Group Discussions

Group Discussion (GD)

Vivekanand Rayapeddi

Now, it is time for us to take up the important aspect of our learning process, the Group Discussion.

Before we seriously start learning the do’s and don’ts of a GD, let us first understand as a layman, why a GD is important? What does an interviewer understand about our personality through a GD?

Why a GD has become an integral part of HR interview process?

Once we understand the following questions, then a GD will be very easy for us.

·         What is a GD?

·         What Should I do in a GD?

·         Why a GD?

·         Why is it important in an HR interview process?

·         What does an HR manager understand about us through GD?

What is a GD?

A Group Discussion is commonly referred as GD.  A Group discussion (GD) is a process, where the students are asked to discuss a given topic. They will be seated in a circular or a semi-circular pattern. The HR manager and panel members of the interview will be observing your performance.

In fact,

Through group discussion the interviewer gets the clear picture about your personality traits. He can understand how you behave with your neighbours. He can get a very vivid understanding about your group behavior.

Honestly speaking, he needs this information. But he cannot come and put a vigil in your social life. He cannot appoint spies to shadow you. Thus a GD gives him a glimpse of your mentality.

He can understand whether you are

·         An aggressive person

·         An assertive person

·         A Submissive person

·         A fighter

·         Sarcastic

·         Communicative in your expressions

·         Polite or impolite

·         A leader or a follower so on and so forth

Why he needs this information?

Well, tomorrow once become the part of his team, your behavior affects his organization’s behavior. If you are positive in nature, you carry positive atmosphere with you. Thus your behaviour in a group discussion is very important for him.

However, you are strongly advised not to fake or mask your behavior.

Study personality development books, attend seminars, get trained. Be spiritual in your thought process. Keep empathizing with people, make all these things part of your personality. Naturally you will be welcomed by any one. You become a natural leader.

A leader is badly needed by the industry.

The objective of this article is not to give you any quick fix solutions to be a winner in a GD. However, if you have less time to get a total revamp of your personality, by following the instructions in this article you can get browny points in a GD and you can come out with flying colours.

However, to be a leader in life, you should constantly work on bringing positive changes in your personality.

Types of discussion
There are a variety of different types of discussions that occur naturally and which you can recreate in the classroom or with group of friends to get total grip. These include- Group Discussions where the participants have to:

·         Make decisions (e.g. decide who to invite to a party and where to seat them)

·         Give and / or share their opinions on a given topic (e.g. discussing beliefs about the effectiveness of capital punishment)

·         Create something (e.g. plan and make a poster as a medium for feedback on a language course)

·         Solve a problem (e.g. discussing the situations behind a series of logic problems)

Do you know that thinking is a skill? We can think creatively. In a group discussion, before we air our thoughts, we need to analyze the given topic. For that you need to think in the following steps

·         First consider all the facts, figures and the data that is available

·         Consider the emotional angle, sentiments and feelings of the people

·         Think how to speak cautiously, without hurting the feelings of others

·         Think in a positive angle. Put hope and optimism in your thoughts

·         Think creatively and innovatively. This gives you an edge over other participants

·         Get enormous power and feel confident. Remember all those events where you were a winner.

Sometimes the HR manager gives time limit and sometimes they allow you to discuss till the solution is evolved based on the topic.

·         For certain topics, you need to use analytical skills, creativity and your imagination

·         For certain topics, you need to support or oppose an issue.

·         For certain topics, you need to control your emotions, though you feel like getting emotional.

·         For certain topics, simply you need to discuss as per the flow.

What should I do in a GD?

First listen to the instructions given by the interviewer. Follow their instructions, especially related to the time limits. Understand the topic fully. Get it clarified by asking suitable questions, in case you do not understand the topic fully.

Try to initiate the GD as far as possible. Be positive. Listen to others intently. Respect others. Understand the topic and analyze the topic meticulously. Give opportunity to others.

Before you start the GD, ask the following questions to your self

·         Why am I here?

·         What am I thinking about?

·         Did I understand the topic completely?

·         What do I need to achieve through this round?

·         What is the philosophy of this company?

·         Do I have the relevant information regarding the topic i.e Past / Present / Future

·         SPELT Method (Social, Political, Educational/Economical, Legal/Language, Technical aspects of the related topic, keep yourself ready with various points by thinking in SPELT method)

Why a GD?

A group discussion is conducted mainly to assess your personality traits and not to test your knowledge

Once you join the organization you need to work in a team. Thus you must be a team player. In a team you need to work hand in hand with your team members. Naturally a society person can easily get charged up and motivates others.

An HR manager can understand many things about your personality through your participation. He can assess your intelligence quotient, emotional quotient, personality type.

He can understand

·         Whether you are team player or not

·         Whether you are submissive, aggressive or assertive

·         Whether you are a leader or a follower

·         Whether you are supportive or selfish

·         Whether you are an optimistic person or a pessimistic person

In this way an interviewer can diagnose your personality type and group behaviour.

Now we got plenty of information and good amount of knowledge about the ins and outs of the group discussion. Let us consider the following steps to perform effectively in a group discussion.

Group Discussion is conducted to assess the following things mainly.

v  To assess the leadership qualities in you

v  To monitor your group behavior

v  To identify your communication skills

v  To watch closely your analytical skills

v  To examine your knowledge level.

In the present industry there is no room for the losers. You should be a winner always. A winner always plays positive roles. A loser plays negative roles.

Positive Roles ( Winner traits)	Negative Roles ( Loser Traits)
1.Initiator 2.Information seeker / giver 3.Opinion Giver / Seeker 4.Clarrifier 5.Optimistic ( They see gain) 6.Kind person 7.Part of the team 8. Uses soft words and hard arguments. 9. Stands firm on values and compromises on petty things. 10. winners make it happen	1.Non participant 2.Attcker 3.Dominator 4.Confuses others 5.Pessimistic ( They see pain ) 6. Cruel and rude in talk. 7.Apart from the team 8. Uses hard words and soft arguments. 9.  Stands firm on petty things and compromises on values. 10. Losers let it happen.

 Be a leader:

You can show that you have got very good leadership qualities through the following steps

·         Take initiative. It shows your drive and enterprising nature

·         Give proper directions

·         Show positive intervention and coordinate with the peers

·         Be objective and goal oriented

By showing the above qualities you can establish that you are a leader. Today’s industry needs the leaders.

Be a society person:

You can show that you have got very good group behaviour through the following steps

·         Show persuasive ability

·         Disagree yet agreeably

·         Be firm, yet polite

·         Use very polite yet powerful words

·         Try to convince not shout

Be a good communicator:

·         You should use very good language

·         You should be fluent in Spoken English

·         There should be clarity of thought as well as speech.

·         Use good presentation skills

·         Try to listen to others.

·         Express your view points in a clear cut way, without confusion

Be a good analyst:

·         Use logic while convincing others

·         Don’t argue, try to convince

·         Use appropriate and timely examples.

How to exhibit your knowledge?

Though the GD is not a platform to test your knowledge, you have to grab this opportunity to exhibit your knowledge.

Again don’t get confused, that you are not supposed to dash in and take away the time of others rudely. Other members in the GD may treat you as a big bore and may not respect you. This ultimately proves to be adverse.

Always show your knowledge by value addition.

Give new insights

Appreciate somebody and then grasp the opportunity to give further value addition.

A Step by Step approach

Take the initiative Introduce your self Thank the management and the team members Put your ideas into speech Follow KISS method (keep it simple and straight) Use polite body language, keep your voice level audible to all Give opportunity to others Listen to others intently Remember their names Politely refer to their names during your turn Briefly summarize, before you start again Add a word of praise and then give value addition. Motivate the non speakers by encouraging them Summarize

How to begin the GD?

v  Surely beginning a discussion can put you in a commanding position.  Of course, if you cant deliver the goods, it may put you in jeopardy.

v  Never initiate for the mere sake of beginning

v  He will get the credit for giving proper direction to the group or vice versa also.

v  Speak first only if you have enough sensible things to say. Otherwise keep silent and let someone else start.

v  Keep your voice level high and audible, keep a positive body language with positive gestures.

v  Don’t forget to thank the management and the team members.

v  Use polite words such as, I would like to.., I take this opportunity to express my..etc

v  Remember taking an initiative has always got  its own advantages

v  Understand the topic well and think in the shoes of the management and try to frame the right kind of wordings and ideas.

How to conclude a GD?

v  Try to summarize the GD at the appropriate time

v  In the summary do not merely state your point of view; also accommodate the prominent view points of the participants.

v  Do not reach a consensus unless asked specifically by the evaluators.

v  Many a time, forcing a consensus will backfire and may end up working against you. They may rate you –You are a pushy person and do not have the analytical skills.

How to jump into the discussion?

Hmmm.you have not taken the initiative. Don’t worry there is nothing to feel bad about it.

Few guidelines to show you how you could interject in to a GD which is already hot.

Keep an eye on the intensity.

 Jump only when the speaker has finished making his point.

v  Your success of interjection always depends on your assertiveness and also on the receptiveness of the others.

v  Don’t wait too long for the opportunity; always remember there are only a few minutes that you have.

v  A very useful way of starting your interjection is by supporting a point that has just been made.

v  People will let you speak if they think you agree with them or you praise them

v  Always try to say something positive about the other person’s opinion.

v  One more practical way of jumping into an active GD is to raise your voice level , though this is not a smart way of interjecting but it could work some times.

v  Try to combine this tool with the other tools that are discussed already.

 “Wise men learn from the mistakes of the others

Few learn from their own mistakes.

The less fortunate ones, don’t learn from either”