GROUP DISCUSSIONS

In group discussions (GDs), a particular number of people (approximately three to eight)

meet face to face and, through free oral interaction, develop, share, and discuss ideas.
Group discussions are widely used in many organizations for decision-making and problem
solving.
They are also used widely as a personality test for evaluating several candidates
simultaneously to select personnel for positions of responsibility, especially in the service
sector, and also to select students for admission to professional institutes.

The Indian defence forces were the first to tap the potential of GDs and incorporate them
into their battery of tests for recruitment of officers. Since then, GDs have become popular
with various recruiting bodies because of their operational ease and effectiveness in terms
of both time and cost. Most reputed business schools require students to participate in a GD
before moving on to the final stage of the selection procedure, the interview. In a few cases,
the GD may not be an elimination round, i.e., every person who participates in the GD also
gets an opportunity to appear for the interview.

Guidelines that would help one to speak effectively in a GD.

• Seize the first opportunity to speak if you have a good understanding of the topic of
discussion.
• Listen patiently to others and then react to their viewpoints.
• Speak clearly and audibly so that everyone hears and understands.
• Be concise in your expressions. Do not repeat ideas just for the sake of speaking
something.
• Ask for clarification, if necessary.
• Facilitate contribution from others.
• Use statistics and examples to justify a view point.
• Avoid talking to only one or two persons in the group.
• Assume an impersonal tone. Treat all members as fellow participants; none in the group
is either a friend or a foe.
• Be assertive without being aggressive; be humble without being submissive.
• Raise your voice (just enough to be heard) and speak out a strong point in case of a fish
market-like situation in a GD.
• Conclude objectively by briefly presenting the important points of the discussion and
any decisions taken.
Creating a Cordial and Cooperative Atmosphere
• Listen to others’ viewpoints with an open mind and interest.
• Respect others’ ideas and try to understand the speaker’s perspective.
• Develop mutual trust among each other.
• Avoid being too formal with others (e.g., knowing the names of others will help in
addressing them by first names rather than using Mr/Ms; using I/you/we and active voice
rather than impersonal passive voice— ‘Reena, I am unable to get your point. Could you
please give some statistics and elaborate further?’).
• Adopt a friendly attitude so that others put forth their ideas freely.
• Use body language effectively to convey interest and sincerity in the discussion.
• Avoid being friendly with only one or two participants in the group.
• Be objective and unbiased in the discussion.
• Allow others to speak.
• Recognize significant contributions by others and appreciate them.

Using Persuasive Strategies

• Do your homework and be knowledgeable about the topic of discussion.
• Show maturity while reacting to others (by exhibiting appropriate body language and a
firm tone of voice; by not interrupting somebody abruptly).
• Listen carefully and then react.
• Always use evidence (statistics/examples/testimonies) to justify your views.
• Establish mutual respect.
• Win the confidence of others.
• Be considerate. We may have a strong view on some issue. However, if others give
evidences against these views, be willing to listen.
• Always be friendly and respectful during GDs.

Reaching a Decision
Most of the GDs end with a decision—either final or interim. Whatever the type of decision,
it can be arrived at only when members participate actively to explore the topic, contribute
significantly to the discussion, and reach a consensus or an agreement. After thoroughly
discussing various points involved in a problem by analysing their pros and cons, the group
finally arrives at a few solutions. After ranking the solutions by considering their feasibility or
practicability in their organizational environment, the members will accept one solution.
When they decide on this, it will be presented by the leader of the group to everybody.
However, before presenting the solution, the speaker will summarize the main points of
discussion keeping in mind the goal of the GD.

There are two main categories of GDs, namely organizational GDs and GDs as a part of a
selection process.

TIPs for success in GD

• Be thorough with current issues.
• Always enter the room with a piece of paper and a pen.
• Listen to the topic carefully.
• Jot down as many ideas as possible in the first few minutes.
• Try to dissect the topic and explore the underlying causes or consequences.
• Organize the ideas before speaking.
• Speaking first is a high-risk, high-return strategy. Hence, speak first only if there is
something
sensible and substantial to say.
• Try to contribute meaningfully and significantly every time you speak. Do not speak just
for the sake of saying something.
• Identify supporters and opponents and allow the supporters to augment your ideas.
• Keep track of time and share time fairly.
• Have an open mind and listen to others’ views.
• Maintain eye contact while speaking and listening.
• Do not indulge in parallel conversations.
• Use tact and wit. If you must use humour, do so judiciously so as not to hurt others or
deviate from the topic.
• Display a spirit of cooperation and an accommodative nature.
• Draw out the silent members and encourage them to speak.
• If things get chaotic, take the initiative to restore order by providing a fresh direction to
the
discussion.
• Attempt to arrive at a consensus although the ultimate aim is to reach a conclusion.
Within the specified time, the group may not be able to arrive at a consensus. However,
working towards consensus will reveal the individual’s capability and inclination towards
being a good team player.

Encouraging participation
• Do not monopolize the discussion.
• Do not exhibit verbal or non-verbal disapproval of ideas even if you disagree with them.
• Ask open-ended questions to stimulate discussion.
• Frame problems in positive terms (e.g., ‘How can we achieve our goal?’ rather than ‘Is it
possible to achieve our goal?’).
• Identify the introverts and make a point of asking for their input.
• Do not let extroverts monopolize the discussion.
• Control participation by reminding people of the purpose of the meeting and by bringing
discussions to a meaningful end. Sometimes, it is necessary to remind participants of the
time, so that we can move on to the next topic.
• Recognize differences in individual styles.
• Change the seating arrangement (based on the previous experience).
• Rotate leadership.

TIPS to manage conflict

 Make it clear at the start of the meeting that it is fine to challenge ideas but that
personal attacks will not be accepted.
 Make strategic seating arrangements. For example, the place to put a domineering
individual is near the leader.
 Observe silence for a while if someone in the group becomes aggressive.
 Give an assignment (the bigger the better) to the participant who plays devil’s
advocate by continuously challenging everything the leader or other group members
say.