A GROUP DISCUSSION (GD) is used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has certain personality traits and skills

like ability to work in a team, verbal communication skills, non verbal behaviour, reasoning ability, leadership skills, initiative, assertiveness, flexibility, creativity, team work, conformation of norms, decision making ability that is desired in its members. A GD can be topic based, case studies or group tasks. It tests how an individual functions as a part of a team; since as a manager he will always be working in teams, as a member or as a Leader, therefore, how to interact, communicate, behave, listen, participate and contribute in a group becomes an important criteria for selection. It can be categorized into 3 phases namely Initial/Introduction, Body, Summarization/Conclusion.
Management courses and group discussions are synonymous. There are various mock group discussions held by common entrance test examination centers and institutions. Your first time at group discussion is an enlightening process. Although with the new age transparency affecting in all types of communication one is able to access information easily. It is on ones own initiative that makes you read current affairs, know about the dollar rupee rate, inflation results and also about global warming. General topics are need to be looked into to. Be well prepared and fibbing in interviews can get you in the tight spot. Firstly the resume you have presented is what speaks for most of yourself. Hence it is essential to write only about facts. The area of personal details which is mentioned at the bottom is the most important. Do not go overboard in stating something that may embarrass you. It true that sports and trekking will add value to your resume, but if that does not appeal you then mention your other interests like fine arts. Often people mention singing and dancing as hobbies. This can be written as music or a particular dance form like Kathak or salsa but again based on true facts. Write about relevant details. If you are a commerce graduate and did a diploma in journalism mention the same as writing skills are the pre requisite to all management functions. Many times the interviewee prefers to keep the interview general and casual. It is to be always remembered that your are a candidate and hence smiling unnecessarily or an overtly relaxed body language can go against you. Do not take the interviewer for granted or pass judgments based on his age or accent. He is an achiever in his own right and hence on the other side of the table. If the group discussion was something relevant to the company then keep the same stance of what you admitted during the discussion. Do not contradict yourself. Being neutral is a skill which one learns on the job and with loads of experience. Do not give an impression that you are a born leader as the management also requires do-ers. Keep your shoulders square and your head well placed. Think big but be humble with your expressions. It is perfectly fine to sip the tumbler of water placed before you but do not enter the room and immediately gulp the entire water. Closing the door behind you is basic manners. Place your hand bag below the table and do not hold handkerchiefs or pens while being interviewed. Passing the GD or group discussion is job half done. Interviews are screening times and hence do not mug up accounts or recite management principles. State your earlier professional experiences and give a clear impression of a genuine self. Do mention that you are a curious person and love to learn. Words like er, I dont know , like , kind of, are annoying. Choose good words and learn from your parents or elders about the latest words used in the corporate world. Be enthusiastic and under play your emotions. Emotional quotient EQ is what will win you the job!

Group discussion forms the primary stage of contact between the interviewer and interviewee. These are management entrance procedures by universities or also adopted at the recruitment stage by many companies. Aided with qualifications and mutli faceted job related profiles candidates are all of

the cream variety. Group discussions once more separates the cream group and makes them eligible for further rounds of tests so as to be chosen in an accurate career position. Though group discussion sounds a cacophonic idea of many individuals, there stems many management points that can be noticed in an individual. Skills of management level and expertise in cooling down a situation can easily be recognized during discussion of a topic. This helps the conductor of group discussion to list out the right candidate. There are many group discussion skills that need to be adhered too. Firstly the main objective is to participate well and moderate in case of a confusion. This easily gives more objective to the interviewer. Be polite and maintain a composure. Easily getting into a heated argument is not the objective and you may be giving many negative signals through your body language. Aggressiveness can be modulated in the form of assertiveness during voicing out an issue. Decorum has to be clearly maintained. The group discussion is not merely to impress the conductor but putting forth your firm beliefs. It could happen that you could be the only one who is believing in a particular idea and all others have jumped on you. Firstly you should consider yourself in a better bargaining position than others and use valid reasons to state your concept perfectly. Group discussion are knock out rounds, and never consider any participant weak. Also agree with others where you feel correct. Lamely looking around for someone to give you chance may not work. Find a place for yourself. Dress appropriately. Ladies to better avoid dangling bangles, and flip flop attires. Be formal, monotone garments are fine and avoid too much make up. Sloppy dressing is not tolerated even in social circles. One should have a winning attitude and grooming speaks a lot about yourself. Learn a little about soft skill application and also about the latest trends and styles in putting forth facts. Learn to articulate a fact and this comes only through reading and listening to peer discussions. Interrupting is definitely allowed in group discussion and be polite while doing so. Management preparation classes conduced many mock group discussion efforts to let you have a feel of the same. Use informative phrases, avoid jargons and state firmly. Do got express with articulated hand gestures and opening up the discussion is also a nice idea. Concluding a discussion is also seen as a management quality and a token of leadership talent. There are many group discussion tips that one needs to gather. Though a personal experience is the best you can relate to. Gathering information of body language principles, dressing style and usage of words can be done by noticing peers or participating on the podium level. Make it a habit to speak publicly and take part in extempore speeches and on the stage activities. This will expose you well to stand in front of the crowd and hold fort. Body language is something which people rarely talk about but expressions speak the most. Many times we can gauge by a smile or a frown about the words that are not expressed by the tongue. If you always had a very formal look and a prim and proper image then there is a need to sober down. Too much of high headed assertiveness and you will end up making people avoid you. At the same time, prior to a group discussion you can be friendly with others but judge them as acquaintances. This kind of decorum is required for being a professional. Do not divulge personal details and be general in your opinion. Do not brag about your achievements and be to the point when questions are asked. It is true that eyes are mirror of the soul. The facts about negative emotions, confusion, not understanding, lying, distracted, non interest and anger is very well expressed with eyes. If you look away in airy fairy manner it clearly suggests you are not comprehending the topic of group discussion. If you are looking around desperately with shifty eyes it also indicates you are looking for help and cues to speak something. If you feel alienated which you have made obvious by taking the corner most seat, then you have to express well with clear eye contact with the moderator as well as the

other participants. Eye brows need to be relaxed, quizzical looks and raised eye brows are dramatic and can be interpreted in the wrong manner. The biggest problem is what to do with your hands and toes. Drumming the hand rest or picking for treasures on the chair is disgusting. This clearly indicates a restless attitude and unable to concentrate feeling. Toes if pointed to the ground indicate anxiety. If you are habitual of playing an imaginary flute with your fingers or holding your fists tight these are well noticed by the other observers in the jury. Practice a formal smile and please be natural. Wear comfortable clothes and be yourself. If the interiors are not air conditioned, sweating can be uncomfortable and also unsightly. Wear a good pair of shoes and socks. If it is a rainy day and your dress is smudged, be natural as the interviewee definitely understands your peril. Hence choose a drip easy garment and choose open sandals. Arrange your file well and avoid all accidents. Do not cross your arms or your legs. Stop tap dancing or pulling your cheek. Another gesture is doodling with your pen or sticking it constantly all over your face especially the chin and cheek. These are regarded as truly unprofessional and noticed by peers. Shoulders should be square and drooping indicates low self esteem or unsure feeling. There are many people who are highly intellectual but fail to make it big only due to their unwillingness to change and learn the right norms in body language. Be natural and sincere is the final key to success.
Some of the 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 Ability to think on ones feet Why GDs:The reason why institutes put you through a Group discussion and an interview, after testing your technical and conceptual skills in an exam, is to get to know you as a person and gauge how well you will fit in their institute. The Group discussion tests how you function as a part of a team. As a manager, you will always be working in teams, as a member or as a leader. Therefore how you interact in a team becomes an important criterion for your selection. Managers have to work in a team and get best results out of teamwork. That is the reason why management institutes include GD as a component of the selection procedure. Company's Perspective:Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people. The GD is to check 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 and 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. You should try to be as true as possible to these aspects. Freshersworld.com wish you all the best of luck in your Group Discussion !

Types of GD
GDs can be topic-based or case-based. Topic based Gds can be classified into three types :-

1. Factual Topics 2. Controversial Topics 3. Abstract Topics Factual Topics:Factual topics are about practical things, which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-to-day life. Typically these are about socio-economic topics. These can be current, i.e. they may have been in the news lately, or could be unbound by time. A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of and sensitive to his environment. E.g. The education policy of India, Tourism in India, State of the aged in the nation. Controversial Topics:Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature. They are meant to generate controversy. In GDs where these topics are given for discussion, the noise level is usually high, there may be tempers flying. The idea behind giving a topic like this is to see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check, by rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional. E.g. Reservations should be removed, Women make better managers Abstract Topics:Abstract topics are about intangible things. These topics are not given often for discussion, but their possibility cannot be ruled out. These topics test your lateral thinking and creativity. E.g. A is an alphabet, Twinkle twinkle little star, The number 10 Case-based Gd:Another variation is the use of a case instead of a topic. The case study tries to simulate a real-life situation. Information about the situation will be given to you and you would be asked as a group to resolve the situation. In the case study there are no incorrect answers or perfect solutions. The objective in the case study is to get you to think about the situation from various angles. IIM A, IIM Indore and IIT SOM Mumbai have a case-based discussion rather than topic-based discussion in their selection procedures.

Why do we have GD ?
Reasons for having a GD

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It It It It It It It It

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

Strategies for Improving GD Skills for Tutorials & Seminars Asking questions and joining in discussions are important skills for university study. If you find it difficult to speak or ask questions in tutorials, try the following strategies. Observe Attend as many seminars and tutorials as possible and notice what other students do. Ask yourself:

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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. Start with asking questions of fellow students. Ask them about the course material. Ask for their opinions. Ask for information or ask for help. Participate Take every opportunity to take part in social/informal discussions as well as more structured/formal discussion. Start by making small contributions to tutorial discussions; prepare a question to ask, or agree with another speaker's remarks. Discussion Etiquette (or minding your manners) Do

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Don't

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.

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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 students a chance to contribute. Draw too much on personal experience or anecdote. Although some tutors encourage students to reflect on their own experience, remember not to generalise too much. 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:

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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. There are at least four leadership skills you can use to influence other people positively and help your group achieve its purpose. These skills include:

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introducing the topic and purpose of the discussion, making sure all members have approximately the same time, (i.e. no one dominates the discussion by taking too much 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: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 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. In a group discussion, a candidate has to talk effectively so that he is able to convince others. For convincing, one has to speak forcefully and at the same time create an impact by his knowledge of the subject. A candidate who is successful in holding the attention of the audience creates a positive impact. It is necessary that you should be precise and clear. As a rule evaluators do not look for the wordage produced. Your knowledge on a given subject, your precision and clarity of thought are the things that are evaluated. Irrelevant talks lead you nowhere. You should speak as much as necessary, neither more nor less. Group discussions are not debating stages. Ability to listen is also what evaluators judge. They look for your ability to react on what other participants say. Hence, it is necessary that you listen carefully to others and then react or proceed to add some more points. Your behavior in the group is also put to test to judge whether you are a loner or can work in a group. You should be able to convey your thoughts satisfactorily and convincingly before a group of people. Confidence and level headedness in doing so is necessary. These add value to your presentation. In case you are not good at it, you might gain by joining an institute that offers specialized courses in public speaking. For instance, British Council Division's English Language Teaching Centre offers a wide range of courses like conversation skills, business communication skills, business writing, negotiation skills and presentation skills. Mostly people attend these courses to improve their communication skills. Students here are involved in activities which use communication skills and teachers provide inputs, monitor and facilitate the classes. The course at the Centre makes you confident enough to speak before people without any nervousness. Knowledge and Ideas Regarding a Given Subject Knowledge of the subject under discussion and clarity of ideas are important. Knowledge comes from consistent reading on various topics ranging from science and technology to politics. In-depth knowledge makes one confident and enthusiastic and this in turn, makes one sound convincing and confident. Leadership and Coordinating Capabilities The basic aim of a group discussion is to judge a candidate's leadership qualities. The examiner withdraws and becomes a silent spectator once the discussion starts. A candidate should display tactfulness, skill,

understanding and knowledge on varied topics, enterprise, forcefulness and other leadership qualities to motivate and influence other candidates who may be almost equally competent. Exchange of Thoughts A group discussion is an exchange of thoughts and ideas among members of a group. These discussions are held for selecting personnel in organisations where there is a high level of competition. The number of participants in a group can vary between 8 and 15. Mostly a topic or a situation is given to group members who have to discuss it within 10 to 20 minutes. The purpose is to get an idea about candidates in a short time and make assessments about their skills, which normally cannot be evaluated in an interview. These skills may be team membership, leadership skills, listening and articulation skills. A note is made of your contributions to the discussion, comprehension of the main idea, the rapport you strike, patience, assertion, accommodation, amenability, etc. Body language and eye contact too are important points which are to be considered. . Addressing the Group as a Whole In a group discussion it is not necessary to address anyone by name. Even otherwise you may not know everyone's names. It better to address the group as a whole. Address the person farthest from you. If he can hear you everyone else too can. Needless to add, as for the interview, 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. Avoiding both, just use formal, plain and simple language. Hinglish, (mixture of Hindi and English) should be discarded. Confidence and coolness while presenting your viewpoint are of help. See that you do not keep repeating a point. Do not use more words than necessary. Do not be superfluous. Try to be specific. Do not exaggerate. Thorough Preparation Start making preparations for interview and group discussions right away, without waiting till the eleventh hour, this is, if and when called for them. Then the time left may not be adequate. It is important to concentrate on subject knowledge and general awareness. Hence, the prime need for thorough preparation. Remember, the competition is very tough. Only 460 candidates make it to the final list from 2.75 lakh civil service aspirants each year. It may so happen that you are called for interviews and group discussions from three or four organizations but are not selected by any. The reason obviously lies in your not being well-prepared. In a group discussion you may be given a topic and asked to express your views on it. Or in a case study GD, students have to read a case study and suggest ways of tackling the problem. For this you should have a good general knowledge, need to be abreast with current affairs, should regularly read newspapers and magazines. Your group behaviour and communication skills are on test, i.e. how you convince the others and how clearly you are able to express your points of view. You should be articulate, generate ideas, not sound boring, should allow others to speak, and adopt a stand on a given subject. During the course of the GD this stand can even be changed, giving the impression that you are open to accommodate others' viewpoints. Additional marks may be given for starting or concluding the discussion. Points to Remember

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Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success. In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is helpful. Power to convince effectively is another quality that makes you stand out among others. Clarity in speech and expression is yet another essential quality. If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later. A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided. A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In the second part of the discussion candidates can exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral. Language use should be simple, direct and straight forward. Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short. Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone's viewpoint speak of you positively. Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don't keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.

GD FAQ's
What is the normal duration of a GD? A GD is generally of 15-20 minutes duration. How many panel members are there to evaluate? There are usually 3-4 panel members to evaluate. Is there time given for preparation after the topic is given and before starting the GD? Usually some time (2-5 minutes) is given to collect one's thoughts, but there could be instances when this does not happen, so it is best not to bank on this. Should I address the panel or the group members? Don't ever make the mistake of addressing the panel members. The GD is between you and the other members, not the panel members. You must avoid even looking at the panel members while the GD is in progress. Just ignore their existence. What is the seating arrangement like? It could be semi-circular, or circular, or seating along side a rectangular table, depending upon the venue. It is best not to bother about trivial issues like this, which you have no control over. How should I address the other group members? If you are initiating the discussion, you could do so by collectively addressing the group as "Friends". Subsequently, you could use names (if the group has had a round of self-introduction prior to starting the discussion and you remember the names) or simply use pronouns like "he" or "she". Suppose I have a lot to say on the topic, should I say all of it? You would not be looked upon favourably if you kept speaking all the time and did not listen to anyone else. Contrary to the misconception, the person who talks the most is not necessarily the one who is judged the best. The quality and not the quantity of your contribution is the success factor. Should I encourage others to speak up? Do not directly put someone who is consistently silent on the spot by asking him/her to speak up. If

someone has been trying to speak and has a good point but is cut off constantly, you may encourage him/her to continue with her point as you would like to hear her out. Are the group members supposed to keep track of the time or will the panel keep track? It would be good if you are conscious of the time, but not to the point of getting so distracted looking at your watch that you do not contribute to the discussion. Are we allowed to carry a piece of paper during the GD for noting down important points? Normally you are, but there may be instances when it is specifically forbidden to carry paper. Is there any particular seating arrangement, which is favourable to the participants? If participants are asked to sit in a circle or a semi circle, one position is as good as another. But if you are asked to sit on either side of a rectangular table, then choose a position as close to the centre as possible. Should we begin the GD by appointing a leader amongst ourselves? No. You should not. Leadership in a GD is established implicitly through one's performance in a GD. Should we distribute the total time available to all the participants to ensure that everybody gets a chance to speak? Since a GD is not a debate or elocution, the participants should not resort to the strategy of distributing time amongst themselves. Can we take a definite stand in the GD and then later on during the GD, switch over to another stand? Yes, provided you do it the right way. In a GD it is quite likely that some other participant's counterargument convinces you to your point. If this happens, then it is best if you accept his argument and explain to the group how your previous argument was true within a narrow range, and how the new argument is applicable to a broader range. Naturally, it is safer not to make any rash statements for or against a topic before you learn the facts of the argument. Blindly taking a stand will definitely lead you to trouble. This does not mean you should sit on the fence. You may participate actively by pointing out both sides of the issue in a reasonable and logical manner. If we do not understand the meaning of the topic, should we ask the moderator to explain it to us? No. You cannot. Instead of displaying your ignorance in this manner, it is better to wait for some other participant to explain the meaning of the topic. So listen to the discussion carefully for the first few minutes and when you have figured out what the topic is about, start participating in the discussion. Should we address the other participants by their names or their assigned numbers? As far as possible, you should try and avoid names or numbers. It is better to use pronouns such as "he", "she", "you" etc. while referring to the members of the group. Are we expected to stick to the normally accepted line of thought or can we come up with something radical? By all means you can. It would demonstrate your creativity and originality. Just make sure it is relevant to the topic. If I feel strongly about an issue, should I voice my feelings? It is important to be cool and emotionally objective in a GD. If you react emotionally you are likely to lose control over yourself during the group discussion. You have to be calm and logical, not emotional in a GD. Can I use technical terms or jargon, which is clear to me, but not to the group? If you have to use technical terms, please do not use abbreviations. After mentioning the term in full take time out to explain to the group what it means. It is quite likely that other participants of the group have a different academic background from you, and you should make sure you are all on a level playing field.

Do I begin my participation by requesting the group's permission to do so? It is not likely that you will get a chance to ask for such permission. It may also go against you (as appearing weak on your part). What is the right time to enter a GD to ensure that I am heard properly? In any GD, there are crests and troughs during the discussion. The crest is when the noise level is at its peak. The trough is when there is almost total silence. Ideally, you should enter the GD during the trough period. But in competitive GDs, the crests occur more often and troughs may not occur at all. In such cases, you could identify the stages in the GD, where ideas dear to you are being discussed and enter the GD irrespective of the noise level. How do I participate when the noise level is too high? You could try the following strategy - Identify the most powerful speaker in the group, and note down the points that he/she is making. The moment the noise level reduces a little, enter supporting the powerful speaker. You will have made a strong ally who will carry you through the noise. Do I have to be cautious about other participants' feelings (on sensitive issues like religion, caste etc)? You certainly do. Insensitivity to others displays a lack of maturity and viciousness. It will act against your favour. Is it beneficial to be the first speaker in a group discussion? Being the first speaker is a high risk, high return strategy. If you can make a good opening statement, which is relevant and sets the tone for the GD, it will go in your favour. If you do this well, you may automatically become the group leader. However if you bungle it up (by speaking for the sake of speaking, not really having anything pertinent to say), it will be remembered and will go against your favour. How critical is my fluency in English to my performance? Command over English is certainly advantageous but will not compensate for lack of good content. If your content is good, then even if your English might not be great, you must speak it out, rather than be inhibited by lack of good English. You will get credit for soundness of ideas. How necessary is it to use examples for illustrating an idea? Use of examples is helpful in elaborating your point, and helping others understand your idea better. But please remember to keep it short and simple because in a competitive GD nobody has the patience to listen to long, drawn out examples. How much or for how long should I participate? In a 20 minute GD with 10-12 participants, you should try and participate at least 4 times with each entry lasting at least 25-30 seconds. You could participate more depending on your comfort level and the need for participation. Is it good to be humorous in a GD? Depends on the situation. In a GD that is fairly relaxed, it may be acceptable. But in a competitive situation, where the participants are tensed up, your attempts at humour may fall flat. Should we make an interim summary? An interim summary is a way of directing the group mid-way through the GD. It helps the group to pick out and focus on the most important points and thus use the remaining time more effectively. However it is not necessary to make an interim summary, if the discussion is already well focused. What do I do if someone else has already said what I wanted to say? You have two choices: 1. 2. Agree with the point made by that person and add on to it by displaying the applicability of the argument to different situations. By doing this you will have broadened the scope of the argument. Drop the point and think of fresh points. To avoid getting into a situation where someone else has already spoken your points, do speak up

in the first 4-5 minutes of the GD. If you wait longer, it is almost inevitable that someone would have spoken your points. Is the use of slang/colloquialism permitted? It is best to avoid using slang. Can I use a language other than English to drive home my point? No. You will have to stick to English. How is aggression taken and measured in a GD? The moment you notice people reacting to you negatively or strongly, you may take it that you are being too aggressive. The degree of the reaction is the measure of your aggression. What level of aggression is seen acceptable? There is a very thin line between aggression and assertiveness. You should always aim to sound assertive and not stubborn. Is it true that the person who speaks the most in a GD is the one who is most successful? This is a myth. Generally the person who has a sound knowledge of the topic and is a clear thinker speaks more. This leads the students into believing that whoever speaks most is successful. But just speaking for the sake of speaking will not take you far. Will I be quizzed about my (or others) participation in the GD? You may be. Therefore it helps to be alert all through the GD. Is it true that the GD is used more as an elimination technique rather than as a selection tool? Depends on the institute. In most premier institutes it is used as a selection tool, not as an elimination technique. What is the level of accuracy desired in the facts and figures you quote during the GD? An error margin of 5% is acceptable. Is motivating other people in the group to speak looked upon favourably? Depends on how it is done. If you openly request someone to speak, you may be putting the other person in a difficult spot, and the evaluators will not look that upon favourably. It is therefore better to use other means of motivation, such as agreeing with a halting speaker, adding on to their points, implicitly supporting and giving them direction. Does the moderator have any biases or preconceived notions about the topic? Ideally the moderator is supposed to be unbiased and neutral. But being a human being, the moderator cannot be totally free from bias. Since this is not a factor within your control, there isn't much point losing sleep over it. Can we expect the moderator to stop or cut short the GD much before the stipulated time is over? This may happen if the GD becomes too noisy and if the level of discussion deteriorates abysmally. Can I be aggressive with a lady participant? A GD is not the place to demonstrate chivalry. Being rude to any participant (male or female) is downright unacceptable. You need not extend any special privileges to a lady. Is it all right to ask pointed questions to other participants during a GD? It is alright to ask questions for the purpose of clarification but not for the purpose of playing the devil's advocate and proving them wrong. By playing the devil's advocate you hamper the flow of the GD. The pointed questions unsettle the other participant and the quality of the GD deteriorates. This would reflect badly on you and will go against your favour.

Is it necessary that a group should arrive at a conclusion in the stipulated time? Ideally a group is supposed to reach a conclusion. Normally the time constraints do not allow the group to do so. Is an end-summary absolutely essential? No. If the group has not reached a conclusion, then it would be good if someone puts the whole discussion into perspective by summarizing. But if there isn't sufficient time, a summary may be avoided. Do we have to write a synopsis of the GD once it is over? Some institutes insist on this, but it is not universal. Is voting an acceptable method of reaching a consensus? Certainly not. A GD is not a debate. How should a group select a topic if asked to? The group should brainstorm for about two minutes and narrow down the list of topics to 3-4. After this the group should prioritize them based on the comfort level and ease of discussion of the topics. This could be done by asking each participant to rank the 4 topics and the most popular choice should be taken. Are the topics decided on the basis of the academic background of the participant? No. Topics are usually general in nature to give a level playing field to everyone. What do I do if one member is very stubborn and aggressive? You could use any of the following methods.

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Ignore him and address the other members of the group. Be assertive and tell him that his argument is faulty. Point out to him that his point is well taken and that the group must progress further by discussing the ideas presented by others.

What are the acceptable ways of interrupting somebody else, so that I may make my point? You can interrupt in any of the following ways:

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"Excuse me, but I feel that what you are saying isn't universally true ..." "Yes, I agree with your idea, and I would like to add on to it " "Yes, I think you are right when you say that, but could you clarify what if

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GD Tips
1. 2. 3. Initiation Techniques Body of the group discussion Summarization/ Conclusion

Initiation Techniques

Initiating a GD is a high profit-high loss strategy. 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 favourable 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.

If you initiate a GD impeccably but don't speak much after that, it gives the impression that you started the GD for the sake of starting it or getting those initial kitty of points earmarked for an initiator! When you start a GD, you are responsible for putting it into the right perspective or framework. So initiate one only if you have in-depth knowledge about the topic at hand. Body of the group discussion

Different techniques to initiate a GD and make a good first impression: i. Quotes ii. Definition iii. Question iv. Shock statement v. Facts, figures and statistics vi. Short story vii. General statement i. Quotes Quotes are an effective way of initiating a GD. If the topic of a GD is: Should the Censor Board be abolished?, you could start with a quote like, 'Hidden apples are always sweet'. For a GD topic like, Customer is King, you could quote Sam (Wall-mart) Walton's famous saying, 'There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company -- from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.' ii. Definition Start a GD by defining the topic or an important term in the topic. For example, if the topic of the GD is Advertising is a Diplomatic Way of Telling a Lie, why not start the GD by defining advertising as, 'Any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods or services through mass media like newspapers, magazines, television or radio by an identified sponsor'? For a topic like The Malthusian Economic Prophecy is no longer relevant, you could start by explaining the definition of the Malthusian Economic Prophecy. iii. Question Asking a question is an impact way of starting a GD. It does not signify asking a question to any of the candidates in a GD so as to hamper the flow. It implies asking a question, and answering it yourself. Any question that might hamper the flow of a GD or insult a participant or play devil's advocate must be discouraged. Questions that promote a flow of ideas are always appreciated. For a topic like, Should India go to war with Pakistan, you could start by asking, 'What does war bring to the people of a nation? We have had four clashes with Pakistan. The pertinent question is: what have we achieved?' iv. Shock statement Initiating a GD with a shocking statement is the best way to grab immediate attention and put forth

your point. If a GD topic is, The Impact of Population on the Indian Economy, you could start with, 'At the centre of the Indian capital stands a population clock that ticks away relentlessly. It tracks 33 births a minute, 2,000 an hour, 48,000 a day. Which calculates to about 12 million every year. That is roughly the size of Australia. As a current political slogan puts it, 'Nothing's impossible when 1 billion Indians work together'.' v. Facts, figures and statistics If you decide to initiate your GD with facts, figure and statistics, make sure to quote them accurately. Approximation is allowed in macro level figures, but micro level figures need to be correct and accurate. For example, you can say, approximately 70 per cent of the Indian population stays in rural areas (macro figures, approximation allowed). But you cannot say 30 states of India instead of 28 (micro figures, no approximations). Stating wrong facts works to your disadvantage. For a GD topic like, China, a Rising Tiger, you could start with, 'In 1983, when China was still in its initial stages of reform and opening up, China's real use of Foreign Direct Investment only stood at $636 million. China actually utilized $60 billion of FID in 2004, which is almost 100 times that of its 1983 statistics." vi. Short story Use a short story in a GD topic like, Attitude is Everything. This can be initiated with, 'A child once asked a balloon vendor, who was selling helium gas-filled balloons, whether a blue-colored balloon will go as high in the sky as a green-colored balloon. The balloon vendor told the child, it is not the color of the balloon but what is inside it that makes it go high.' vii. General statement Use a general statement to put the GD in proper perspective. For example, if the topic is, Should Sonia Gandhi be the prime minister of India?, you could start by saying, 'Before jumping to conclusions like, 'Yes, Sonia Gandhi should be', or 'No, Sonia Gandhi should not be', let's first find out the qualities one needs to be a a good prime minister of India. Then we can compare these qualities with those that Mrs. Gandhi possesses. This will help us reach the conclusion in a more objective and effective manner.' Summarization/ Conclusion

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Most GD do not 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. Keep the following points in mind while summarizing a discussion:

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Avoid raising new points. Avoid stating only your viewpoint. Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD. Keep it brief and concise.

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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.

GD Do's y
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Do's Be as natural as possible. Do not try and be someone you are not. Be yourself. A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal. The evaluator wants to hear you speak. Take time to organize your thoughts. Think of what you are going to say. Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject. Don't start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject. Work out various strategies to help you make an entry: initiate the discussion or agree with someone else's point and then move onto express your views. Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition. If you do not give valuable insights during the discussion, all your efforts of initiating the discussion will be in vain. Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say. Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your points across clearly and fluently. Be assertive not dominating; try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussion and analysis. Don't lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to. The key is to stay objective: Don't take the discussion personally. Always be polite: Try to avoid using extreme phrases like: `I strongly object' or `I disagree'. Instead try phrases like: `I would like to share my views on ' or `One difference between your point and mine ' or "I beg to differ with you" Brush up on your leadership skills; motivate the other members of the team to speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to say "let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say," or "Raghu, let us hear your views" - Essentially be subtle), and listen to their views. Be receptive to others' opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive. If you have a group of like-minded friends, you can have a mock group discussion where you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback. Apart from the above points, the panel will also judge team members for their alertness and presence of mind, problem-solving abilities, ability to work as a team without alienating certain members, and creativity.

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GD Preparation
While selection tools and techniques like tests, interviews etc. provide good data about an individual, they fall short in providing real life data of how an individual would be performing in a real life situation especially a group situation. Team work being an integral part of the BPO work profile, it is important to ascertain group and inter-personal qualities of an individual. Group discussion is a useful tool to ascertain these qualities and many organizations use GDs as a selection tool along with Personal Interviews, aptitude tests etc. A GD is an activity where

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Groups of 8-10 candidates are formed into a leaderless group, and are given a specific situation to analyse and discuss within a given time limit, which may vary between twenty minutes and fortyfive minutes, or They may be given a case study and asked to come out with a solution for a problem They may be given a topic and are asked to discuss the same

1. Preparing for a Group Discussion: While GD reflects the inherent qualities of an individual, appearing for it unprepared may not augur well for you. These tips would help you prepare for GDs: Reading: This is the first and the most crucial step in preparation. This is a never ending process and the more you read, the better you are in your thoughts. While you may read anything to everything, you must ensure that you are in good touch with current affairs, the debates and hot topics of discussion and also with

the latest in the IT and ITES industry. Chances are the topics would be around these. Read both for the thoughts as well as for data. Also read multiple view points on the same topic and then create your point of view with rationale. Also create answers for counter arguments for your point of view. The electronic media also will be of good use here. Mocks: Create an informal GD group and meet regularly to discuss and exchange feedback. This is the best way to prepare. This would give you a good idea about your thoughts and how well can you convince. Remember, it is important that you are able to express your thoughts well. The better you perform in these mocks the better would be you chances to perform on the final day. Also try to interact and participate in other GD groups. This will develop in you a skill to discuss with unknown people as well.

The main motive of the group discussion or GD is to pick the cream participant and make them eligible for a personal interview. There are many qualities emerging from group discussion forums. Even during a job, there are brain storming sessions where the group readily gives or voices out their opinions. There is a convener or a boss who jots the valid points and by discussing them with his team he empowers them to participate in a decision making process. For e.g. there is a problem of staff shortage during the vacation period, the entire group can discuss going on a holiday to avoid hassles. The mark of a leader is never losing composure, seeming formidable in all adverse conditions and also retaining a self esteem which is at a all time high. Human errors are obvious in growing and established organizations. The leader makes time to understand the merits and demerits of the organization and also establishes a work flow for smooth working of the organization. While at a GD a senior can easily point out a leader through his keen participation, body language, communication skills, opening lines and choice of words. Group discussion is the preface to the personal interview and hence vital for passing through the same. Group discussion efforts are also done to get into a mass elimination round so as to lessen the efforts of the management and the candidate. One has to heed to a dress code that is neither too formal and definitely not casual. Dressing appropriately with minimal make up is necessary. Always make to visit the washroom to freshen yourself and manage to keep your grooming correct. Do carry a wash cloth. Non clutter look is necessary as appearance speaks a lot about your conduct in life as well as official happenings. Initial fear at facing in crowd and speaking in public is easily overcome by participating regularly in exposures and also reading aloud. Practice a little before the mirror and notice your own body language. Hunched shoulders, awkward sitting posture, too much of animated hands is what your style had been and thats exactly where you need to change. Practicing to speak is also necessary. A leader speaks clearly, coherent and for the mass and not just the class. Use minimum phrases only to highlight something important. Jargons are not comprehended by all and articulate using other synonyms. A leader is clear in his vision, knows what he wants. Homework doing is essential or else the entire day looks like a circus arena. Jotting down points i.e. diarizing key functions is very important as one gets busy being a leader there are small things when things get missing. Staying organized in your personal life is also important as a this reflects clearly in your personality. Holidays are rejuvenation time and a leader personally advocates the same and considers the same options for his staff. GD efforts clearly signal a leader. All appointees are not directly given the position to lead, but the beginning is done by speaking well at the GD. Personal interviews are definitely the last recruitment stage and here preparation is necessary. Make an agenda to win and be natural. Success is an ongoing process and does not stop at a Group discussion level.

2. During the Group Discussion: What do the panelists assess:Some of the qualities assessed in a GD are:

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. One key aspect is listening. It indicates a willingness to accommodate others views. Interpersonal Skills - People skills are an important aspect of any job. They are reflected in the ability to interact with other members of the group in a brief situation. Emotional maturity and balance promotes good interpersonal relationships. The person has to be more people centric and less self-centered. Persuasive Skills - The ability to analyze and persuade others to see the problem from multiple perspectives. GD is a test of your ability to think, your analytical capabilities and your ability to make your point in a team-based environment. These are some of the sub-skills that also get assessed with the skills mentioned above:

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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

While, it is not possible to reflect all these qualities in a short time, you would do well if you are able to show a couple or more qualities and avoid giving negative evidence on others.

GD Preparation
How do I take my chance to speak: Trying to interrupt others while speaking would only harm your chances. Instead, you may try to maintain an eye-contact with the speaker. This would show your listening skills also and 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. Also, try and link your inputs with what he has spoken whether you are adding to or opposing his arguments. This would reflect that you are actually being participative rather than just doing a collective monologue.

How to I communicate in a GD: Be crisp and to the point. Be fact based and avoid making individual opinions that do not have a factual base. Make eye contact with all the members in the group and avoid looking at the panelists while speaking. The average duration of the group discussion provides an average of about 2-3 minutes per participant to speak and you should try to speak about 3-4 times. Hence, you need to be really crisp to reflect the most in those 30-40 sec. slots. How do I convince others and make them agree to my view point: A lot of candidates make it their mission to make the group reach to a conclusion on the topic. Do not forget that some of the topics have been eternal debates and there is no way you can get an agreement in 15 mins. on them. The objective is not to make others toe your line but to provide fact based, convincing arguments which create an impact. Stick to this approach. Do leadership skills include moderating the group discussion: This is a myth and many people do try to impose their order on the GD, ordering people when to speak and when not to. This only reflects poor leadership. Leadership in a GD would be reflected by your clarity of thought, ability to expand the topic in its different dimensions, providing an opportunity to a silent participant to speak, listening to others and probing them to provide more information. Hence, work on these areas rather than be a self-appointed moderator of the group.

Listening: This is a key quality assessed during the GD about which many participants forget. Active listening can fetch you credit points and would also provide you with data to discuss. Also, if you have an average of 2-3 minutes to speak, the rest of the 20-25 minutes is required to spent in active listening. For this, maintain eye contact with the speakers, attend to them (like nodding, using acknowledging words like -I see ok, fine, great etc.). This would also make you be the centre of attraction as you would appear non-threatening to the speakers. Behaviour during the GD: Be patient; don't get upset if anyone says anything you object to. Stay objective and don't take the discussion personally. Also, remember the six C's of communication Clarity, Completeness, Conciseness, Confidence, Correctness and Courtesy. Be appreciative & receptive to ideas from other people and open-minded but do not let others to change your own viewpoint. Be active and interested throughout. It is better to participate less if you have no clue of the topic. You may listen to others and take clues from there and speak. You would be assessed on a range of different skills and you may think that leadership is key, you need to be careful that you don't dominate the discussion. Quality Vs Quantity: Often, participants think that success in group discussions depends on how much and how loudly they speak. Interestingly, it's the opposite. Also, making your point on the topic, your views are important and the group needs to know. This will tell you are knowledgeable and that you participate in groups Summarizing: If you have not been able to initiate the discussion, try to summaries and close it. Good summarizing would get you good reward points. A conclusion is where the whole group decides in favour or against the topic and most GDs do not have a closure. But every GD can be summarized by putting forth what the group has discussed in a nutshell. Keep the following points in mind while summarizing a discussion: o Avoid raising new points. o Avoid stating only your viewpoint. o Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD o Keep it brief and concise. o It must include all the important points that came out during the GD o If you are asked to summarise a GD, it means the GD has come to an end. o Do not add anything once the GD has been summarised.

Some Positive Task Roles in a Group Discussion:You may want to play one or more of them:

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Initiator Information seeker Information giver Procedure facilitator Opinion seeker Opinion giver Clarifier Social Supporter Harmonizer Tension Reliever Energizer Compromiser Gatekeeper Summarizer

Negative Roles to be Avoided

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Disgruntled non-participant Attacker Dominator Patronizer Clown

Feedback template: While doing mocks for GD preparation, you would get benefited by the feedback of others. For the purpose, we are providing a template for feedback - both quantitative and qualitative. The items described over there are a suggested list and not a complete one. You may make changes in it depending upon your need.

GD Mistakes

Here's a list of the most common mistakes made at group discussions: Emotional outburst Rashmi was offended when one of the male participants in a group discussion made a statement on women generally being submissive while explaining his point of view. When Rashmi finally got an opportunity to speak, instead of focussing on the topic, she vented her anger by accusing the other candidate for being a male chauvinist and went on to defend women in general. What Rashmi essentially did was to Deviate from the subject Treat the discussion as a forum to air her own views. Lose objectivity and make personal attacks. Her behaviour would have been perceived as immature and demotivating to the rest of the team. Quality Vs Quantity Gautam believed that the more he talked, the more likely he was to get through the GD. So, he interrupted other people at every opportunity. He did this so often that the other candidates got together to prevent him from participating in the rest of the discussion. Assessment is not only on your communication skills but also on your ability to be a team player. Evaluation is based on quality, and not on quantity. Your contribution must be relevant. The mantra is "Contributing meaningfully to the team's success." Domination is frowned upon. Egotism Showing off Krishna was happy to have got a group discussion topic he had prepared for. So, he took pains to project his vast knowledge of the topic. Every other sentence of his contained statistical data "20% of companies; 24.27% of parliamentarians felt that; I recently read in a Jupiter Report that..." and so on so forth. Soon, the rest of the team either laughed at him or ignored his attempts to enlighten them as they perceived that he was cooking up the data.

Exercise restraint in anything. You will end up being frowned upon if you attempt showingoff your knowledge. Facts and figures need not validate all your statements. Its your analysis and interpretation that are equally important - not just facts and figures. You might be appreciated for your in-depth knowledge. But you will fail miserably in your people skills. Such a behavior indicates how self-centered you are and highlights your inability to work in an atmosphere where different opinions are expressed. Get noticed - But for the right reasons Srikumar knew that everyone would compete to initiate the discussion. So as soon as the topic "Discuss the negative effects of India joining the WTO" - was read out, he began talking. In his anxiety to be the first to start speaking, he did not hear the word "negative" in the topic. He began discussing the ways in which the country had benefited by joining WTO, only to be stopped by the evaluator, who then corrected his mistake. False starts are extremely expensive. They cost you your admission. It is very important to listen and understand the topic before you air your opinions. Spending a little time analyzing the topic may provide you with insights which others may not have thought about. Use a pen and paper to jot down your ideas. Listen! It gives you the time to conceptualize and present the information in a better manner. Some mistakes are irreparable. Starting off the group discussion with a mistake is one such mistake, unless you have a great sense of humor. Managing one's insecurities Sumati was very nervous. She thought that some of the other candidates were exceptionally good. Thanks to her insecurity, she contributed little to the discussion. Even when she was asked to comment on a particular point, she preferred to remain silent. Your personality is also being evaluated. Your verbal and non verbal cues are being read. Remember, you are the participant in the GD; not the evaluator. So, rather than evaluating others and your performance, participate in the discussion. Your confidence level is being evaluated. Decent communication skills with good confidence is a must to crack the GDs.

Focus on your strengths and do not spend too much time thinking about how others are superior or inferior to you. It is easy to pick up these cues from your body language. Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success. In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is helpful. Power to convince effectively is another quality that makes you stand out among others. Clarity in speech and expression is yet another essential quality. If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later. A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided. A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In the second part of the discussion candidates can exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral. Language use should be simple, direct and straight forward. Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short. Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone's viewpoint speak of you positively. Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don't keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.
How To Prepare For Group Discussions If you are participating in a group discussion, it is important to make sure you're prepared before the discussion begins. While small groups may not be good for the distribution of information, group discussions are excellent for situations where members need to learn concepts or solve problems. To obtain a higher level of thinking, it is important for the group to focus on a specific goal. Being prepared before the discussion starts will allow you to effectively communicate your ideas to the group. To make sure you are prepared for group discussions, there are a number of guidelines you will want to follow.
It is important for all the member of a group discussion to use reasoning. It is also important for you to ask questions that will allow you to determine how much the other members know about a specific topic. This is called analyzing their knowledge. Asking these

questions will allow you to learn more about the other members of the group. It is also essential to avoid conflicts. Conflicts will kill the group discussion, and will not allow it to be productive. You should not make a statement which gives your opinion about the accuracy of a comment that has been made by another member. You should not even make statements like " I think that is an excellent question." The reason for this is because you may send a message saying that all other questions are irrelevant. If the members of the group are required to gain certain types of information on their own, you will not want to provide them with it. This will hinder them from being able to conduct their own research. If you are the one who is planning or leading the group, it is important to make sure every member contributes something to the discussion. A decision should always be made by the group instead of a single individual. A simple way to do this is to cast a vote. If the majority agrees on a specific plan of action, this is the plan that should be taken. If you notice that somone is not participating in the discussion, ask them what they think about the issue at hand. It is important for everyone to feel like they are a member. It is important to make sure everyone is talking about the topic. The students should talk and make statements regarding the topic. Everyone should be able to voice their own opinion. The best way to approach the topic of discussion is to start with a concept that is simple before moving to one that is complex. While you don't want the member to become bored, you also don't want the topic to become so complicated that no one gains anything from it. Whenever people get together in a group, there will be interpersonal issues among some of the members. Each person will have a different personality type, and some will not work well with others. If you see a potential problem, deal with it before it becomes a major issue that disrupts the group discussion. Whenever you notice that the group or members of the group are straying away from the topic, it is important for them to avoid this. While you will want to look at the group as a whole, it is also important to monitor each member as well. If you are the leader of the group, and you notice that some members are having problems with reasoning or expression, you will want to assist them. To prepare for a group discussion, it is extremely important to make sure you are prepared beforehand. You should understand the topic of the discussion, and if necessary, you should research it. Once you have researched the topic, you should develop your own thoughts or opinions about it. When the members of a
group discussion are prepared, this will allow the discussion to blossom. However, when they are not prepared, the goals of the discussion will not be easy to achieve. To successfully participate in group discussion, you must know how to work well with others, and you must understand the topic or materials that are being discussed. When you are prepared for a group discussion, you will be able to benefit from it.

Group discussion is one effective method to recognize talent and hone them further through recruitment. Very clearly the evaluator keeps a record of the participants objectives and noticeable facets of his personality. An organizations human resource is a delicate issue and new recruits should be fine talent. The profitability, creditability and image is or primary importance to an organization and hence the recruit should be of high caliber. Also it is not the right policy of management to keep recruiting new talent owing to retrenchment or mass quitting by employees.

There are many tips one receives before embarking on a career choice. If the inclination towards sports is high and you are a merit achiever then it is wise to stick to a career in sports. Career decisions and choice are definitely guided by family and peers and expectation can get high. But the ultimate choice is yours. In each field the knowledge level needs to high and it is a constant state of evolving oneself. Old ideas need to get replaced with newer and bolder version. Adaptation is the key word for general and commercial survival. The most important criteria is to understand that the group discussion can happen as a team or individual positioning. One should benefit the team with relevant fact stating. In case you are well prepared about the issue it definitely is fine to jot a few points so that you do not get distracted by the views of your co participant. Simply taking off with off the tangent remarks may mislead the entire team and get into a argumentative non conclusive talking. This has to be avoided at all times. It is perfectly fine to speak just two or three times but speak coherently with regard to the subject and also to the topic. Choose your words carefully, learn a little about voice modulation. Using jargons relevant to corporate use is perfect but over emphasizing with too many high sounding English is confusing for all. Keep your emotional balance high. It would be perfectly embarrassing for all the participants if one gets into an emotional outburst or argues as if this was the final combat. Do not attack people with words or body language. All participants are valid in their stand and in the heat of the moment do not get into abusive or emotional weaning of the topic. The moderator is a person who is judging each persona impartially with his experienced personality and will be marking these aspects negatively for you. Jumping to conclusions or assuming the topic is a blunder. Many times people want to be heard while they themselves are not willing to hear. Understand the topic completely. Listen to others. If you are sure then practice the phrases in your mind. Each person has this golden chance to win and do not spoil the same with pretence. The management is also looking for people who can take up challenges and hence many resort to general and personal topics. This is a one time judgment time to win the race. Once you are at the finishing line, prepare yourself for the next round as a personal interview awaits you.