Group Discussion or popularly known as GD, is a very important round in any selection process, be it for an MBA course, campus recruitment or for any graduate/post graduate degree. Group discussion allows you to exchange information and ideas and gives you the experience of working in a team. Group discussion is an important dimension of the selection process.
Group Discussion, as the most popular, reliable and dominant medium, heads the list among the battery of personality tests used today for selection of candidates and executives for managerial appointments, MBA Admission ,training, award of scholarships, admission to post graduate or specialized managrement courses, etc. Group discussions occur in many different formats – from very informal ones between friends to highly structured and challenging discussions included as part of a selection process. Group discussion practice and skill development is therefore useful for all students.
A Group Discussion at a B-School can be defined as a formal discussion involving ten to 12 participants in a group. GDs are generally a 20 to 30 minute process whose larger objective is to select those candidates who have the ability to perform in a team. Group Discussion basically means searching your team player, leadership, communication capability.
To excel in GDs, you should have a complete grasp of the subject knowledge and be adept in the art of positive argument and also be a persuasive communicator. There are a number of things you can do to help your group become successful. In group discussions, it is important to avoid conflict as much as possible. If you don’t agree with the statement, instead of saying “that doesn’t make any sense,” it would be better to say “I don’t know if I agree. Could you elaborate?” When you use this statement, it will not be as offensive as the other statement. Merely making a meaningful contribution and helping the group arrive at a consensus is not enough. You must ensure that the group hears you.
Are you a leader ? 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. When chairing a discussion group you must communicate in a positive way to assist the speakers in accomplishing their objective.
There can be various ways of assessing an individual’s personality but group discussions and personal interviews are accepted tools to select a student because in a limited time they can give a fair idea of whether a candidate can become a manager or not.
Don’t be disheartened if you did not do well in your First Group Discussion.
Here are a few tips from one of the Toppers for GDs
● Read newspapers. Keep yourself updated about your sector (if you have work experience).
● Discuss various topics with friends. Pick any topic from the day’s newspaper and talk about it. For example, Obama has become the US President. So, a GD topic can be, ‘Will that help India?’ This helps increase your knowledge as one will study for pre-determined topics before-hand. More often, you also learn from and retain what your friends said in the discussion.
● Discuss abstract as well. For example, God, blue, Cos. Be open-minded about GD topics. Know certain data like India’s GDP. Read a year-book for this.
● Learn to express yourself. You should have a command over the language
● During the actual GD, be calm and composed. A GD requires a certain mindset – that you are ready to go for it! think of it as a selection panel, not a rejection panel.
● Even if you don’t know much about a given topic but can present it will in lucid, clear and logical manner, you are through. Many coaching institutes say that one who starts speaking first in a GD, makes it. That’s not so. The point of a GD is to test, can you work in a group and convey your point in a clear-cut manner. Don’t be in a rush to start. However, if nobody is taking the lead because the topic is hard, you should start.
● It’s necessary to speak every two minutes. What matters is, quality, not quantity. Look at all members while speaking.
● Never make derogatory or personal comments against anybody in your group.
● Be careful about your body language, specially hand gestures. Don’t lean back or forward while sitting. Don’t cross your legs. While practicing, ask friends how you look while talking. If not sure, join a coaching institute.
● Don’t fiddle with a pen etc, during the GD.
● Listen when others talk. Wait till the other person finishes.
● Don’t interject just for the sake of interjecting.
● Don’t shout and create an atmosphere reminiscent of a fish market. The idea is to have a constructive discussion.
● Give due respect to a lady in the group.
● Be careful of how you enter or exit the room?
All the best for your GD - May God be with you
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