GROUP DISCUSSION (GD)
What Is A GD?
The candidates who qualify in the written part of entrance tests for selection in MBA course are asked to appear in the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interviews (PI).
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has certain personality qualities and/or skills that are desired 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 it among themselves for 15-20 minutes.
Why GDs?
he 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 estimate 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.
Qualities Looked For In GDs
The GD coordinator does the assessment of candidate's performance. Normally there are three GD coordinators and they sit in three different positions, each observing the group and noting downs the relevant aspects. The coordinators and very senior people who have ample experience in man-management and hence they are easily able to examine the candidates. Following are the qualities that are looked for during a GD:-
(A) Leadership Ability
1. DRIVE, INITIATIVE AND ENTERPRISE
2. ABILITY TO GIVE DIRECTION
3. SHOULDERING RESPONSIBILITY
4. POSITIVE INTERVENTION AND COORDINATION
5. OBJECTIVITY AND GOAL FULFILMENT
(B) Knowledge
1. GRASP OF THE SUBJECT MATTER
2. VALUE ADDITION
3. ORGINALITY
4. Creativity
(C) Analytical Ablity
1. USE OF ARGUMENTS
2. EXAMPLES AND LOGIC – HOW EFFECTIVELY ARE THE SAME RELATED TO THE SUBJECT MATTER.
(D) Communication
1. FLUENCY AND CLARITY OF THOUGHT
2. PRESENTATION
3. LISTENING TO OTHERS
4. CONCISE AND CLEAR-CUT VIEWPOINTS
5. CONVICTION
6. BODY LANGUAGE
(E) Group Behaviour
1. PERSUASIVE ABILITY
2. TO CARRY PEERS ALONG
3. TO BE ABLE TO GET ALONG WITH THE GROUP
The panel may also assess you in terms of negative attributes like extremism in views, use of foul & abusive language, not following the instructions, aggressive body language etc.
Types Of GDs
Normal – The Group-Discussion is a process in which all candidates successful in the Written Test are divided in to groups of 10 – 12 candidates each, and every group is assigned a specific topic to discuss. The GD coordinator and the students are asked to discuss it for duration of 15-20 minutes. A variation could be a GD where the students are asked to decide the topic amongst them. In either case, the students will normally be given a time of 2-3 minutes for preparation before the GD actually starts. The students will be seated in a circular or a semi-circular pattern. The medium of the GD almost, always, is English, though sometimes, a choice is given to the group to speak in Hindi or English (but a majority opts for English).
Case Study – A printed case study is given to the group and the candidates are allowed a time limit of 3-4 minutes to read and comprehend the passage. Then the group is asked to discuss the questions based on the case study given. Here again the students are given a time of about 20 minutes to discuss the topic. Case studies normally pertain to standard business situations and are full of facts and figures. Thus the GD coordinator attempts to examine the comprehension power of a candidate along with the communication skills.
Role Play – A role-play type of GD is one where a situation is described and each person in the group is asked to assume a specific role in a situation. In such cases, you must completely step into the role and your reasoning will have to be consistent with role you have assumed. The participation, in this specific case, needs to appreciate the gravity of the situation and generate appropriate reasoning to facilitate decision making for the group.
How To Prepare For GD?
One can be successful at a GD with proper preparation and guidance. Given below are some tips which will help you in your GD preparation:-
Tip 1
Brushing up on your general awareness is a must. Being aware of current affairs and issues and happenings, which affect our lives, however remotely, shows a well-rounded personality. Interest in one's environment is an essential quality for a manager, as only when he is well informed about all the aspects is he able to take correct decisions. Make a habit of reading newspapers like Times of India and Economic Times and general interest and business magazines like Frontline, Outlook and Business India.
Tip 2
Being aware of current happenings is not enough. One must also form opinions on those happenings and issues that arise. Think about what you feel about different issues, say, terrorism. Write down your thoughts. Ask yourself why you feel that way, what are the premises underlying your thoughts and beliefs. Also question whether your point of view is based on facts, or on opinions and hearsay.
Tip 3
The process of opinion formation is incomplete without getting inputs from others. Get into the habit of discussing issues with your friends and family. Hear multiple points of view. Listen, question and argue. Express your opinion. If you are proven wrong, accept it with good grace. Modify your opinions as you go along. This will help you clear your own thought process plus it will get you into the habit of discussion.
Tip 4
While discussing, learn to check your temper. Maybe you'll find others holding view which are objectionable to you. But remember that they have a right to their opinions. Everyone does. Learn to respect their points of views even if you don't accept them. It shows maturity on your part. This will be a good training for controlling your emotions, which is of utmost importance in a GD.
Tip 5
Practice: Try and mobilize other people who are interested in GDs and simulate GDs. Get someone who has been through GDs before to observe it and give you feedback on your performance. It is better if the group consists of people whom you don't know very well.
The students of Vision Institute need not to worry about this tip because they will be provided enough exercise of GDs in the similar environment.
Other Tips For GDs
DOs
• Listen carefully to the instructions of the panel. Do accordingly.
• Lend ears to others who make genuine contribution.
• Keep it short and simple.
• Intervene positively to put GD on track.
• Adhere to principles of politeness.
• Give facts and figures but don't overdo it.
• Have a clear- cut view.
• Be deliberate and slow in delivering your points.
• Be self-confident not aggressive.
• Make eye contact with your group members while you speak.
• Avoid any irritating gestures.
DON'Ts
• Interrupt unnecessarily.
• Try to dominate GD.
• Adopt a negative attitude.
• Speak loudly (if not required).
• Address the panel.
• Talk too fast.
• Be too conscious of your body language.
• Get excited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 What is the normal duration of a GD?
Ans. A GD is generally of 15-20 minutes duration.
Q.2 How many panel members are there to evaluate?
Ans. There are usually 3-4 panel members to evaluate.
Q.3 Is there any time given for preparation after the topic is given and before starting the GD?
Ans. 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.
Q.4 Should I address the panel members?
Ans. 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.
Q.5 What is the seating arrangement like?
Ans. 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.
Q.6 How should I address the other group members?
Ans. 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".
Q.7 Suppose I have a lot to say on the topic, should I say all of it?
Ans. 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.
Q.8 Should I encourage others to speak up?
Ans. 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.
Q.9 Are the group members supposed to keep track of the time or will the panel keep track?
Ans. 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.
Strategies For GDs
How to decide a Topic?
• Avoid random method while selecting a topic.
• Selecting a topic is another way evaluators use to judge participation in Group Discussions.
• The evaluators give the group the task of selecting the topic and then discussing that topic for a specified length of time.
• Think of the most suitable approach to do it whether by all participants suggesting topics and one selected randomly, or by participants suggesting different areas that could be discussed and rationale given for the final selection.
• Try and think of logical ways to select a topic as a group, setting up criteria as the basic for consideration or selection.
• Some of the criteria that you could use for selection of a topic could be:
1. The topic should be general in nature so that all group members are able to speak about it.
2. It should be interesting so that it motivates everyone to be involved in the discussion.
3. It should be topical i.e. it should be current so that it is relevant to today's situation.
4. It should be such that a discussion is possible i.., at least two points of view emerge.
How to select a leader?
Selecting a leader is a discussion itself. Sometimes, a group is given the task of selecting a leader before the discussion on the topic begins.
• Do not brush this aside as an unimportant formality since you are in a hurry to get on with the actual topic. Selecting a leader in a group is as important as discussing the topic.
• The evaluators give certain weight to the process used to select the leader since that also involves intra group dynamics.
• A group in a hurry to select the leader often ends up making a poor choice so that the leader and the discussion end up quite different from what they should be.
• There are different ways to choose the leader.
• Avoid random voting and arbitrary methods such as choosing the first member who puts forth his name.
• There should be some logic in your selection approach. One possible approach could be:
1. The group discusses and understands the role of a leader.
2. The qualities a leader should posses are highlighted.
3. Participants interested in becoming the leader introduce themselves and convince the others that they posses these qualities.
4. The group then selects the most suitable candidate.
5. You may argue that there will never be enough time for this and that it will interfere with the time available to discuss the topic. However, the process itself gives the evaluators enough information about each candidate.
A Leader is not just a scrutinizer
Wanting to be a leader is a high- risk high return strategy.
• The leader is in the spotlight but handling the leader's role well isn't easy.
• Not volunteering for this position need not be negative.
• Do what you feel comfortable with because volunteering for a role with which you are unfamiliar could be disastrous.
The role of the leader is to
• Initiate the discussion i.e. define the topic, lay down the structure.
• Ensure that the discussion is proceeding in the right direction.
• Contribute by introducing new points or bringing up a new relevant aspect so as to add value to discussion.
• Encourage group participation and allow free exchange of thoughts and ideas provided they are relevant.
• Maintain decorum during the discussion.
• Summarize and conclude if possible, after attempting to reach an agreement.
• Avoid falling into the trap of leader being just a scrutinizer telling other participants when to speak and when not to.
• Once a leader has been selected, it would be advisable for the other participants to respect that position and let him/her start and anchor the discussion.
How to Begin and Conclude a GD?
• Beginning a discussion can put you in trouble or put you in command.
• The opening speaker is the person who is likely to get the maximum uninterrupted time since most of the other participants would be still trying to understand the basic issues of the topic.
• If the opening speaker talks sense he/she will get the credit as he/she opened the discussion and took the group in the right direction and vice-versa.
• He/she may be marked as a person who speaks without thinking and merely for the sake of speaking.
• He/she may also be marked as someone who leads the group in the wrong direction and does not make a positive contribution to the group.
• Speak first only if you have enough sensible things to say. Otherwise keep silent and let someone else start.
• Try and summarize the discussion at the end.
• In the summary do not merely restate your point of view; also accommodate dissenting viewpoints.
• Mention if the group did not reach a consensus. But remember do not force a consensus unless asked to by the evaluators.
• Forcing a consensus will backfire and may end up working against you.
• It could project you as a pushy person who is not ready to analyze the issues and is more interested in the final result.
How to jump into the discussion?
It becomes difficult for most of us to get a chance to speak where a number of people are involved and such a situation is likely to prevail during the actual GD that you participate in. Here are some guidelines to show you how you could interject in a loud GD:
• Keep an eye on the intensity: Every GD has its highs and lows. Wait for the lows and time your interjection then. However, it has been observed in GDs where if one waits for the lows he/she would never speak. GDs like that are really loud – where even the lows are very high.
• Jump only when the speaker has finished making his point: The success of our interjection depends not only on our assertiveness but also on the receptiveness of others.
• If you interject when someone else has just begun speaking it is unlikely that he will let you have your way and vice-versa.
• Don't wait too long or you may lose the opportunity. Remember there are only a few minutes that you have.
• Jump in an agreeable manner: A useful way of starting your interjection is by supporting a point that has just been made.
• People will let you speak if they think you agree with them or you praise them.
• Try starting by saying something positive about the other person's opinion.
• Jump by raising your voice: The most natural way of entering when you find that others are not listening is to raise your voice. This may not be the smartest way of interjecting but it could work sometimes.
• You must be as loud as the situation demands.
• To be effective, however, you will have to combine this tool with some of the others we have mentioned, as it is unlikely to succeed on its own.
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