Facing a Group Discussion successfully

1. Facing a Group Discussion
successfully

2. What is a Group Discussion?

3. What is a Group Discussion?
• Popularly referred to as ‘GD’
• Is a formal discussion among participants on a
given topic.
• Generally involves 8 to 15 participants in a
group.
• The moderator of the group gives the group a
topic to discuss.
• The participants are given time (around 5
mins) to collect their thoughts about the given
topic before the discussion begins.
• The group is then asked to discuss the topic
for 20 to 25 minutes.
• The moderator withdraws to the background
and becomes a silent spectator once the
discussion starts.
• The moderator makes notes about all the
participants - contributions to the discussion,
comprehension of the main idea, patience,
assertion, accommodation, etc.

4. Why are GDs conducted?

5. Why are GDs conducted by prospective employers?
• GDs are generally used as an
elimination tool in the recruitment
process.
• Especially when the numbers to
be recruited are in large numbers
and extremely competitive.
• To get an idea about candidates
in a short time and make
assessments about their skills,
which normally cannot be
evaluated in an interview.
• Also used to gauge the
personality traits of candidates.

6. Phases of a GD

7. Phases of a Group Discussion
• Introduction/initiation of the topic
to be discussed.
• The actual discussion.
• Summarizing/conclusion.

8. Initiating a GD

9. Initiating a GD
• Very important to create a favourable first
impression.
• Can cause irreparable damage if
you initiate a GD and stammer/ stutter/
quote wrong facts and figures.
• If you initiate a GD very well but don't
speak much after that, it gives the
impression that you started the GD for the
sake of starting it to earn the points
earmarked for an initiator.
• If you start a GD you are expected to put
the topic in the right perspective.
• Initiate only if you have knowledge about
the given topic.

10. Techniques to initiate a GD

11. Ways of initiating a GD
• Quotes
– For a GD on ‘Is preparation necessary for exams?’ you can begin the
GD with the quote by Benjamin Franklin ‘Failing to prepare is
preparing to fail’
• Definition
– For a GD on ‘Marriages should be arranged through match makers’
you can begin the GD with a definition of marriage ‘Marriage is a
relationship and bond, most commonly between a man and a
woman, that plays a key role in the definition of a family’
• Question
– Starting the GD with a question has a great impact.
– It implies asking a question that promotes the flow of ideas, and
answering it yourself.
– For a topic like ‘Is the war that USA is waging with Iraq justified?’,
you can begin the GD with a question ‘What has the war done to the
common man in Iraq and the US? Is has just increased the suffering
of people in Iraq and the families of the US soldiers killed in action’
Contd…

12. Ways of initiating a GD (Contd…)
• Shock statement
– This is the best way to grab immediate attention and put forth
your point.
– For a topic like ‘Should cities develop at the cost of
environment?’, the GD can begin with a shocking statement like
‘If the cities continue to grow without respecting the
environmental factors the world will have no trees, birds and
animals’
• Facts and figures
– Another effective way to begin the GD is by quoting facts and
figures.
– Approximation is allowed in macro level figures, but micro level
figures need to be correct and accurate.
– For a topic ‘Newspaper reading habit has come down after the
advent of TV’, you can begin the GD with a macro figure by
stating ‘There are approximately 5,525 English newspapers
that are published in India’.
– On the other hand micro level data has to be correct. For
example ‘There are 28 states and 7 Union Territories in India’.
No approximation here!
Contd…

13. Ways of initiating a GD (Contd…)
• Short Story
– You can begin the GD with a short story for impact.
– A GD on ‘Importance of a person’s strength of character’ can be
initiated with a short story,
• 'A child once asked a balloon vendor, who was selling helium gas-
filled balloons, whether a blue-coloured balloon will go as high in
the sky as a green-coloured balloon. The balloon vendor told the
child, it is not the colour of the balloon but what is inside it that
makes it go high.'
• General Statement
– A GD can begin with a general statement which puts the topic
in the right perspective.

14. Summarizing a GD

15. Summarizing/concluding a GD
• All GDs do not necessarily have a logical
concluding statement.
• You get additional points if you
can summarize what the group has
discussed in the GD in a nutshell.
• Keep the following points in mind while
summarizing a discussion:
– Avoid raising new points.
– Avoid stating only your viewpoint.
– Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.
– Keep it brief and concise.
– It must incorporate all the important points
that came out during the GD.
– If the moderator asks you to summarize a
GD, it means the GD has come to an end. Do
not add anything once the GD has been
summarized.

16. What is being evaluated in a GD?

17. What will you be evaluated on in a GD?
• Your spoken communication skills.
• Your confidence.
• Your knowledge on a given subject
– Comes through reading
• Your precision and clarity of thought.
• Ability to listen.
• Leadership qualities.
• Your personality trait/behaviour in the
group
– how you interact with fellow participants.
– Whether you a loner or can work in a
group.

18. Personality Traits evaluated in a GD

19. Personality Traits that are typically evaluated in a GD
• Team Player
– Is a team player or a loner who likes to
work on his own.
• Leadership qualities
– shows direction to the group whenever the
group moves away from the topic.
– coordinates the effort of the different team
members in the GD.
– contributes to the GD at regular intervals
with valuable insights.
– also inspires and motivates team members
to express their views.
• Flexibility
– being open to other’s view points
Contd…

20. Personality Traits that are typically evaluated in a GD
(Contd…)
• Assertive without being aggressive
– Being assertive is the ability to put forward
your point to the group in a very emphatic,
positive and confident manner.
– Demonstrates a positive body language.
– Being aggressive is forcing your point of view
on the other person.
– Demonstrates a negative body language.
• Initiative
– Were you the one who began the GD with an
appropriate introduction about the topic being
discussed.
– Initiate a GD only if you are well versed with
the topic. You never ever get a second chance
to create a first impression
Contd…

21. Personality Traits that are typically evaluated in a GD
(Contd…)
• Creativity/out-of-box
thinking
– A new idea put across by you very
convincingly and discussed by the
group at length.
• Listening skills
• General awareness

22. Situations in a GD

23. Situations that can arise in a GD
• The participants are unable to establish a
proper rapport and the whole group does not
speak much.
• The participants are hostile to another and get
into personal arguments which lead to
premature termination of the GD.
• The participants get emotional and the GD goes
out of control.
• Some participants are very vocal and dominate
the GD without allowing the others to speak.
• Some participants will keep waiting for the
opportune moment to speak which may never
arise.
• The participants discuss the topic assertively by
touching on all its nuances and try to reach the
objective.

24. Do’s in a GD

25. Do’s in a GD
• Be formally dressed as you would for an
interview.
• Be cool and confident while presenting your
view point.
• Body language and eye-contact are very
important.
• Address the person farthest from you. If he
can hear you everyone else can!
• Use formal, plain and simple language.
• Listen attentively as it is very important to
encourage participation from all members.
• Stick to the subject that is being discussed
without going off on a tangent.
• Take a stand on the subject – either ‘for’ or
‘against’.
Contd…

26. Do’s in a GD (Contd…)
• You can change your stand during the GD
which indicates your flexibility and
accommodation of other’s view points.
• Focus on consistently making points that will
enhance the quality of the discussion.
• Last but not the least begin your preparation
for GDs right away without waiting till the last
minute.
– Build on your general knowledge.
Remember knowledge is strength.
– Keep track of current affairs by
• Reading newspapers and magazines
• Watching national and world news TV
programs

27. Don’ts in a GD

28. Don’ts in a GD
• There is no need to address anybody by name in
a GD. You may not even know everyone’s name.
Better to address the group as a whole.
• GDs are not debating stages.
• Do not get into personal arguments with the
other participants.
• Do not interrupt while another participant is
speaking.
• Do not allow one or two members to monopolise
the discussion.
• Avoid slang like yeah, nope and Hinglish like
yaar, teek hai, chalta hai.
• Swear words are an absolute no-no.
• Do not keep repeating your point again and
again.
• Do not make controversial remarks relating to
gender, political parties and religion.

29. Critical factors of success in a GD

30. 1. Communication Skills – ability to
articulate.
2. Knowledge and ideas regarding a
given subject.
3. Capability to co-ordinate and lead
the discussion.
4. Exchange of thoughts in a clear
and concise manner.
5. Ability to addressing the group as
a whole.
6. Thorough preparation.
Critical factors of success in a GD

31. Now let us conduct a mock GD after a
short break……