of-view as about how you handle
yourself and others. Do these right and you will have projected the right
image.
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