There are certain things which participants have to avoid doing during a GD. Most of these are as a result of a person’s egotism and self-centered approach to the discussion. The first and foremost thing to steer clear of is becoming a ‘blocker’. Some people have this tendency which involves constantly disagreeing and criticizing the views and ideas of others. This type of person always wants to point out that those suggestions would not work and prefers to forcefully insist on his own points instead. Candidates should also avoid repeating a point which has cropped up again and again, especially when many participants are opposed to it. Some GD participants have the tendency to be aggressive. This attitude results in the individual insulting and/or criticizing the others. Citing irrelevant stories and personal experiences is another barrier to succeeding in GDs. Yet another trait which should not be displayed is the desire to dominate others. By doing this a participant tries to hijack the entire GD with their own points of view. They want to lead the group and often use various tactics, such as flattering, interrupting and demanding to get their own way. Sometimes this can even result in shouting or talking over other people. This is not only poor GD etiquette, but bad manners too.
Personality dynamics (Key components of GD)
Manners, mannerisms and appearance are important parts of our personality. First impressions are very important. If you create a bad first impression it is very difficult to change it. The fact is that you can impress others without even uttering a word. Your movements, gestures and posture are instantly noticed by the examiner. Your body language says a lot about your level of confidence, attitude and mentality. Your personality should be beaming and must convey positive messages constantly. Your mannerisms should be warm and humble but, at the same time, assertive in a way that demands the attention and interest of all those present the moment you start speaking.
There are several ingredients which make up our personality. These might include dress, body language, and tone of voice, countenance and manners among other things. The clothes you wear are very important in creating a favorable impression. It is not necessary for them to be expensive, but it is essential that they are neat, well-washed, pressed and well-switched. Unsuitable or casual clothing may look and feel uncomfortable or out of place. Apart from dress, care has to be taken that appropriate shoes are worn and that your hair style and physical cleanliness is suitable for the occasion.
As mentioned earlier, body language is also important. It denotes the non-verbal communication of a person. Your posture gives hints about your frame of mind and the type of person you are. It reveals what is going on in your mind. For instance, scratching parts of your body unnecessarily or slouching while walking may create a bad impression. Tone of voice purveys similar characteristics. Tone of voice does what no amount of suitable and effective words can do. A tone which is too forceful, for instance, may hurt others. Your voice should be lively and cheerful, but bear a sense of request and humility.
A cheerful countenance is also necessary. A morose expression will create the wrong impression. Lastly, good manners such as being courteous, helpful, and polite, etc count a lot. They will leave a lasting impression on your fellow candidates as well as the assessors.
Leadership (Key components of GD)
Man is a social animal. He lives in a group, which involves co-ordination and co-operation. The success of the group depends, to a great extent, on its leader. A group cannot achieve its cherished goals without leadership.
GD is a leadership task. It allows the participants to frame their own ground rules and let leadership emerge from among them. To identify yourself as a leader in a group, it is necessary to prove your mettle. A person has to prove, by his strong and cogent delivery, that they are the first among equals. Here it is necessary to note that leadership is essentially an act of persuasion rather than a strong arm tactic. The tendency to force your way impolitely into the forefront of a discussion will leave a negative impression. The examiner keeps an eye on the gestures, language, behavior and style of presentation of all participants.
The way a candidate behaves in a GD provides a preview of how they would perform after being selected. To be a good leader, attributes like persuasion, friendliness, cooperation, self-confidence and a positive attitude are essential. Many a time a leader has to be a follower, if other worthy persons emerge in their group. They have to show they value the opinions of others and need to work with their co-workers as partners.
Knowledge of the subject matter (Key components of GD)
It is said that knowledge is power. To succeed in a Group Discussion, it is necessary to have an in-depth understanding of the given subject. The more you know, the more you can contribute to a discussion in an engrossing and meaningful manner. A GD does only test your knowledge of the topic, but also the ability to use your awareness of other subjects by linking them in with relevant points. The reading habits of a person can influence this greatly.
If a candidate is lacking relevant knowledge, then having the ability to speak well is of little use. Even gifted speakers are likely to beat about the bush in the absence an understanding of the subject matter. In fact, it is better to stay silent than to deliver a pointless speech. If you start making irrelevant points it would be seen as negative by the assessor.
Communication skills (Key components of GD)
Effective communication is the most important factor for success in a GD. A GD is essentially a verbal test. The candidate must speak coherently to be successful. Without the capacity to speak eloquently and with authority, it is difficult to make your presence felt, let alone make an impression on anyone. Good communication skills arouse interest and create a strong impact on those around you.
A leader must possess the skills to convey his ideas in a clear and effective manner. All the great leaders in history were effective public speakers. Although they were not all born orators, they acquired the art through education and training. There is a saying that a master of words can transform even the most hostile mobs into peaceful crowds.
Examples galore prove the magic of good communication skills. Mahatma Gandhi was a very shy person to begin with. But later his ability to share ideas with crores of ordinary folk enabled the people in South Africa and India to fight against the mighty British government unarmed. Similarly, Winston Churchill inspired his forces around the world to persevere in the most adverse circumstances during the Second World War by the sheer might of his oratorical skill. The point is that if you have the ability to deliver a good speech and are friendly, considerate, appreciative and ready to talk and listen to others, you will stand out and will be appreciated by the people.
It must be noted that during a GD, the candidate should never try to create a good impression by bluffing. Care has to be taken that whatever you say is well-balanced, projects a good grasp of the subject and demonstrates an analytical mind. It must be concise and to the point. The delivery should be polite and attractive. When you want to interrupt other participants, it should be done with a winning smile and without shouting or talking over them.
Why Group Discussions?
To have a good understanding of GDs it is necessary to know why they are necessary in the first place. Before reaching the GD stage a candidate must have passed a written test and/or interview too. In the written test, a candidate’s knowledge of different subjects, as well as their writing skills, are tested. Interviews, on the other hand, focus on personality traits. Often, however, the experts believe that these two rounds are not sufficient to ascertain the true worth of candidates. GD bridges these gaps.
Rationale behind organizing a GD
In today’s competitive world, team spirit is a much-needed virtue in all organizations. At the core of all successful enterprises lies group endeavor. A group consisting of more than two or four people cannot successfully accomplish a task unless one of its members shoulders the responsibility for coordinating the jobs. Here arises the need of a leader. As all participants are rivals, there is bound to be much competition and a clash of interests among them. Obviously, in a GD, the conduct and behavior of a candidate should bring forward their leadership qualities, organizational abilities and personal dynamics simultaneously. Those candidates who want to demonstrate strong leadership qualities must listen patiently to others and fill the gaps whenever necessary, often brining several points together in summary. On the contrary, those lacking the necessary skills might be more forceful and arrogant in making their points and may talk over others and not listen to them properly. During the GD process, the examiner has the chance to assess the candidate’s potential for handling affairs in difficult situations.
GDs bring out an individual’s social qualities, especially his capacity to motivate and influence others. The informal ambience in a GD enables the participants to get to know each other. It allows the candidates to demonstrate their communication skills, depth of knowledge, innovation, logic, powers of persuasion etc. it also tests the candidate’s ability to have an impact on others, express his ideas coherently and examines the tendency to co-operate and co-ordinate in a very pragmatic fashion.
Methodology of Group Discussions
A Group Discussion is a sort of informal discussion. Normally, a group of eight to ten candidates participate in it. They exchange ideas on a specific topic within a stipulated timeframe- usually about 30 minutes. Each participant gives their point of view on the topic and offers counter arguments. The topics assigned for discussions are generally evoke conflicting views and provide ample opportunity for a good discussion. However, in all situations, whether it is a problem-solving proposition or a topic of a general nature, the participants are expected to arrive at a consensus.
There are no steadfast rules for GD. It is left entirely to the participants to discuss the topic in the way they wish. They structure and evolve their own ground rules for holding the discussion. The participants are free to take the initiative and conclude the discussion in a meaningful fashion. The examiner merely assumes the role of a silent observer. At no point of time do they intervene in the discussion.
Nature of Group Discussion
A Group Discussion can include public speaking, a debate or an interview. In the first case, the listeners merely form an opinion about a speaker without competing. They listen to what the speaker says but do not raise their own points to support or contradict them. When the GD takes the form of a debate, one person presides over the group in order to get the ball rolling. The group is divided into groups (normally 2) which are required to speak out in favor or against the given issue. When the GD is used as an interview a board consisting of several members judges the candidates suitability for the job. It’s a good method for information gathering and candidates are given a topic for discussion. All the candidates make their points without the intervention of the examiner. The assessor sits away from the actual discussion and evaluates the leadership qualities and personality traits of each participant.
As all the participants are competing for the same post or training, course or scholarship, their educational background, age, qualification and experience are often very similar. Therefore the GD becomes a very important tool for differentiating between the candidates.
Nuts and bolts of Group Discussion
Group Discussions are one of the most effective tools for evaluating the personality traits of a person. They are widely used as a technique to ascertain the suitability of candidates for various jobs and professions. GDs are usually conducted in conjunction with written tests and/or interviews. They enable the organization concerned to screen out unsuitable candidates and select the best ones. The popularity of GDs lies in their simplicity, ease and time and cost effectiveness.
The armed forces were the first to use GDs in their selection process at the Services Selection Boards (SSBs). Soon this process caught the attention of various public and private sector concerns. Today it is being increasingly used in government departments, nationalized and private banks and other financial institutions, educational centre etc. This method has become part and parcel of MBA Entrance Examinations, conducted by the premier management institutes of India and abroad.
Here it is pertinent to give the details of the nature, methodology, rationale and purpose of GDs. A candidate can succeed in this discipline only after comprehending the various aspects, as well as strategies, for GD. Moreover, it is essential to be acquainted with the attributes and qualities the examiners look for.
What is Group Discussion?
A group Discussion is a methodology used by an organization to determine whether the candidates have certain personality traits and skills that it desires in its workforce. In this
methodology, the group of candidates is given a topic or a situation to discuss. Most of companies, institutes and organizations have included Group Discussion for their selection processes. Now a days, it has become the main phase of quality selection process.
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