10 ways to crack the GD (Group Discussion)

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Group Discussion (GD)What is Group discussion?

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.

Personality Traits the GD is trying to gauge may include :-

– Ability to work in a team – Communication skills– Reasoning ability– Leadership skills– Initiative– Assertiveness– Flexibility– Creativity– Listening– Awareness


Why GD?

Institutes Perspective -

The reason why institutes put you through a Group discussion and an interview, after testing your technical and conceptual skills in an exam.

Now to know you as a person and gauge how well you will fit in their institute.


Why GD?Company’s Perspective –

Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your –

• Interactive skills • How good you are at communicating with other people. • How you behave, participate and contribute in a group.• How much importance do you give to the group objective as well as

your own. • How well do you listen to viewpoints of others• How open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own.

The aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication, non-verbal behavior, conformation to norms, decision-making ability and cooperation.


Preparation for GD?

GD reflects the inherent qualities of an individual .

• Reading: This is the first and the most crucial step in preparation.

• Mocks: Create an informal GD group and meet regularly to discuss

and exchange feedback.


During the GD:

Panelists assess on:• Leadership Skills - Ability to take leadership roles and be able to lead, inspire

and carry the team along to help them achieve the group's objectives.

• Communication Skills -Candidates will be assessed in terms of clarity of

thought, expression and aptness of language. • Interpersonal Skills - People skills are an important aspect of any job.

• Persuasive Skills - The ability to analyze and persuade

GD is a test of your ability to think, your analytical capabilities and your ability to make your point in a team-based environment.


Skills that reflects:• Clarity of thought • Group working skills (especially during a group

task of case study discussion) • Conflict handling • Listening and probing skills • Knowledge about the subject and individual

point of view • Ability to create a consensus • Openess and flexibility towards new ideas • Data based approach to decision making


My chance to speak

How do I take my chance to speak:

– Trying to interrupt others while speaking would only harm your chances.

– Maintain an eye-contact with the speaker. This would show your listening skills

– Would help you gauge from his eye-movement and pitch of voice that he is about to close his inputs.

– You can quickly take it from there. – Try and link your inputs with what he has spoken

whether you are adding to or opposing his arguments.


+ve task Roles in GD• Initiator • Information seeker • Information giver • Procedure facilitator • Opinion seeker • Opinion giver • Clarifier • Social Supporter • Harmonizer • Tension Reliever • Energizer • Compromiser • Gatekeeper • Summarizer


-ve Roles in GD

• Disgruntled non-participant

• Attacker

• Dominator

• Patronizer

• Clown


GD Tips

• Initiation Techniques

• Body of the group discussion

• Summarization/ Conclusion


Initiation Techniques• When you initiate a GD, you not only grab the opportunity

to speak, you also grab the attention of the examiner and your fellow candidates.

• If you can make a favorable first impression with your content and communication skills after you initiate a GD, it will help you sail through the discussion.

• But if you initiate a GD and stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong facts and figures, the damage might be irreparable.


Body of the GD

• Techniques to initiate a GD

i. Quotesii. Definitioniii. Questioniv. Shock statementv. Facts, figures and statisticsvi. Short storyvii. General statement


Summarization/ Conclusion

• Most GD doesn’t really have conclusions. A conclusion is where the whole group decides in favor or against the topic.

• But every GD is summarized. You can summaries what the group has discussed in the GD in a nutshell.


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 examiner asks you to summaries a GD, it

means the GD has come to an end. • Do not add anything once the GD has been

summarized.


Types of GD • GD’s can be topic-based or case-based.

1. Factual TopicsE.g. The education policy of any country, Tourism, State of the aged in the nation.

2. Controversial Topics

E.g. Reservations should be removed, Women make better managers

3. Abstract TopicsAbstract topics are about intangible things.

• Case-based GDThe case study tries to simulate a real-life situation.


Why do we have GD?

• It helps you to understand a subject more deeply.• It improves your ability to think critically. • It helps in solving a particular problem. • It helps the group to make a particular decision. • It gives you the chance to hear other’s ideas. • It improves your listening skills. • It increases your confidence in speaking. • It can change your attitudes.


Improving GD Skills

• Observe– How do other students make critical comments? – How do they ask questions? – How do they disagree with or support arguments? – What special phrases do they use to show politeness even when they are

voicing disagreement?

– How do they signal to interrupt, ask a question or make a point?

• 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


Discussion Etiquette

Do• Speak pleasantly and politely to the group. • Respect the contribution of every speaker. • Remember that a discussion is not an argument. Learn to

disagree politely. • Think about your contribution before you speak. How best

can you answer the question/ contribute to the topic? • Try to stick to the discussion topic. Don't introduce irrelevant

information. • Be aware of your body language when you are speaking. • Agree with and acknowledge what you find interesting.


Discussion Etiquette

Don't• Lose your temper. A discussion is not an argument. • Shout. Use a moderate tone and medium pitch. • Use too many gestures when you speak. Gestures like

finger pointing and table thumping can appear aggressive. • Dominate the discussion. Confident speakers should allow

quieter a chance to contribute. • Draw too much on personal experience or anecdote. • Interrupt. Wait for a speaker to finish what they are saying

before you speak.


Leading a Discussion

• You may be in a seminar group that requires you to lead a group discussion, or lead a discussion after an oral presentation. You can demonstrate leadership by:

– introducing yourself and the members of the group – stating the purpose of the discussion – inviting quiet group members to speak – being objective – summarizing the discussion


Chairing a Group Discussion

• When chairing a discussion group you must communicate in a positive way to assist the speakers in accomplishing their objective.The following four leadership skills you can use to influence other people positively and help your group achieve its purpose. These skills include:

– introducing the topic and purpose of the discussion, – making sure all members have approximately the same

time– thanking group members for their contribution – being objective in summarizing the group's discussion

and achievements


How to Face GD

A group discussion consists of:

– Communication Skills – Knowledge and ideas regarding a given

subject – Capability to co-ordinate and lead – Exchange of thoughts – Addressing the group as a whole – Thorough preparations


Communication Skills

• The first aspect is one's power of expression.

• You should be precise and clear

• Listen is also what evaluators judge

• You should be able to convey your thoughts satisfactorily and convincingly before a group of people.


Knowledge and ideas

• Knowledge of the subject under discussion and clarity of ideas are important

– Comes from consistent reading – Knowledge makes one confident and

enthusiastic – That makes one sound convincing and

confident. – That’s the key to crack GD


Leadership & Coordinating

The basic aim of a group discussion is to:• Judge a candidate's leadership qualities.• The examiner becomes a silent spectator• A candidate should display tactfulness, skill,

understanding and knowledge on varied topics, enterprise, forcefulness and other leadership qualities

• Motivate and influence other candidates who may be almost equally competent


Exchange of Thoughts• GD is an exchange of thoughts and ideas

among members • GD is held for selecting personnel in

organizations where there is a high level of competition

• GD purpose is to get an idea about candidate in a short time & make assessment about– The candidates skills on

• Team membership• Leadership skills• Listening and • Articulation skills


Addressing Group as a whole

• Address the person farthest from you. If he can hear you everyone else too can.

• Attend the group discussion in formal dress.• The language used should also be formal, not the

language used in normal conversations. – For instance, words and phrases like "yar", "chalta hai",

"CP", "I dunno", etc. are out. – This is not to say you should use a high sounding,

pedantic language. • just use formal, plain and simple language.


Thorough Preparation • Only 460 candidates make it to the final

list from 2.75 Lac civil service aspirants each year.

READING VARIOUS TOPICS & KNOWLEDGE ON THEM IS THE

KEY TO SUCCESS


GD Mistakes• Emotional outburst

– ANGER

• Quality Vs Quantity– MAXIMUM TALK

• Egotism Showing off (SELFISHNESS)– FAKE FIGURES / INFORMATION

• Get noticed - But for the right reasons – WANT TO BE THE FIRST

• Managing one's insecurities – NERVOUSNESS


Thank You

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10 ways to crack the GD (Group Discussion)