By Dr. Pallavi Ahuja
What is a Group Discussion?
As the name suggests, group discussion refers to an interaction between the members of a group on a given topic. GD plays an important role in judging the skills of an individual to be a good speaker, a team player, his knowledge etc. We at the Jagannath International Management School, one of the top b schools in Delhi, believe that GD skills have a pivotal role to play in selection process of MBA and PGDM. Candidates need to be well prepared for the GDs which are held after the written exams. This article accentuates on the key skills required for a candidate to be an active contributor in a GD and have an amiable discussion with his co-members. Here are some tips and suggestions for the aspirants to stand out and be noticed in a GD.
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Be well-read:
The first and foremost tip for carrying out a GD effectively is to develop a habit of reading. Preparation of a GD cannot happen overnight. The aspirants need to get accustomed to reading good quality material to enhance knowledge in different domains. Reading is not only a good habit to enrich knowledge but it also boosts your vocabulary which adds to your communication skills. Also, while reading, remembering the key facts of the read material can be an added advantage.
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Convey pertinent opinion:
Other than having good knowledge of the subject, adding on relevant points to the discussion is equally important. Exhibit your opinion supported by logical data to prove your point. Just speaking during the GD to act participative can make your elimination likely. The moderators evaluate each and every participant minutely. Structure your content and make a point.
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Express using impressive communication:
You must work on improving your communication to be able to communicate your point in a manner it is meant to be. Having appropriate knowledge on a subject, but not being able to convey it, is as worse as not being aware altogether. To be well versed in communication is a time consuming process. Reading English books, English newspapers, conversing with friends in English and indulging in healthy discussions can help you practice communication in an open forum.
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Be a patient listener:
Listening to the other members of the team is pertinent. Hearing everyone out will help you structure your content better and summarizing the discussion. Listening gives you an opportunity to give more valuable insights on the topic.
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Keep your body language positive:
The non-verbal signals that communicate your intentions, speak a lot about you in a group discussion. The selection panel is very observant and closely observes the body language of participants. Never display a negative body gesture. Gestures like folding hands, tapping fingers on the table, shaking feet restlessly etc portray an aggressive image during a discussion. Avoid using such gestures to not be judged based on your non-verbal communication.
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Make eye contact:
During a group discussion, making eye contact and nodding when others speak shows that you are vigilant, attentive and being an active participant in the discussion.
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Avoid being aggressive:
Aggression works negatively for the speakers in a group discussion. As the moderators are watching your moves, you might come out as commanding and bossy. So while speaking, the participant should be very wary and not be loud to make his
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Do not waver from your point:
Sometimes the GD topics might be debatable, wherein you can speak in favor of or against the topic. But keep your stand same all throughout the discussion. If you go with the flow and speak in favour as well as against might portray you as a fickle-minded person, which does not convey a good image in front of the moderators.
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Make multiple attempts to re-enter:
Speaking a few lines in the starting and then just listening to other speakers may not work in your favour. To make your point you need to repeatedly make efforts to enter the discussion at various instances.
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Be a team player:
You need to be very tactful while sharing your opinion in a GD. You must keep your point which is different than the points already shared by other members, and at the same time be a team player. This role can be a little dichotomous therefore; you need to be very diplomatic.
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Do not interrupt co-members:
To be a good team player it is absolutely important to be courteous towards other team members and give everyone an opportunity to speak.
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Be a quick thinker:
A GD goes on for limited duration of time, within which all the speakers are required to speak. So it is essential to structure the points and organize content very quickly to share your thoughts and make the GD interactive.
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Do not jump to conclusion too fast:
Summarising a topic is an important step for winding the GD, yet jumping too quickly to conclusion and not letting everyone keep their points, can make you seem suppressive.
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Conclude well:
For summarizing the GD you need to remember all points given by various participants. If required, you may have to jot down the points given by all the team members to be able to encapsulate. You may need to structure the conclusion by speaking few lines spoken by others and then tactfully summarizing the entire subject matter. Being considerate and considering the points of all the team members can work wonders for you.
GDs help making the participants more focused and foster an in-depth understanding on a subject. At Jagannath International Management School, New Delhi, we develop listening skills and problem solving ability of students by using group discussions as a tool. We strive to develop leadership qualities, build the overall confidence of students to help them grow as successful future managers.
