Group Discussion
•Definition
• Advantages
• Qualities/skills
required/assessed,
•General Do’s & Don’ts,
•Participating in a GD (Leadership,
GD protocol, discussion techniques, Listening)
Group Discussion: In Merriam Webster, group
discussion is involving a number of people who are
connected by some shared
activity, interest, or quality.
•It is the concept of giving a topic
to a targeted group of people where the individuals collectively
decide their
opinions.
There are different types of Group
discussions:
•Knowledge-based- GD: It involves
facts figures with substantial information
•Abstract-GD: It involves out of the
box topics checking your creativity
•Controversial: This tests your
analytical skills as well as your maturity level
•Opinion seeking: Opinion based GD
checking your presentation skills and
leadership qualities
Advantages of Group
Discussion
•It brings diversity in opinion
•It promotes innovative solutions
•Inputs from more than one individual eliminates the
biases
•It is participative style of
decision making
Qualities/skills required/assessed
in GD
•What is assessed through Group
Discussions?
•During GD some of your skills and
qualities are being tested by evaluators on the panel on spot.
Some
of the key attributes screened through GDs are:
•Depth of subject knowledge
•Group behavior
•Leadership qualities
•Communication skills
•Use of appropriate verbal and non
verbal communication
•Effective listening
•Level of confidence
•Clarity of expression
Participating in a GD Leadership,
GD protocol, discussion techniques, Listening
The
protocol for GD is to
Discuss
the topic effectively,
being
assertive,
proper
body language,
Proper
modulation of tone and pitch of the voice
Listen
to other’s view point
HOW
TO MASTER THE SKILL?
1.
It’s a Discussion, not a Debate
•GD
– the term itself says it’s a “Discussion” amongst a group of people.
•Do
not
make it a heated debate. No matter how terribly you hate
the participant do not start fighting with him/her.
•Be
assertive
and not aggressive.
2.
Sit Comfortably and Gather Your
Thoughts
•Once
the
topic is announced, some time is given before the discussion starts.
•Gather
your
thoughts, pen down your points in bullets and compose yourself
3.
Take your Opportunity to Speak
•you
need to know how to take your opportunity to speak.
•Whenever
the
person speaking pauses somewhere take a second to think, and put forward your
opinion, but be polite
4.
Speak With Purpose
•You
don’t have to talk constantly to get noticed – but when you do make sure what
you’re saying is
unique and contributes to the discussion.
5.
Quality v/s Quantity
•Raise
the quality of your content not the quantity.
•Speak
sensibly
- include quality content supported by relevant facts, figures and
examples
6.
Critical Listening
•Listen
and analyze
what
others are speaking, respect their opinion this will facilitate a
productive
and coherent discussion and you will get involved in the group positively.
7.
Non-Verbals
•Exhibit
calm and composed body language.
•Do
not
point out fingers at others or make aggressive hand movements.
•Every
move
and gesture should radiate confidence.
8.
The Winning Mantra
•It’s
not just your communication skills but tactful communication with poise,
intellect and
camaraderie which differentiates between the winner and a fighter
in a GD
General Do’s & Don’ts
•Read newspapers regularly so you
don’t fall short on content
•Balance of tone and body gestures.
•Focus on Content, Team approach,
leadership skills, communication skills, analytical and logical reasoning
•Ensure participation by putting
relevant points
• Should
conclude the GD
•It is not necessary to arrive at a
consensus
•Don’t try to prove others wrong
•Don’t be shy to put forth your
ideas
•Don’t use condescending tone in
while arguing/debating a point
•Don’t give irrelevant points or
erratic statistics
Dos
of participating in a GD
•Listen to the
subject carefully
•Put down your thoughts on a paper
•Initiate the discussion if you know
the subject well
•Listen to others if you don’t know
the subject
•Support you point with some facts
and figures
•Make short contribution of 25-30
seconds 3-4 times
•Give others a chance to speak
•Speak politely and pleasantly.
Respect contribution from other members.
•Disagree politely and agree with
what is right.
•Summarize the discussion if the
group has not reached a conclusion.
Don’ts
of participating in a Group Discussion
•Initiate the discussion
if you do not have sufficient knowledge about the given topic.
•Over speak, intervene and snatch
other’s chance to speak.
•Argue and shout during the GD
•Look at the evaluators or a
particular group member
•Talk irrelevant things and distract
the discussion
•Pose negative body gestures like
touching the nose, leaning back on the chair, knocking the table
with a pen
etc.
•Mention erratic statistics.
•Display low self confidence with
shaky voice and trembling hands.
•Try to dominate the discussion
•Put others in an embarrassing
situation by asking them to speak if they don’t want.
Some tips and tricks
1.How to join in the discussion
•I’d like to raise the subject
of………….
•What I think is……………
•I think it is important to consider
the question of……
•I could say a word about………
•May I
make a point about…………
2.
How to support
•To
support what some other participant has said
•Remember that
you should not say that you support so and so or I agree with him/her. You
should
support the views of the person not the person
•I’d like to support Miss Natasha’s
point of view about ….
•That is just what I also think……………
•I agree fully with what Mr
Richard has just said. I am in complete agreement with fee slashing.
3. To
support disagreement
•Again remember that you are opposed
to the idea, and not the person who holds it. You can disagree
by using polite
expressions, instead of curt expressions such as “You are wrong”, you can say
•Please allow me to differ……
•I would like to differ……………
•I think differently on this issue……
•I do not agree; in my opinion…………
4. To
make a point very strongly
•I am
convinced that……….
•You can’t deny that……………
•Anybody can see that………………..
It
is quite clear to me that………
5. To
bring a discussion back to the point
•That’s very
interesting, but I don’t think it is indeed to the point.
•Perhaps, we could go back to the
point.
•Could we stick to the subject,
please?
•I am afraid we are drifting from
the point.
