The document provides guidance on group discussions. It defines a group discussion as an informal exchange of ideas among individuals on a specific topic. The objectives of group discussions are to improve communication skills, encourage teamwork, and allow employers to assess candidates. Key factors evaluated include knowledge, communication skills, group behavior, and leadership potential. The document outlines best practices for group discussions such as active listening, speaking clearly, maintaining eye contact, staying on topic, and sharing air time. Dos include speaking concisely and relevantly while don'ts include dominating conversations or getting off topic. Overall the document serves as a guide for participating effectively in group discussions.

1. Group Discussion
DR RAJESH GUPTA
DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT
BIST BHOPAL

2. GD- Design
 Objectives of Group Discussion
 Definition of Group Discussion
 Group Discussion
 Why group testing?
 Factors that matter in GD
 Do’s and Don’ts in Group Discussion
 Suggestions
 Administrative Details
 Topics of importance frequently discussed

5. Objective
 Students will participate actively in a group setting
 Students will share their knowledge with others
 Students will improve their communication skills
 Students will think as a team and find a solution to
a given problem
 Students will impress the employers to get a job

6. Definition of Group Discussion
Group Discussion is a modern method of
assessing students personality.
It is both a technique and an art and a
comprehensive tool to judge the worthiness
of the student and his appropriateness for
the job.

7. WHAT IS GROUP DISCUSSION?
 Nowadays Group Discussion is being extensively used along with
personal interviews for the final selection of candidates.
 It plays a main role in selecting the best among the best. Having
scored high marks, students who get selected for a
higher/another course or employment are placed on a par - on
equal footing - based on their age, qualification and experience.
 It becomes necessary to conduct further screening for choosing
a few among many. It is here, the Group Discussion plays an
important part.
 It helps in choosing the socially suitable candidate among the
academically superior achievers.

8. Features Of Group Discussion
 It is an exchange of ideas among the individuals of a
group on a specific topic.
 Group Discussion is an informal discussion in which
participants of the same educational standard discuss
a topic of current interest.
 It is also known as leaderless discussion. It means its
aim is to find out the natural leadership level of the
candidates.

9. Group Discussion
 It refers to the situation where a particular
number of people (three to eight) meet face to
face and through free oral interaction,
originate, share and discuss ideas to arrive at a
decision or solution to a problem.
 Group discussions are used for decision-making
and problem solving.
 They are also used widely as a personality test
for evaluating several candidates
simultaneously.

10. NATURE AND SCOPE
 The more your ideas and the more your knowledge of
the subject, the more interested, enthusiastic and
confident you would become and the more fluent and
forceful would be your speech and contribution to the
discussion.

11. Categories of Group Discussion
Organizational group discussions
Group discussions as a part of a selection
process.

12. The Nominal Group technique
 Restricts discussion or interpersonal communication
during the decision-making process
 Though group members are all physically present as in
a tradition committee meeting, they operate
independently

13. Structure
 The group sits in circle or U-shape
 They may either be given their choice of seat or
seat allotted.
 This panel observes and evaluates

14. Evaluation Components
During a GD employers evaluate potential for
leadership and ability to work in a team.
The four components generally evaluated in a
group discussion are:
 Knowledge
 Communication skills
 Group behaviour
 Leadership potential

15. The Skills Required for a Group
Discussion
Communication skill
Both verbal interaction and non-verbal cues are important
The verbal part
 Displays the clarity of thought
 Whether the same is communicated to others
 Aptness of language
Non-verbal cues
⚫ Facial expressions and body language
Do not get angry if you do not get a chance to speak or if your viewpointis
not agreed upon.
A GD is not a debate, but merely a discussion
Each person's viewpoint matters, and thus should be paid attention to.

16. The Skills Required for a Group
Discussion
Listening skill
 Try not to interrupt others (make notes and speak when it is your turn)
 Maintain eye contact with the speaker to demonstrate that one is
listening (not just looking at the evaluator)
 Help in getting cues about when is the speaker going to stop. The
chance to start making a point.
 This initiated statement should be related to the previous speakers'
point.
 This is because agreeing, disagreeing or elaborating on the previous
speakers' point ensures that one had been paying attention to what
others said.
 While summarizing also, a person who takes into consideration
everybody's opinion, gets brownie points.

17. The Skills Required for a Group
Discussion
Reasoning skills
One has to speak relevant to the topic
Analyze the topic or what others have spoken and
paraphrase the same
To do this, every opinion and especially the topic has to
be paid attention to.

18. The Skills Required for a Group
Discussion
Leadership skills
A person, who is able to manoeuvre the flow of the
discussion
Encourages opinions from all the members
Motivate the other members to follow him in the
discussion

19. The Skills Required for a Group
Discussion
Initiation
Initiative taken by a person shows his/her inclination to
do work.
Can make a favorable first impression by making a valid
point.
But, if an initiator does not do his job well (stutter or
quote wrong fact or figure) then the damage done can
be irreparable.

20. The Skills Required for a Group
Discussion
Assertiveness
 Should make your point in a convincing manner so that
others buy your point.

21. The Skills Required for a Group
Discussion
Flexibility
Do not just stick to your argument and dismiss others'
opinions.
A group discussion is done to elicit the best course of
action.
If someone makes a better point than another, the other
person should be flexible enough to accept it.

22. The Skills Required for a Group
Discussion
Awareness
A GD also demonstrates the awareness of individuals.
Reading is required to enhance awareness and make a
good impression.

23. Communication Skills
Candidate assessed in terms of:
 Active listening
 Clarity of thought and expression
 Apt language
 body language
 Lucidity

24.  Tone: Quality or character of the voice
expression a particular feeling or mood
 Voice: Power of speech
 Articulation: Act of speaking or expressing an
idea in words
 Fluency: Speaking or writing in an easy,
flowing style
 Modulation: Variations in rate, tone, or
volume of voice
 Good delivery: The ideas expressed fluently in
the right voice, right tone, and right
articulation.
 It isn’t sufficient to have ideas. They have to be
expressed effectively.

25. Apt Language
o Fluency and accuracy in use of language free from
grammatical errors.
o Directly, clearly and precisely put ideas in a
organized fashion.
o Simplicity and unambigusity
o Using too much of jargon or high-sounding words
or ambiguous expressions may project as a show-
off and may not endear to group members.

26. Effective Use of Body Language
Looking attentively at the speaker and nodding
While speaking, ensuring no one is ignored. Looking at
everybody.
Avoiding overt gestures
Avoiding pointing out fingers
Avoiding monotonous posture by shifting slightly in the
chair or placing arm on the back of your chair
Not showing interest or dislike in the topic.
Even if one does not like the topic he should try to
develop interest and reveal interest and enthusiasm
through appropriate facial expression.

27. Group Behaviour ( Team Spirit)
 group behaviour is reflected in ability to interact
with other members of the group on brief
acquaintance.
 Emotional maturity and balance promotes
good interpersonal relationships. One is
expected to be more people centric and less
ego centric.
 Remaining objective, empathetic, and non-
threatening, and behaving maturely as a good
team player

28. Essence
 Consistency participation
 Keenness in listening and observing
 Time sharing and orderly conduct
 Ability to handle turbulent situations
 Ability to cut excessively exuberant participants
down to size
 Ability to dominate the proceedings without
bullying others
 Avoiding personal comments

29. Leadership Skills
o The success of any team depends to a large extent,
on its leader.
o The candidate who possesses both functional
ability and coordinating ability would emerge as
the leader.
o Functional ability involves knowledge, mental and
physical energy, emotional stability, objectivity,
communication skill, integrity and emotional
intelligence

30. Dos and Don'ts for Group Discussion
Use simple and understandable words while speaking.
Make sure to bring the discussion on track If your group
is distracting from the topic or goal, then simply take
initiative to bring the discussion on the track.
Make all group members aware that you all come to
some conclusion
stick to the topic.

31. Dos and Don'ts for Group
Discussion
Positive attitude
Be confident.
Do not try to dominate anyone.
Keep positive body language.
Show interest in discussion.
Speak sensibly
Do not speak just to increase your speaking time.
Don't worry even if you speak less.
Your thoughts should be sensible and relevant instead of
irrelevant speech.

32. Dos
 Sitting comfortably
 Listening to topic
 Organizing ideas
 Speaking at the earliest
 Identifying supporters/
opponents
 Keeping track of time
 Sharing time fairly
 Maintaining eye
contact
 Taking notes
 Aiming for summary if
needed

33. Don’ts
 Being in a hurry
 Being silent
 Dominating
vocally/physically
 Assuming role of chairman
 Introducing topic
 Taking extreme stance
 Looking at faculty
 Moving excessively
 Throwing all ideas at one shot
 Speaking fast
 Digressing
 Indulging in ill conversation
 Paying attention to bull dozers
 Using slang
 Getting emotional

34. Questions…