GROUP DISCUSSION
Group Discussion-Definition
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A GD is a methodology used by an
organization to gauge whether the candidate
has certain personality traits and/or skills that
it desires in its members. In this
methodology, the group of candidates is
given a topic or a situation, given a few
minutes to think about the same, and then
asked to discuss the it among themselves for
15-20 minutes.
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to
gauge may include :
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Oral Communication
Initiative
Clarity of thought
Decision making ability
Presence of mind
Managing situational stress
Listening capacity
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Flexibility
Interpersonal team play
Maturity
Reasoning Power
Influencing ability
Leadership skills
Problem solving skills
Body language
Why Group Discussion
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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.
Types of GD
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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:-
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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 casebased discussion rather than topic-based discussion
in their selection procedures.
Reasons for having a GD
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It helps you to understand a subject more deeply.
It improves your ability to think critically.
It helps in solving a particular problem.
It helps the group to make a particular decision.
It gives you the chance to hear other students' ideas.
It improves your listening skills.
It increases your confidence in speaking.
It can change your attitudes.
Strategies for Improving GD Skills
Observe
 Practice
 Participate
 Leading a Discussion
 Chairing a Group Discussion
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Discussion Etiquette-Do’s
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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.
Don’ts
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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.
GD Do's
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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.
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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"
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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, problemsolving abilities, ability to work as a team without alienating
certain members, and creativity.
The Don’ts
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Its better to be thought of as a fool, rather than open
your mouth and confirm it!
Don’t open your mouth to change your foot.
Undue or excessive aggression.
Misinterpret the topic
Whisper to your immediate neighbour or make
gesture to anyone at the GD table.
Be cynical ,sarcastic or prove the other person
wrong-to prove yourself right.
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Command others,shout,and stop others from
speaking.
Change a stand.
Digress from the topic.
Display negative body language like pointing a finger
towards others).
Go overboard with enthusiasm if your are familiar
with the topic.
Show your emotions.
Intervene when someone else is speaking.
Tough Situations
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“I couldn’t start”.
“I couldn’t finish”.
“Nobody let me speak”.
“I didn’t understand the topic”.
“Someone else dominated the GD”.
“Someone got angry”.
“Someone got sarcastic”.
Myths regarding a Group Discussion
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You should speak more (No!)
You should dominate the discussion (No!)
You should project yourself in style (No!)
You should speak in favor of topic (No!)
You should make others agree to your point
(No!)