1. Group Discussions
How to handle them to ensure a
positive outcome ?

2. What is a GD?
• A method used by an organization to
test/judge whether you have the
personality traits and skills that they want
in their employees.

3. Some of the personality traits a GD
tests are …
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Ability to work in a team
Communication Skills
Reasoning Ability
Leadership Skills
Initiative
Assertiveness
Flexibility
Creativity
Ability to think on ones feet

4. Why GDs ?
• To get to know you as a person
• To judge how well you would fit into their
company/organization
• GD tests how you function as a part of a
team

5. • To check on your interactive skills & how
good you are at communicating with other
people.
• To check how you behave…
• …participate
• …and contribute in the group

6. • How much importance do you give to the
group objective as well as your own…
• How well do you listen to the view points
of others…
• How open-minded are you in accepting
views contrary to your own…

7. This is how a GD works…
• 8 – 10 candidates formed into a
‘leaderless group’
• The group may be given a topic and asked
to discuss the same
• A panel will observe the proceedings and
will evaluate the members of the group

8. Objectives

9. What is your objective in the
group?
• To be noticed …to have contributed
meaningfully …in an attempt to help the
group reach the right consensus.

10. What does this mean?
• You have to be seen by the evaluating
panel to have made meaningful
contribution.
• Ensure that the group hears you. If the
group hears you, so will the evaluator.
• Do not shout. You will then be noticed for
the wrong reasons.

11. • You have to be assertive.
• Do not be arrogant.

12. • You have to make your chances.
• Do not complain that you did not get a
chance to speak.

13. • Practice …& overcome your fear of
speaking

14. If your contribution is
“meaningful”…its shows that…
• … you have a good knowledge base.
• You are able to put forth your arguments
logically
• You are a good communicator
• The quality of what you said is more
valuable than the quantity.

15. Some tips …
• If you are given a topic where you have to
take a stand, say for example, “should
capital punishment be banned or
allowed?”
– Note down points for both sides of the
argument. It will be useful for 2 reasons:
• If you do not initiate and are not among the first 5
speakers, and all those who have spoken are ‘for’
the topic – it makes sense to take the alternate
approach and oppose the topic.
• It will help to be prepared with counter arguments.

16. • Everyone will state the obvious.
• So try and highlight points that are not
obvious.
• A different perspective is always
appreciated by the panel
• Note: Your “different” perspective must be
relevant to the topic

17. • You must be clearly seen to be
attempting to build a consensus

18. Summary

19. • You should be noticed by the panel.
• Making just any sort of contribution is not
enough. Your contribution should be
“meaningful”.
• Try to bring out a different perspective.
• You must be seen as attempting to build a
consensus.

20. Thank you
All the Best !!