How to Prepare for an Effective Group Discussion? Know what skills you need and work on them.

1. Effective Group
Discussion
Dr. Shiva Manoj
Associate Professor
Lucknow

2. Why organizations conduct
GDs as a part of placement?
 GROUP DISCUSSION is conducted by
organizations to eliminate people in mass.
 It's very difficult to assess everyone through
Quantitative aptitude, Qualitative Aptitude,
Technical Aptitude, Technical HR.

3. Also GD measures your cognitive ability to first
understand the given topic, your acquaintance
with current affairs to actually know
something about the topic, your body
language, the way you respect or contradict
the opponent's points and overall how
interactive you are. If you are recruiting for
your company, you wouldn't want someone
who is tightlipped and inert.

4. Do’s & Don’ts
• Be as natural as possible. Do not try to be someone
you are not. Be yourself. In an attempt to be someone
else, your opinions will not be portrayed.
• Sit with a straight and confident posture.
• Be assertive yet humble. You need to stick to your
values and beliefs, but learn to respect the values and
opinions of others too.
• Grab the opportunity to speak first, i.e. to start the
group discussion with your opinion. It generally
leaves a good impression on the evaluator, but take
the move only if you have complete knowledge of the
subject.

5. • Do not repeat a point, or be lengthy or irrelevant.
Also intervene, if someone else is going on an
irrelevant track.
• Facilitate contribution from others. Do not just go on
and on and on with only your opinionated view.
Remember, it is a group discussion. Allow others to
speak too.
• Make an eye contact with all the participants. It
creates more room for conversation. Also keep
nodding, when others speak, it shows receptivity.
• Be an active and dynamic participant. The examiner
wants to hear you speak. So do put forth your views.
• Be positive and prepare your thoughts well but do not
be over-confident.

6. • Think well before you speak. You are being
heard and judged upon.
• When raising an objection to a point kept by
another speaker, back it up with a solid reason
to get the point across.
• Use quotes, facts and figures, statements,
everyday life examples to express a clear chain
of thoughts. Also it might leave a good
impression on the examiner and help you score
well.

7. Advantages of Group Discussion
• It helps to shed away the shyness of a candidate
and brings his viewpoint amidst all.
• It stimulates to think in a different, new way.
• It helps the candidate in understanding his/ her
own strengths and weaknesses.
• It acts as an aid in expansion of the knowledge of
the participant.
• It helps to analyze the social or economic issues
more logically.

8. Why should you lead a group
discussion?
• A group discussion gives everyone involved a
voice.
• A group discussion allows for a variety of ideas
to be expressed and discussed.
• Group discussion is generally a democratic,
egalitarian process.
• A group discussion leads to group ownership
of whatever conclusions, plans, or action the
group decides upon.

9. • An effective group discussion encourages
those who might normally be reluctant to
speak their minds.
• Group discussions can often open
communication channels among people who
might not communicate in any other way.
• In some cases, a group discussion is simply the
obvious, or even the only, way to proceed.
• Be a recorder if necessary.
• Keep your mouth shut as much as possible.