Group Discussions

Pritima Kaushal
Enablers
Pritima_kaushal@yahoo.com
 What is a GD
• Its a discussion by a group of
people which involves an
exchange of thoughts and ideas.
It is largely used by institutes where
there is a high level of competition.
• The most popular, reliable and
dominant medium, in the list of battery
of personality tests used today for
selection of candidates and executives
for managerial appointments,
• A typical GD involves 8 to 12 participants sitting in a circle or
semicircle discussing a topic for a stipulated time, usually for 10
to 15 minutes.
• Usually 2-5 minutes is given to group members to collect one’s
thoughts.
• Sometime no time is given, so it is best not to bank on this
• There are usually 3-4 members in the panel to evaluate.
 Objectives of a group
discussion
 It helps the selectors to shortlist the candidates
that are applying for the position in the company
or seeking admission in an educational institute.

 The selection panel is able to assess certain

traits and skills of the candidates which are not
possible to observe in application form ,cv ,
written examination or interview .
• Objective of the group discussions is not to judge

the information that the students have on the group

discussion topics but it is to judge the ability of the

students to deal with the topic.

• The temperament and psychological poise of the

person is of more importance than the information

they share about the topics.

• Most GDs follow one of the three
formats: Structured, Unstructured,
or Specialized.
1. Regular Structured GDs:

• Here the time limits and topic is

defined.
• No consensus expected at the end.
• No leader is to be selected for
facilitating the process.
• These are easier to handle. Topics
chosen are usually general and do not
require technical knowledge.
 2. Unstructured GDs:
• Choosing a leader is mandatory
• Group may be asked to propose a
topic, discuss it and reach a
consensus.
• Group has to reach a consensus at
the end of the GD.
 3. Specialized GDs:
• Role-plays or scripted GDs where the candidates
are given a certain brief about a role that they
need to play. Examples
– A business situation where to companies are negotiating a
deal may be used. Candidates would be given the profile of
the two CEOs, marketing Manager, HR managers, advisors,
and a neutral entity like a consultant.
– Candidates could be given the role of the five Pandavas
and the main Kauravas negotiating the distribution of
their kingdom in 20th century setting.
A selector may evaluate you
on the following parameters
 Initiative
 Did the candidate speak at all?
 Did he speak sense?
 Is he a good communicator?
 Knowledge / awareness level?
 Analytical skills.
 Did he provide leadership to the group?
 Is he a team player?
 Is he a good listener?
 Does he understand, appreciates and respect
others view point?
 Tips
• Speaking is important, do not remain silent
• Do not monopolize the discussion.
• Give everyone a chance to speak.
• Maintain eye contact with every one.
• Show active listening skills
• Do not interrupt anyone, let them finish
their sentence.
• Keep the topic on the track, don’t go in to
irrelevant path.
 Tips
• Encourage people who are silent, shy.
• Do not argue with anyone person.
• Do not debate with any one person while
the group members are looking at you.
• Do not repeat what has already been said
instead build on that idea.
• Clarify what you have not understood and
then talk on it.
•
TIPS
Understand the topic and analyze it mentally before speaking. Be clear
about the purpose and content of your viewpoint.
• Be clear in speech. It should be audible, not too loud
• Remember the seven C’s of effective communication
– Completeness
– Concreteness
– Clarity,
– Conciseness,
– Correctness
– Courtesy and
– consideration
• Maintain eye contact
• Be receptive and open-minded
 Some TIPS
• Starting the discussion is considered to be good
however it isn’t a must;
• Maintain your calm and never get aggressive.
– If you haven’t been able to talk then one can cut in saying “Excuse me, but
what I think is ….” or something of that sort.
• Never lose your temper –
– Never attack anyone on a personal front.
– Attitude should be one of cooperation and not one of conflict.
– Don’t lose sight of the goal of the discussion.
• Listen to any criticism and give it a thought before trying
to defend your views.
• Whatever personal views one may have, it is
important to know both sides of the argument.

• You can also use mirror therapy. Stand before a

mirror and speak extempore on any topic. Practice
sounding assertive and firm.

• Another way to practice is to tape your speech.

– Try to speak about a topic for one full minute into the tape
recorder.
– When you listen to the tape, you will be able to spot your
mistakes, the points on which you falter and the words which
you cannot easily speak.
Roles in Group Discussion
1. Mr. Brain :
o He brings in a lot of substance and comes up with wide
interpretations of the topic.

o It is difficult to stop him, as he is preoccupied with topic

discussion as opposed to group discussion.

2. Shopkeeper :
o He is the sales man who can sell anything, has the gift of
the gab, a very strong ability to relate to people and be at
the centre of things.

o He does not usually come up with original thoughts

himself. Needs Mr. Brains to feed him with readymade
ideas that he can sell.
3. Watchman :

o His role is to maintain order in the group, usually content

is low.

o Pre-occupied with directing the group process such as

controlling entry and exit of participants.

o He is crucial for meeting time commitments made to the

panel. Especially, in ensuring consensus.

4. The Butcher :
o Does great service to the group by enhancing the quality
of content by not letting participants get away with just
about anything.
o Is most welcome in a group which has one or two
aggressive elements in it.
5. Critic :
He criticizes everybody’s points without contributing anything
new.
6. The Spectator or The Passenger :
Is involved in the proceedings but plays a limited role.
Contribution is very limited and does not affect the out
come of the group task.
 So What Role Should You Specialize
In?

• Each role has several benefits. However, strong

attachment to any single role throughout the GD could
limit your chances of success.
• What is more important is that you demonstrate
leadership at every moment.
• You must be able to move across these roles as the
situation demands.
• Anyone seen to be Performing more than three of these
roles will definitely make a strong impact on the on the
panel.
• Mobility is the keyword in becoming effective in GDs.
• India Business Hour. A Great package of Business and
General News.CNBC - TV18 Mon to Fri @ 9:00 PM.
• The Challenge Quiz show based on biz CNBC-TV 18 Sunday
1200 noon, Saturday 1230 pm.
• Trial by fire. A competition between brilliant minds of best B
schools judged by eminent business personalities on CNBCTV
18.
• Hard Talks. A Talk Show on International Current Affairs on
BBC every Sunday Evening
• YOUNG TURKS. YOUNG ACHIEVERS on CNBC-TV 18 on
Sunday-11-30 am,10.30 pm.
• We the people. Its a debating show NDTV 24×7sunday 8pm.
Caste based job reservation
should be abolished
• Why do job reservation exist?
• What is happening currently?
• Should they be abolished?
• Can you recommend any modification to
this policy of job reservation?
 India should stay away form
international sports events like the
Olympics
• What has been India's performance been in
International ports so far?
• What is the reasons for India's below par
performance?
• What is the current status of competitive
Indian sports?
• Is a solution possible to improve the lot of
Indian sports personalities?
• Should they compete in international events
anyway despite the result?
 India and Pakistan relations can never
be improved by government.
• What is the current state of India pakistan
relations?
• What is the problem?
• What is the main bone of contention?
• How does the historic background affect this?
• Define all the irritants, issues that influence Indo
pak relations.
• What is the role of the Govt of the two countries?
• Can you recommend better ways ?
• Or is it a foregone conclusion that Indo Pak relations
can never improve?
 Some topics
• Satellite tv is a necessary evil.
• Higher education in India should be privatized.
• Sachin Tendulkar is the backbone of Indian cricket.
• Mobile phones, boon or a bane.
• Reservation should be there in higher educational institutes.
• Corruption is a necessary evil.
• China is a role model for India’s road to progress.
• India and Pakistan relations can never be improved by
government.
• Even after sixty years of independence, India has not
achieved much.
• Ragging should be abolished in educational Colleges
• ThankYou
• There are always two ways to look at any topic: for or against.
Take the example of economic liberalization. It can be argued that it
was a very good thing since a number of foreign companies came into
the country, bringing technology and efficiency. Employment and
growth rate improved. The people could buy all the world class
products which earlier had to be smuggled.
• On the other hand, it can also be argued that all kinds of non-essential
goods came into the country, like hamburgers, fried chicken and soda
water. The infrastructue remained poor. There was no fresh growth as
the MNCs simply bought the Indian companies. he technology they
imported was outdated and most of the goods were so expensive that
most people could not buy them. Liberalization was trumpeted to be a
good thing since politicians were using it to rake in personal wealth.
• If the discussion is heading towards a particular direction, a
• candidate can take a totally opposite view and consequently will
become the centre of the discussion. Of course one must be able
to defend one’s viewpoints and therefore the need to have read
widely. In the case of liberalization, many people will defend it,
since that is the viewpoint most often published in newspapers. If a
student can bring in an opposing viewpoint and mention some
convincing reasons, there is no reason why he will not be selected.
• What matters the most in a GD is whether any meaningful
contribution was made by the person. A candidate will score
well if he shows leadership qualities that is, of guiding the group
towards a consensus. It is clear that one should have read a lot if
he is to exhibit any depth of knowledge. If you have kept up with
the newspapers and magazines, it will certainly be of help. Look at
the last 12 issues of the current affair magazines and you will find
all the likely current topics discussed. Read carefully the debates
and argumentative questions and chances are that you will get one
of these topics for discussion. Read also items of economic
importance and learn the figures of growth rates, GDP, deficits and
so on.
• The trouble is that most students have not faced anything like the GD
before. How is one to speak in a group of 15 strangers in a language
we do not usually speak? One way is to read about a topic and then
debate with parents, uncles or elder cousins. Tell them to ask you
questions and try to trap you. The more you do this, the more clear will
your own thoughts become. Of course practice in a larger group can
be obtained only by joining a professional institute.
• Another way to practice is to tape your speech. Try to speak about a
topic for one full minute into the tape recorder. When you listen to the
tape, you will be able to spot your mistakes, the points on which you
falter and the words which you cannot easily speak. You will also be
able to know whether you make any sense or not. Ask your friends to
listen to the tape critically. Often, people can discover their
weaknesses and speech impairments by this method.
• You can also use mirror therapy. Stand before a mirror and speak
extempore on any topic. Practice sounding assertive and firm. If
you think your voice is soft or shrill, especially for girls, speak loudly in
front of the mirror as if you are speaking to a stranger. Have a
conversation with yourself. The mirror will tell you whether you have a
habit of looking away while speaking. It will tell you about your body
language also. These will be invaluable insights for participating in
groups. You must look at all the members when addressing them.
Looking away will cause you to lose your chance and the other
person will carry on without letting you complete. The mirror will
also stop you from fidgeting, as many people are prone to do when
they are speaking or are nervous. The therapy will be greatly
enhanced if you can get your family members or friends to practice
with you.
• The very concept of Group Discussion suggests coordination and cooperation on
the part of all who are expected to work as a team. Equanimity of mind pays. It is
easy to lose temper at the flimsiest provocation or the things do not go the way
you desire. Any kind of hostile approach by any one of the participants would not
only rob the underlying spirit of cooperation but also delay the entire process of
discussion. Most of the ordinary people get overjoyed in the flush of success and
turn abysmally miserable in the face of failure. Such people do not have the inner
stuff that makes leaders. In a group, everyone has to subordinate his ego to the
larger objective of working together and accomplishing the job in hand within the
time allotted.
• Being a verbal test, power of expression counts a great deal for scoring high
marks in a GD. Wide general knowledge of the subject would be the next
contributory factor for success. One who knows the subject will definitely be
able to speak with confidence, interest, inspiration, enthusiasm and authority.
Competition within the group will be tough and each candidate will try to impress
all others in the group. Hence, there is no bound to be overlapping, confusion,
conflict of the interests and confrontation. The candidate who enjoys maximum
level of leadership qualities will ultimately emerge as the natural leader. He will
motivate others and make the group willingly follow his suggestions.
• Success speaks for itself. For a group leader, it hinges, to a large extent, on his
ability to deal with the most complex thing- human behavior. Not everybody
behaves in the same manner in terms of temperament, sociability and the delicate
art of communication. It is here, that the group leader has to raise himself to the
stature of the corporate leader whose dexterity in managing people of myriad
viewpoints and maintaining a composure makes a mark on others. Like a captain,
whose ship has run aground, he has to make systematic and dauntless efforts to
make it sail on to its voyage. Apart from other attributes, it is the crisis
management which makes him acceptable to all.
• Self-confidence, ability to articulate one’s thoughts and power of persuasion
are the hallmarks of a leader. Added to it are patience, perseverance, a deep
understanding of the working of the human mind and ability to interact with others
in the group so that all the members strive towards the same goal. A leader in the
Group Discussion should be able to manage the forum and float his views in the
most lucid manner. To accomplish these objectives, he needs ample amount of
convincing power, mixed with politeness. He should not get perturbed by the harsh
arguments of the participants and provide opportunity to every candidate to air his
views. Besides, he should also be able to demonstrate his intellectual excellence
and leadership quality and utilize it to steer the discussion away from the murky
waters. To top it all, one must be able to express his/ her views logically and
cogently within the allotted time i.e, two to three minutes.
• 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
 Some roles
• Initiators
• Information seeker
• Information giver
• Opinion seeker
• Clarifier
• Summarizer
• Harmoniser
• Tension releiver
• Enerziser
• Compromiser
• Gatekeeper
• Attacker
• Dominator
• Clown