2. RAISON D'ÊTRE (PRINCIPLE) FOR GROUP
DISCUSSION
To make students reflect on information presented
or
To examine their personal opinions
or
To seek their conclusions on some specific topic or
issue
Group discussion helps youth to test their ideas and
beliefs with their superiors.
3. RAISON D'ÊTRE (PRINCIPLE) FOR GROUP
DISCUSSION
In present scenario organizations encourage team
players rather than individual contributions.
In GD participants are judged for following qualities.
Alertness and presence of mind
Problem-solving abilities
Ability to work as team without alienating to individuals.
For leadership skills and
Creativity
Institutes identify the candidates who can inspire and lead
the group and also assess their personality.
4. Abilities and skills of the candidates assessed in
GD
Communication skills
Knowledge and ideas regarding a given subject
Capability to coordinate and lead
Listening and sharing skills
Ability to function in a group
5. Uses of GD
Helps you to understand a subject more deeply.
Improves your ability to think critically.
Helps in solving particular problem.
Helps the group to make a particular decision.
Gives you chance to hear other participants’ ideas.
Improves your listening skills.
Increases your confidence in speaking.
6. Communication skills
Candidate should be able to talk effectively and
convincingly (speak forcefully and exhibit knowledge)
Hold the attention of the audience.
Be precise and clear.
A participant should exhibit knowledge and relevance
to the given subject and clarity of thoughts.
Remember GD is not a debating forum.
Participant must be good listeners.
Also must have confidence.
7. Knowledge and ideas regarding the subject
Knowledge makes one confident and enthusiastic.
Makes you able to convincing soundly.
For sound knowledge Keep reading regularly.
8. Leadership and Coordinating capabilities.
Display tactfulness, skill, understanding and
knowledge on varied topics
Be forceful and inculcate other leadership qualities
to motivate and influence other candidates.
9. Addressing the group as a whole
Address the group not the individual members.
Avoid informal and intimate knowledge.
Don’t undergo dyadic discussion.
10. The mechanics of GD
A leaderless group of 8-10 candidates is formed.
A case study or problem is given to come to a
solution.
or
The group may be given topic and asked to discuss
on the same.
The panel observes the proceedings of GD and
evaluates the candidates.
11. Precision and succinctness (necessities for GD)
You should have a good general knowledge.
Be familiar with current affairs (read, read & read…)
Group behaviour & communication skills tested
o Your ability to convince others
o You should be able to articulate ideas.
o Allow others to speak
o Adopt a stand on given point
o This stand may change during the course of GD.
o You get additional advantage of starting and/or
concluding the discussion.
12. Precision and succinctness (necessities for GD)
REMEMBER
Sound knowledge on different topics is the key to
success (keep reading).
Power to convince others
Clarity in speech and expression
If you don’t have adequate knowledge of the topic
don’t initiate. Listen attentively & form your views.
don’t use slang.
Don’t go on debating. In the latter part of GD speak
on your viewpoint on the topic – agreeing,
disagreeing or remaining neutral. (Contd…)
13. Precision and succinctness (necessities for GD)
language used be simple, direct and straight
forward.
Don’t interrupt a speaker, try to get advantage of
speaking more than others.
Maintain rapport with others. Non verbal gestures
bring positive points to you.
GD is not dyadic discussion. Speak to all the
members.
14. GD skills
Interpersonal skills
Ability to interact with others. Emotional maturity
balance tends to good interpersonal relationship. Be
more people centric and not self-centered. (neglect
personal comments, remain objective, empathize,
non threatening, be sportive.
Persuasive skills
Ability to analyze and persuade others, testing the
issue from various perspectives without hurting the
members.
15. GD Skills
Problem solving skills
Ability to think out-of-box and be creative. (don’t
hesitate to give novel solution, can adopt high-risk
high-return strategy)
Conceptualizing skills
Ability to grasp the situation. Think of ordinary and
make it universal (general). (a few summarizing
sentences may present overall situation)
16. Important tips
Be natural. Don’t try to be someone else. Be yourself.
Try to be more vocal.
Take time to organize things. Think of what you are going
to say.
Seek clarifications of your doubts for the subject.
Start speaking after clearly analyzing and understanding
the problem.
Work out and decide strategies to initiate your speech.
Initiate or agree with someone and then express your
views.
unless you give valuable insight during the discussion,
even if you initiate the discussion is no worth.
Maintain positive body language. (Contd….)
17. Important tips
Improve language skills. Express your points clearly
and fluently.
Be assertive and not dominating. Maintain a
balanced tone.
Be cool even in adverse situations. Be objective.
Don’t take anything personally.
Be polite always.
Use leadership skill. Motivate reticent to speak. Be
receptive to others’ opinions. Don’t be abrasive or
aggressive.
For practice arrange mock GD
18. Practice
OBSERVE
Attend as many seminars and tutorials as possible.
Notice what other students do.
How do they make critical comments?
How do they ask questions?
How do they disagree or support arguments?
What special polite phrases they use even when they
disagree?
what they do to interrupt, ask question or make a
point?
19. Discussion etiquette
DO’S
Respect the contribution of other speakers.
Speak pleasantly and with courtesy.
Listen carefully to the others’ ideas.
Remember GD is not a battlefield. Disagree politely.
Remember others have different views, which are not
necessarily ‘wrong’.
Think about your contribution before you speak.
(contd…)
20. Discussion etiquette
Stick to the discussion topic. Avoid irrelevant
information
Keep your body language open and friendly.
Avoid aggressive gestures.
Agree and acknowledge what appears interesting.
Keep the discussion to the topic.
Try to speak clearly. Don’t whisper.
21. Discussion etiquette
DON’Ts
Don’t take offence if a person disagrees with you.
Don’t ridicule the contribution of others.
Don’t try to intimidate or insult another speaker.
Don’t use a loud or angry tone.
Avoid negative body language while speaking.
Don’t try to dominate the discussion.
Avoid drawing too much on personal experience or
anecdote.
Don’t interrupt or talk over another speaker.
22. Leading discussion
DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP BY
Introducing yourself and other group members
Stating the purpose of the discussion
Asking question to stimulate discussion
Inviting quiet group members to speak
Being objective
Ensuring only one member speaks at a time
Ensuring the discussion remains relevant to the topic
Summarizing the a speaker’s point.
Summarizing the discussion.
23. Chairing the discussion
Four skill to influence the other members positively
Introduce the topic and the purpose of the discussion
Make sure all the members have approximately the
same time.
Thanking group members for their contribution
Being objective in summarizing the GD and
achievements.
24. Types of GD
Factual topics
Factual topics are about practical things.
A candidate is given chance to prove that he is aware of his
environment.
Controversial topics
Are argumentative in nature and are meant to generate
controversy.
Your maturity is tested on the basis of rational and logical
arguments.
Abstract topics
Are about intangible things
These topics test your imaginative thinking and creativity.
25. Case based GD
Uses case instead of a topic.
Case study tries to reproduce a real life situation.
Information about the situation is given and you may
be asked to give resolve to the situation.
There are no incorrect answers or perfect solutions.
The objective of the case study is to make you think
of the situation from various angles.
