What is Group Discussion?

"Group" is a collection of individuals who have regular contact and frequent interaction
and who work together to achieve a common set of goals. "Discussion" is the process
whereby two or more people exchange information or ideas in a face-to-face situation to
achieve a goal. The goal, or end product, maybe increased knowledge, agreement leading to
action, disagreement leading to competition or resolution or perhaps only a clearing of the
air or a continuation of the status-quo.

"Group Discussion", popularly labeled as GD, is a methodology used by an organization

(company, institute, business school, etc.) to gauge whether the candidate has certain personality
traits. GDs form an important part of the short-listing process for recruitment or admission
in a company or institution. In this methodology, the group of candidates is given a topic or
a situation, typically given some time to think about the same, and then asked to discuss it
among themselves for a specific duration (which may vary from one organization to
another). As in a football game, where you play like a team, passing the ball to each team
member and aim for a common goal, GD is also based on teamwork, incorporating views of
different team members to reach a common goal.

So, a group discussion refers to a communicative situation that allows its participants to
share their views and opinions with other participants. It is a systematic exchange of
information, views and opinions about a topic, problem, issue or situation among the
members of a group who share some common objectives. 

Why is a "GD" conducted?

Organizations conduct GDs to find out whether you possess the critical qualities/skills to
contribute effectively to the goal accomplishment process. Group Discussions are
held because business management is essentially a group activity and working with groups
is the most important parameter of being successful as a manager. Apart from that, the
candidates are evaluated on the basis of their communication skills, knowledge, leadership
skills, listening skills, conceptualizing ability, etc. 

Group Discussion Preparation Links:

  GD: 2018 Topics
 GD Introduction
 GD: Techniques, Tips & Strategy
 Solved Case Studies
 Solved GDs

 GD: Ettiquette
 GD: Communications
 GD: Content
 GD: Approach
 How to handle different types of GDs

A GD helps to achieve group goals as well as individual goals. The examiner can evaluate
both the personality traits and group skills of candidates participating in a G.D. It is
basically a situation test wherein a sample of a candidate’s group worthiness and potential
as a worker comes out quite explicitly.

 Group discussion tips to avoid mistakes

A detailed list of GD Topics under different categories

If you have any question, suggestion or feedback, feel free to post it in the discussion box
given below.

In this article, you will learn about various tips and strategies to tackle difficult situations in
a Group Discussion.

What really works in a GD? 

When proposing an idea or argument, be very clear and structured in thinking and
communication. Charm and personality takes you up to a certain point but after that it is
simply your intelligence, thought process and command over the language which pulls you
through. After proposing your idea, you must put forth a question. The person who
answers the questions will have to look at you while answering, giving you a chance to
intervene with another idea. Once you learn to handle the group discussions in a scientific
way, there is no need for you to resort to techniques such as shouting, hammering your fist
on the table, etc. Whenever you face a tough situation, go back to basics and that is where
you will find the answer. Remember your movie or picnic venue discussions. What works
there will work here also.

Keep the following GD preparation tips in mind:

 Be Yourself:
The most important mantra to ace GDs is “Be Yourself”. The more you change things
about yourself, the more trouble you would find yourself in. The best way to go about
things is to be natural and make sure all your responses are natural and spontaneous.
To ease the burden of yourself, see a group discussion as an extension of your
everyday conversation. This would enable you to think straight, and make sure you do
not let negativity cloud your thought process.
 A Group Discussion is not a seminar:
The most fundamental principle of participating in a Group Discussion is that you need to
speak; there is no escape to this bare minimum requirement of a group discussion. One
simple task is to take notes and generate a list of points to speak on; unless you are
specifically asked by the invigilators not to take a pen and paper inside. On the rough sheet
of paper, prepare a small little framework analyzing the topic from every angle and
ensuring that you have understood the multiple facets of the topic that are generally there.

The success of an interjection depends not only on assertiveness but also on the receptiveness of
others. If you interject when someone else has just begun speaking is unlikely that he will let you
have your way. On the other hand, if you wait till he has made at least some of his points, he will
be more amenable to letting you speak. A discussion has to flow naturally.

 Prologue and Epilogue:

A lot of students generally think that opening the GD is the best way of entering one. But
do remember that this approach is fraught with dangers, and the risks and rewards of doings
so are generally very high.
  speaker speaks, the others are still grasping the issue and coming to terms with it,
and this gives him a chance to dwell on the topic and illustrate his viewpoint. This also
means that the evaluators get a good look at time and can clearly listen to his views.
But, the greatest challenge with opening a discussion is that the speaker needs to do it
well. If he fails to deliver quality content, he misleads the group, as well as he earns
negative points from the evaluators as full attention is placed on him. All of a sudden,
he would be viewed as someone who jumps the gun and does not provide topics the
kind of rational thinking they require. In a nutshell, speaking first has its rewards but
only if done well. If you make a meal of it, you are bound to entertain the wrath of the
invigilators.

Group Discussion Preparation

 GD: Topics 2019

 GD: Approach
 GD: Do's and Don'ts
 GD: Communications
 Solved GDs

 GD Introduction
 Types of GD topics: Techniques
 GD: Ettiquette
 GD: Content
 Solved Case Studies

 Taking the Stage:

In a hostile environment, with a number of speakers putting across their points in a
vociferous manner, it becomes hard to enter a group discussion. The solution to this
problem is not a cut and dried one, and it requires a lot of practice to get over this
problem. In such a scenario, making your presence felt is absolutely essential. Here
are some of the things that you could do in a loud group discussion:
 Enter the lows- GDs are peculiar in the sense that move like a wave, and have
their highs and lows. You are advised to note these patterns, and whenever you find
 that the noise levels have reduced, that is your moment to enter the discussion. But
do remember, at times, you would not get such a chance at all. And if in the first few
minutes of the GD, you observe that there are no lows, you would be left with no
choice but to barge your way in.
 Interjecting in a discussion with a question- A good way to enter group
discussion is to ask a question from other participants. Questions attract the attention
of the group towards you, providing a vital chance to jump in the discussion and
provide inputs. At this juncture, ask follow up questions or give thoughts on the
question that you raised.
 Enter after a person has made his point - It is vital for you to understand
that interjections need to be made at the right moment. For example, someone
has just started with his points and you try to cut him short. It is rare that the
other person would give you a chance to speak before he completes his points.
On the other hand, if you allow him to put across his points and then enter the
discussion by interrupting him, there is a greater chance you succeed.

How to effectively communicate during group duscussions

 Tips to enter the group discussion

 Enter with a supportive statement- Generally, when we enter a group
discussion, we do so by interjecting the other person and contradicting his
viewpoint. A street-smart way to enter the discussion could be by supporting the
point of another person. By using statements such as “I agree with what my friend
says…” or “I would like to add…”or “I think a point we could add here…”
 Enter by increasing volume-The popular way adopted to enter a loud GD is to
increase one’s volume. Though it a method that comes almost naturally and one is
prone to shouting in such an environment, this may contribute to the melee. It is in
your best interest that you combine this method with other mentioned in this section
so that you are able to make an impact. Also, make sure that even though with a
raised voice, it does not pass the impression that you are shouting.
 Generate supportive data:
Use facts and illustrations to add value. However, be very sure of the validity of any
 statistic you quote. If you mention a wrong figure, someone in the group could point out the
mistake. If that doesn't happen, the evaluators might notice the mistake. A fact or a statistic
cannot be an argument in itself. It can only support a point you are making. So do not quote
a fact and let it land. Follow it up with some sort of inference or conclusion that can be
drawn from it.
 Be an active listener: Listen carefully to others' contributions to avoid pitfalls. Listening
will benefit you in the following ways:
 It will prevent you from repeating something already said
 It will give you new areas to think about since a participant may have introduced
an excellent point, which you had not thought of
 It will help you take the discussion forward, taking on from where another
participant has left
 It may even help you understand a topic, which you were ignorant of, before the
first speaker defined it.

 Be assertive, not aggressive:

It is a myth that successful managers are aggressive. They are not aggressive, rather they
are assertive. There is a fine dividing line between assertiveness and aggressiveness. An
aggressive person is someone who puts forward his point and tries to dominate others. He
raises his voice, does not listen to or understand other people's viewpoint, takes it as a
personal affront if others disagree with him and ends up offending others. On the other
hand, an assertive person puts across his point strongly and rationally. So, do not be
aggressive in your next GD. Instead, be assertive.

 Make Friends:
Building allies is often an important aspect of a GD. Being heard is one thing and getting a
positive response to your arguments is another. Get people on your side and ensure that they
are receptive to your arguments. They will not only allow you to interject in the discussion,
but they will also support your arguments. When supporting someone else's arguments does
not just say "I agree". Try to add value by adding points of your own that extend the
argument. You could build allies by giving others a chance to speak when they are in
agreement with you (but only after you feel you have made your point). The final weapon at
 our disposal is your body language. Try and appear friendly, not intimidating. Smile, it
often works! Speak clearly, speak sense and also let others speak. In a GD, you must speak,
but you must also be heard by the other participants. Other participants will listen to you IF:
 Your voice is audible and clear
 Your contribution is relevant and made at the appropriate time
 You listen to others; you let them speak and you are not too aggressive. This does
not mean that you should only let others speak. You must let them speak and also
speak yourself.
 Quality of Content:
More important than the amount of time you speak for, is the quality of what you have said
and the impact that it has on the group. You do not have to dominate the GD by speaking
for a long period of time. You have to influence a group by providing it direction,
highlighting the crucial issues and putting forth persuasive arguments. There is no formula
to calculate the right duration of participation in a GD. In a 15-minute GD in which there
are 12 participants, if you are able to speak for two minutes spread across four or five
occasions, it should be enough.
 Value-Additions: You can add value to a discussion keeping the following in mind:
 Provide a structure that enables the discussion to carry on
 Provide analysis that helps in distilling the discussion
 Provide new facts and details
 Examples should be rational and clear
 Avoid flimsy repetition of thought
 Do not lose focus and discuss trivial issues
 Try to provide a summary to the discussion

What are the blunders in a GD?

There are a number of candidates who commit common blunders in GDs. Going through the
following section, you can explore all the common problems and make sure you do not commit
any such error. The most common ones are:

 Aggression:
Being too aggressive is one of the most common mistakes in GDs. While trying to make
 presence felt and acknowledged, students commits the mistake of being over-aggressive in
the GD. Actions such as over-animation, dramatizations, banging the table, entering in one-
to-one discussions or criticizing others unfairly are some of the misplaced manifestations of
aggression. Why does this happen? Most students think that aggression is considered a
virtue and hence must be displayed at any cost. It needs to be clearly understood that
aggression in thinking is required, not in behavior. A candidate who is polite but firm wins
the day.
 Negativity:
The words you select to express yourself are indicators of your personality. A negative
approach is highlighted by negative words and body language. Of course if you have
observed yourself using negative language a little too often, you need to do some self-
analysis and sort out your attitude related problems. Nervous body movements, having your
hands folded across your chest, carrying skeptical expressions, constantly moving and
fidgeting, evasive eye movements, etc. are all indicators of a negative personality and
should be avoided at all costs.
 Unfocussed Behavior:
Instances like trying to fit your example/knowledge of data to every GD topic, using
examples or quoting facts, figures and data that have no relevance to the discussion, etc. can
only lead to a negative assessment. Try to avoid jargons and technical language that
seemingly makes you learned; these can only do more harm than provide any extra brownie
points.
 Telling Wrong Facts:
One thing about factual data is that it can provide extra-points to you but if you get a fact
wrong, you can be stuck with someone explaining that you need to check your facts. In case
you are not sure about something, you can always say that you are quoting that piece of
information approximately. You could use phrases such as: “I think” or
“Probably/Approximately” or “If I remember correctly”. Do not jump the gun and make a
blunder that you cannot correct later. Also, you should not judge someone who has made
such an error; do not jump into the discussion and berate him. If you need to make a factual
correction, do sol in the most polite and humble manner.
 Being Highly Individualistic:
Being a strong independent personality is a good virtue to possess. But, you should
 remember that the hallmark of a good manager is the interpersonal skill he possesses. Make
sure that you provide a good reflection of yourself in a group as your social interaction is
being evaluated. The goal has to be achieved in teams and therefore your interpersonal
skills are extremely vital. In fact, one has to strike the right balance between individual
performance and group excellence.

Follow the above group discussion tips and tricks to enhance your score in the selection process.

GDPI Preparation Links:

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