Group Discussion (GD) is a process where ideas and opinions are debated upon. A GD tests your oratory and communication skills. https://sites.google.com/view/kirandeshmukhblog/tips/group-discussions?authuser=0

1. Group
Discussions
Group Discussion (GD) is a process where ideas and opinions are debated upon. A GD tests your oratory and
communication skills. This process is mostly used to evaluate a student’s personality for selecting
candidates for admission to management schools basically for MBA. Institutes conducting undergraduate
programmes for business administration also use this process for short listing and selecting appropriate
applicants.

2. Tips
Update and prepare yourself
• Read up! Gather details on current topics by following daily news, editorial comments and articles written
by experts in news magazines. Opt for magazines that are content rich and not just full of advertisements.
• Don’t just read a news report; understand, analyze and arrive at your own conclusions.
• Collect as many facts, figures, examples and other relevant data regarding current topics. This will help you
steer the conversation to whichever direction you want and ensure a strong foothold during the discussion.
But also be aware that you should initiate the discussion only if you are very clear about the topic and know
a lot about the same.

4. Work on your Communication Skills
• You should be well versed in English and have a good vocabulary. Try and rehearse well, much before your
actual group discussion.
• Develop language skills including basic grammar, pronunciation, and effective expressions.
• Practice speaking and discussing in groups. You can sit with a group of friends and choose a topic and
indulge in a friendly banter. Not only will this increase your knowledge, you will be a better speaker by the
time it is time for your GD.
• Pay attention to voice modulation.
Strengthen your soft skills
• Be polite; show no sign of arrogance or superiority.
• Check your body language.
• Don’t insult a person or get too personal.
• Look at all the members and maintain eye contact while speaking. You don’t need to look at the panelists
as they are not part of the discussion.
• Listen carefully to what others have to say.
• Observe voice modulation and pauses.
• Speak patiently and convincingly.
Be punctual and dress appropriately
• Arrive on time.
• Wear something formal but comfortable. Look impressive, well groomed and confident.
• Ensure that your hair-do enhances your overall look and does not distract.
Before you start the discussion

5. • Listen and understand the topic before you speak.
• Arrange your facts logically and systematically.
• Be broad-minded, creative and methodical in your approach.
• Do not drift away from the topic or just repeat the view given by another participant.
• Take initiative in directing the GD and continue till the end. If you can take the opportunity to close the
discussion, then you should summarize it. If the group has not reached a conclusion try concluding it.

7. All the tips given above will help display merits which are going to be assessed during the GD. Qualities like
team spirit, leadership skills, communication skills, originality of thoughts, problem solving skills, and
creativity will be tested. Group discussions say a lot about how a student can function. The time allotted in
GD may not be adequate, so it is a skill to have time orientation. Expressing and impressing in the stipulated
time is also an art that would count and make a favourable impact.
Becoming a Winner in a Group
Every aspect in life goes through transition; and the selection process is definitely the one which going
through one of the fastest transition. Unlike earlier, the selection process has become more stringent and
focused towards getting the right blend of personalities being selected; whether it’s for a job or for a course.

8. Group discussion (GD) is the new age technique to find the best suitor.
One common issue that gives a lot of people cold feet is the GD. A lot of misconceptions prevail regarding
GD’s; right from an experienced to a novice, everyone would have their own thoughts and ideas which add up
to the confusion. A GD is all about the process and the content and sailing it with success is an art.
To sail through easily, all you need to do is the follow the pointers given below:
Preparation:
Ensuring the a good performance at the GD would require a lot of preparation. You need to put efforts on the
following aspects:
• Gathering full details of current topics by following daily news, editorial comments and articles written by
experts in news magazines
• Don’t just read the news report; understand, analyze and arrive at your own conclusions
• Collect as many facts, figures and examples regarding current topics to ensure a strong foothold while
discussion.
Apart from updating yourself, it also essential to pay attention to how are you going convey what you are
exactly thinking of. To make a positive impact:
• Develop language skills including basic grammar, pronunciation, and effective expressions
• Practice speaking and discussing in groups
• Pay attention to voice modulation
A man is known by the company he keeps and also by the way s/he carries his/her own self. Making an
impression would also include dressing appropriately.
• Wear something comfortable
• Ensure that it gives you a professional look
• Ensure that your hair-do enhances your overall look and is not a reason for any kind of distraction

9. To display qualities that would strengthen your chances, your behaviour is of prime importance. The way
you would conduct yourself, thus highlighting the soft skills will be very helpful. You need to simply
remember to:
• Be polite; show no sign of arrogance or superiority
• Check your body language
• Don’t insult a person or get too personal
• Look at all the members while speaking
• Observe voice modulation and pauses
• Speak patiently and convincingly

11. Once you know how you are going to conduct yourself then the most important question is what you speak.
Try to:
• Arrange your facts logically and systematically
• Be broad-minded, creative and methodical in your approach
• Do not drift away from the topic or just repeat the view given by another participant
• Don't start speaking until you have clearly understood the topic
• Identify the ways you will add value to the GD
• Influence the group by providing direction and emphasizing on the crucial issues
• Listen and understand the topic before you speak
• Show willingness for teamwork
• Take initiative in directing the GD and continue till the end
• Use appropriate and relevant quotations /facts / proverbs and examples to establish your point
All the above efforts are to display qualities which are going to assessed during the GD. You should be aware
of the aspects that are being looked for such as team spirit, leadership skills, communication skills,
originality of thoughts, problem solving skills, creativity and persuasive skills. Group discussions tell how a
prospective employee / student can function. The time allotted in GD may not very adequate, so it is a skill to
have time orientation. Expressing and impressing in the stipulated time is also an art that would count and
make a favorable impact.
A group discussion is a simulated exercise, where you cannot suddenly put up a show, since the evaluators
will see through you easily. May be a question might arise, how do I inculcate these skills in myself? It may
not happen in a day’s time, so the purpose of the article is to make you aware of these issues so that you
can develop yourself with time.
Remember, it’s a Discussion and not dispute or a debate!

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14. Group Discussions
Group Discussion (GD) is a process where ideas and opinions are debated upon. A GD tests your oratory
and communication skills. This process is mostly used to evaluate a student’s personality for selecting

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