A group discussion (GD) is a methodology used by organizations to evaluate candidates' personality traits and skills. In a GD, candidates are given a topic to discuss in a group for a few minutes. Leadership emerges based on one's performance, as GDs stimulate new thinking, expand knowledge, and reveal strengths and weaknesses. Key skills evaluated include leadership, interpersonal skills, persuasion, assertiveness, listening, appropriate language use, being analytical and fact-oriented. Candidates should avoid interrupting others, changing opinions stubbornly, making fun of others, engaging in side conversations, repeating irrelevant information, or addressing the examiner directly. A GD typically lasts 15-20 minutes, and candidates should ignore the panel and focus on other

2. A GD is a methodology used by an
organization to gauge whether the candidate
has certain personality traits and /or skills
that it desires in its members.
In this methodology,the group of candidates
is given a topic or a situation, given a few
minutes to think about the same and then
ask to discuss it among themselves.

3. Leadership in a GD is
established implicitly
through one's
performance in a GD.
Stimulation of thinking
in a new way.
Expansion of knowledge.
Understanding of your
strength and weakness.
Your true personality is revealed and qualities of leadership
crystallize.

5. Leadership skills :
Ability to take leadership roles and ability to lead, inspire and
carry the team along to help them achieve group’s objectives.
Interpersonal skills :
It is reflected in the ability of the individual to interact with
other members of the group in a brief situation.

6. Practice:
Start practicing your discussion skills in an informal setting or
with a small group.
Participate:
Take every opportunity to take part in social/informal
discussions.
Persuading:
It involves being able to
convince others to take
appropriate action.

7. Be assertive:
An assertive person is direct , honest careful about not hurting
others ‘self-respect’.
A patient listener:
Listening to another person is one way of showing appreciation.
Right language :
Words can make friends & right words at the right time make the
best results.
Be analytical and fact-oriented :
It is necessary to make relevant points which can be supported
with facts and analyzed logically.

8. Appropriate to the issue .
Make original points &
support them by substantial reasoning .
Listen to the other participants actively &carefully.
Whatever you say must be with a logical flow, & validate it with
an example as far as possible.
Make only accurate statements.
Modulate the volume, pitch and tone.
Be considerate to the feelings of the others.
Try to get your turn.
Be an active and dynamic participant by listening.
Talk with confidence and self-assurance.

9. Shy /nervous / keeping isolated from G.D
Interrupting another participant before his arguments are over
Speak in favour ; example : Establish your position and stand by it
stubbornly
Changed opinions
Don’t make fun of any participant even if his arguments are funny
Being .
Don’t engage yourself in sub-group conversation.
Don’t repeat and use irrelevant materials.
Addressing yourself to the examiner.
Worrying about making some grammatical mistakes , for your
interest the matter you put across are important.

10. A GD is generally of 15-20 minutes duration.
Don't ever make the mistake of addressing
the panel members. The GD is between you and the other
members, not the panel members. You must avoid even looking at
the panel members while
the GD is in progress. Just ignore their existence.
Seating arrangement could be semi-circular, or seating along side a
rectangular table , depending upon the venue.

11. You would not be looked upon favourably if you kept speaking
all the time and did not listen to anyone else. Contrary to the
misconception, the person who talks the most is not necessarily
the one who is judged the best.
The quality and not the quantity of your contribution is the
success factor it is important to be cool and emotionally
objective in a GD.
If you react emotionally you are likely to lose control over
yourself during the group discussion.
You have to be calm and logical, not emotional in a GD.