Group discussions (GDs) are methodologies used to assess candidates' personality traits and skills, such as teamwork, communication, and leadership. They involve a group of candidates discussing a given topic for 15-20 minutes, allowing evaluators to gauge their contributions and interactions. Essential aspects include communication etiquette, knowledge of various subjects, and the ability to effectively summarize discussions, while common mistakes include emotional outbursts and poor communication skills.

2. Group Discussion (GD)Group Discussion (GD)

A GD is a methodology used by anA GD is a methodology used by an
organization to gauge whether the candidateorganization to gauge whether the candidate
has certain personality traits and/or skills that ithas certain personality traits and/or skills that it
desires in its members. In this methodology,desires in its members. In this methodology,
the group of candidates is given a topic or athe group of candidates is given a topic or a
situation, given a few minutes to think aboutsituation, given a few minutes to think about
the same, and then asked to discuss the samethe same, and then asked to discuss the same
among themselves for 15-20 minutes.among themselves for 15-20 minutes.

3. Some of the personality traits theSome of the personality traits the
GD is trying to gauge may include :-GD is trying to gauge may include :-
Ability to work in a teamAbility to work in a team
Communication skillsCommunication skills
Reasoning abilityReasoning ability
Leadership skillLeadership skill
InitiativeInitiative
AssertivenessAssertiveness
CreativityCreativity
Ability to think on ones feetAbility to think on ones feet

4. Why GDs:-Why GDs:-
Suitable for the organizationSuitable for the organization
After testing your technical and conceptual skills in anAfter testing your technical and conceptual skills in an
exam, to get to know you as a person and gauge howexam, to get to know you as a person and gauge how
well you will fit in the institute or in an organization, awell you will fit in the institute or in an organization, a
person is put through the process of GD & Interview.person is put through the process of GD & Interview.
Team workTeam work
The Group discussion tests how you function as a partThe Group discussion tests how you function as a part
of a team. As a manager, you will always be working inof a team. As a manager, you will always be working in
teams, as a member or as a leader. Therefore how youteams, as a member or as a leader. Therefore how you
interact in a team becomes an important criterion forinteract in a team becomes an important criterion for
your selection. Managers have to work in a team andyour selection. Managers have to work in a team and
get best results out of teamwork.get best results out of teamwork.

5. Communication skills:Communication skills:
Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so asCompanies conduct group discussion after the written test so as
to check on your interactive skills and how good you are atto check on your interactive skills and how good you are at
communicating with other people.communicating with other people.
GOALSGOALS
 The GD is to check how you behave, participate and contribute inThe GD is to check how you behave, participate and contribute in
a group, how much importance do you give to the group objectivea group, how much importance do you give to the group objective
as well as your own, how well do you listen to viewpoints of othersas well as your own, how well do you listen to viewpoints of others
and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to yourand how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your
own.own.
 The aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication, non-The aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication, non-
verbal behavior, conformation to norms, decision-making abilityverbal behavior, conformation to norms, decision-making ability
and cooperation. You should try to be as true as possible to theseand cooperation. You should try to be as true as possible to these
aspects.aspects.

6. TYPES OF GD :TYPES OF GD :
 GDs can beGDs can be topic-basedtopic-based oror case-basedcase-based..
Topic based Gds can be classified intoTopic based Gds can be classified into
three types :-three types :-
1. Factual Topics1. Factual Topics
2. Controversial Topics2. Controversial Topics
3. Abstract Topics3. Abstract Topics

7. Discussion Etiquette (orDiscussion Etiquette (or
minding your manners)minding your manners)
 Do’sDo’s
 Speak pleasantly and politely to the group.Speak pleasantly and politely to the group.
 Respect the contribution of every speaker.Respect the contribution of every speaker.
 Remember that a discussion is not an argument. Learn toRemember that a discussion is not an argument. Learn to
disagree politely.disagree politely.
 Think about your contribution before you speak. How best can youThink about your contribution before you speak. How best can you
answer the question/ contribute to the topic?answer the question/ contribute to the topic?
 Try to stick to the discussion topic. Don't introduce irrelevantTry to stick to the discussion topic. Don't introduce irrelevant
information.information.
 Be aware of your body language when you are speaking.Be aware of your body language when you are speaking.
 Agree with and acknowledge what you find interesting.Agree with and acknowledge what you find interesting.

8.  Don'tDon't
 Lose your temper. A discussion is not an argument.Lose your temper. A discussion is not an argument.
 Shout. Use a moderate tone and medium pitch.Shout. Use a moderate tone and medium pitch.
 Use too many gestures when you speak. Gestures likeUse too many gestures when you speak. Gestures like
finger pointing and table thumping can appearfinger pointing and table thumping can appear
aggressive.aggressive.
 Dominate the discussion. Confident speakers shouldDominate the discussion. Confident speakers should
allow quieter students a chance to contribute.allow quieter students a chance to contribute.
 Draw too much on personal experience . AlthoughDraw too much on personal experience . Although
some tutors encourage students to reflect on their ownsome tutors encourage students to reflect on their own
experience, remember not to generalise too much.experience, remember not to generalise too much.
 Interrupt. Wait for a speaker to finish what they areInterrupt. Wait for a speaker to finish what they are
saying before you speak.saying before you speak.

9. A group discussion consistsA group discussion consists
of:of:
 Communication SkillsCommunication Skills
 Knowledge and ideas regarding a givenKnowledge and ideas regarding a given
subjectsubject
 Capability to co-ordinate and leadCapability to co-ordinate and lead
 Exchange of thoughtsExchange of thoughts
 Addressing the group as a wholeAddressing the group as a whole
 Thorough preparationsThorough preparations

10. Points to RememberPoints to Remember
 Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good readingKnowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading
habits has more chances of success. In other words,habits has more chances of success. In other words,
sound knowledge on different topics like politics,sound knowledge on different topics like politics,
finance, economy, science and technology is helpful.finance, economy, science and technology is helpful.
 Power to convince effectively is another quality thatPower to convince effectively is another quality that
makes you stand out among others.makes you stand out among others.
 Clarity in speech and expression is yet anotherClarity in speech and expression is yet another
essential quality.essential quality.
 If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it isIf you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is
better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrongbetter not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong
approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you mightapproach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might
adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively toadopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to
others, may be you would be able to come up with aothers, may be you would be able to come up with a
point or two later.point or two later.
 A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.

11.  A GD is not a debating stage. Participants shouldA GD is not a debating stage. Participants should
confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. Inconfine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In
the second part of the discussion candidates canthe second part of the discussion candidates can
exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing orexercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or
remaining neutral.remaining neutral.
 Language use should be simple, direct and straightLanguage use should be simple, direct and straight
forward.forward.
 Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try toDon't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to
score by increasing your size, not by cutting othersscore by increasing your size, not by cutting others
short.short.
 Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contactMaintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact
plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such asplays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as
listening intently or nodding while appreciatinglistening intently or nodding while appreciating
someone's viewpoint speak of you positively.someone's viewpoint speak of you positively.
 Communicate with each and every candidate present.Communicate with each and every candidate present.
While speaking don't keep looking at a single member.While speaking don't keep looking at a single member.
Address the entire group in such a way that everyoneAddress the entire group in such a way that everyone
feels you are speaking to him or her.feels you are speaking to him or her.

12. GD TipsGD Tips
 Initiation TechniquesInitiation Techniques
 Body of the group discussionBody of the group discussion
 Summarization/ ConclusionSummarization/ Conclusion

13. Initiation TechniquesInitiation Techniques Initiating a GD is a high profit-high loss strategy.Initiating a GD is a high profit-high loss strategy.
When you initiate a GD, you not only grab the opportunity toWhen you initiate a GD, you not only grab the opportunity to
speak, you also grab the attention of the examiner and your fellowspeak, you also grab the attention of the examiner and your fellow
candidates.candidates.
If you can make a favourable first impression with your contentIf you can make a favourable first impression with your content
and communication skills after you initiate a GD, it will help youand communication skills after you initiate a GD, it will help you
sail through the discussion.sail through the discussion.
But if you initiate a GD and stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong factsBut if you initiate a GD and stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong facts
and figures, the damage might be irreparable.and figures, the damage might be irreparable.
If you initiate a GD impeccably but don't speak much after that, itIf you initiate a GD impeccably but don't speak much after that, it
gives the impression that you started the GD for the sake ofgives the impression that you started the GD for the sake of
starting it or getting those initial kitty of points earmarked for anstarting it or getting those initial kitty of points earmarked for an
initiator!initiator!
When you start a GD, you are responsible for putting it into theWhen you start a GD, you are responsible for putting it into the
right perspective or framework. So initiate one only if you have in-right perspective or framework. So initiate one only if you have in-
depth knowledge about the topic at hand.depth knowledge about the topic at hand.

14. Body of the group discussionBody of the group discussion
 Different techniques to initiate a GD andDifferent techniques to initiate a GD and
make a good first impression:make a good first impression:
i. Quotesi. Quotes
ii. Definitionii. Definition
iii. Questioniii. Question
iv. Shock statementiv. Shock statement
v. Facts, figures and statisticsv. Facts, figures and statistics
vi. Short storyvi. Short story
vii. General statementvii. General statement

15. Summarization/ ConclusionSummarization/ Conclusion
 Most GD do not really have conclusions. A conclusion is whereMost GD do not really have conclusions. A conclusion is where
the whole group decides in favor or against the topic.the whole group decides in favor or against the topic.
 But every GD is summarized. You can summaries what the groupBut every GD is summarized. You can summaries what the group
has discussed in the GD in a nutshell.has discussed in the GD in a nutshell.
Keep the following points in mind while summarizing aKeep the following points in mind while summarizing a
discussion:discussion:
 Avoid raising new points.Avoid raising new points.
 Avoid stating only your viewpoint.Avoid stating only your viewpoint.
 Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.
 Keep it brief and concise.Keep it brief and concise.
 It must incorporate all the important points that came out duringIt must incorporate all the important points that came out during
the GD.the GD.
 If the examiner asks you to summaries a GD, it means the GD hasIf the examiner asks you to summaries a GD, it means the GD has
come to an end.come to an end.
 Do not add anything once the GD has been summarizedDo not add anything once the GD has been summarized

16. What do the panelistsWhat do the panelists
assess:assess: Some of the qualities assessed in a GD are:Some of the qualities assessed in a GD are:
 Leadership SkillsLeadership Skills - Ability to take leadership roles and be able to lead,- Ability to take leadership roles and be able to lead,
inspire and carry the team along to help them achieve the group'sinspire and carry the team along to help them achieve the group's
objectives.objectives.
 Communication SkillsCommunication Skills - Candidates will be assessed in terms of clarity- Candidates will be assessed in terms of clarity
of thought, expression and aptness of language. One key aspect isof thought, expression and aptness of language. One key aspect is
listening. It indicates a willingness to accommodate others views.listening. It indicates a willingness to accommodate others views.
 Interpersonal SkillsInterpersonal Skills - People skills are an important aspect of any job.- People skills are an important aspect of any job.
They are reflected in the ability to interact with other members of theThey are reflected in the ability to interact with other members of the
group in a brief situation. Emotional maturity and balance promotes goodgroup in a brief situation. Emotional maturity and balance promotes good
interpersonal relationships. The person has to be more people centric andinterpersonal relationships. The person has to be more people centric and
less self-centered.less self-centered.
 Persuasive SkillsPersuasive Skills - The ability to analyze and persuade others to see the- The ability to analyze and persuade others to see the
problem from multiple perspectives.problem from multiple perspectives.

17. GD MistakesGD Mistakes
 Emotional outburstEmotional outburst
 No eye contactNo eye contact
 Quality vs. QuantityQuality vs. Quantity
 Bad communication skillsBad communication skills
 Addressing 1 or 2 personsAddressing 1 or 2 persons
 Interrupting when session is onInterrupting when session is on
 Bad initiationBad initiation