Career ki pathshala group discussion

Group Discussion (GD):

WHAT a group discussion is?

WHY it is conducted by most B-schools ?

What PERSONALITY TRAITS are tested in a group discussion?

Group Discussion is a process where exchange of ideas and opinions are debated upon. This process is mostly used for selecting candidates for admission to management schools basically for MBA.

As an MBA aspirant, you may score 95% but not sure that you may get place in the top B-schools in India.

What is a Group Discussion (GD)?

A group discussion is a selection (sometimes elimination) round where a group of 8-10 students are given group discussion topics to discuss for a given time period. After the topic is announced, you would be given 10-15 minutes to gather & compose your thoughts. Then the discussion begins.

A panel of judges would be sitting & observing the proceedings & would be marking you according to your performance in the GD.

The number of candidates who are short-listed from this group may vary. Sometimes 2-3 or 4-5 candidates can selected from a group of 10. There have also been cases where the entire group was rejected.

A successful group discussion should ideally proceed like a well-coordinated football team, where every player passes on the ball to achieve a common goal. A GD should not proceed to look like a fish market where everyone is trying to drown out the other’s opinion.

Why is GD an Important part of the Selection Procedures in B-Schools?

A question often asked by many students: Why GD, why not just a personal interview (PI) or why not just the written test? After all, engineering colleges don’t have GDs; neither do medical, law schools.

The answer is pretty obvious: business schools are selecting students who are going to be future managers & CEOs. And a good manager ought to be firm yet flexible, innovative, possess good communication skills, take quick decisions, have sound reasoning abilities & be a good leader. These skill-sets can be best gauged by the panel of judges or best displayed by a potential candidate only in a group activity like the group discussion.

By making GD a part of their selection procedures, the top B-schools are ensuring that they only select candidates who not only have good analytical, quantitative skills (assessed by their written exam score) but also possess excellent soft skills. So a Group Discussion round is a very important part of selecting a student in a B-school.

Personality Traits that are Tested in a Group Discussion:

1. General Awareness: “What” you speak in a GD matters more than “how” you say it. The panel of judges would check how much you know about what’s happening around you. So if the group discussion topic is “Commercialisation of Health Care: Good or Bad?”, you should ideally be aware of the latest developments in the healthcare industry, you should know who is the Minister of Health and Family Welfare (it’s Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad) etc. There is no particluar field from which the group discussion topic is selected. The GD topics can be based on a current hot topic "Is the Lokpal Bill the best way to tackle Corruption in India" or they can be random topics like "Advertising is a form of brainwashin". It is therefore very important to be aware of what is happening around you & also to have a good GK quotient.

2. Team Spirit: As mentioned earlier, there have often been cases when an entire group has been rejected by the panel. This is usually because everyone or most participants in the GD were not team players. Extreme cases of one-upmanship (trying to outdo your competitor) are not appreciated & usually do not go down well with the judges. After all, you as a future manager are supposed to work in/with a team.

3. Leadership: If a group discussion loses steam or ends up in chaos or digresses from the topic, a participant with good leadership skills will usually try to coordinate & sort out the confusion or steer the GD back to the right track. Having leadership skills will always work in your favour. Some of you may have natural leadership skills, others will have to work & inculcate this personality trait into your skill-set.

4. Confidence: The way you put forth your points, your body language etc. should exude confidence. But be careful that your assertiveness does not translate into aggressiveness.

5. Adaptability: Being stubborn & unyielding on your opinion/point of view in a GD never helps. On the other hand if you are willing to see others’ point of view & are open to re-evaluating your own ideas, you will come across as a flexible person who is open to changes/suggestions (if they are viable). This is a positive trait & contributes towards a successful GD.

6. Communication Skills: Good articulation skills are a must for any future manager. Without good communication skills how will you put across new ideas, manage a team; ensure everyone’s on the same page as you are? This trait is also required to bring forth the traits discussed earlier. Without good communication skills, it would be difficult to display your leadership skills, convey the information you have, steer the discussion successfully.

7. Listening Skills: It is important to be articulate & to make your point as often as you can in a GD, but it is equally important to listen when others speak. If you keep interrupting others & don't care to listen when others speak you lose points. Remember, the panel is always closely observing you!

Tips on GROUP DISCUSSION

To help you better we have compiled a list of points that you should keep in mind while you participate in a group discussion.

Group discussions are an important part of the selection process for admission into a B-School of your choice. You have passed the intelligence test, with GD, your oratory and communication skills along with your problem solving skills will be tested.

Let’s read about the points that you should keep in mind:

1)Adequate matter/ Subject matter is essential : You should have subject knowledge and be well aware of the latest happenings around you, not just in India but around the world as well. To be in a better position, make sure that you have in-depth knowledge on the subject. Subject knowledge is a pre-requisite while you are preparing for a group discussion because you will then have the power to steer the conversation to whichever direction you want to. If you can memorize some relevant data, it will be an added advantage.

2) Make Sure you Read Widely: Being an avid reader will help you in group discussions. Last minute preparations you are strictly a no no, while you are preparing for group discussions. You should read over a period of time. Reading not only adds to your knowledge database, but enhances your vocabulary skills as well. Plus reading over a period of time, helps in your understanding of a particular subject/ topic better.

3) Choose Magazines that are Rich in Content: Always opt for magazines that are content rich and not just full of advertisements. Often magazines have columns which are promoting a particular institute etc. Avoid such magazines, do some research and buy the best that will be beneficial for you in the long run.

4) Be Aware of Topics that are Repeated: Often, there are topics which re-appear with minute changes and minor variations. Be aware of such topics well in advance so that you have ample time to prepare for the same. For example the issues of terrorism, gender inequality, poverty, Ayodhya conflict, liberalization and privatization, reservations in educational institutions etc often appear as GD topics. Make sure you know these topics well and can come up with some unique, insightful points along with dates, stating facts.

5) Work on your Communication Skills: You should be well versed in your communication skills. You should have a good vocabulary and a decent command over English. Much before your actual group discussion, rehearse well. You can sit with a group of friends and choose a topic and indulge in a friendly banter. Not only will this increase your knowledge, you will be a better speaker by the time it is time for your GD.

6) Listen to the Topic Given During GD Carefully: Listen to the topic carefully and understand it... Be alert and vigilant. Sometimes, the topic may be really simple but the manner in which it is presented to you, can be baffling. The first thing that you should do after hearing the topic is by structuring it on the sheet that is given to you to make notes. Make a rough sketch of the points that you would like to speak aloud. You will be at an advantage if you open the discussion, but then beware of what you speak. Deviating from the main topic, or passing strong statements like ‘I agree/ or disagree …’ should be avoided. Your strategy should be to test the waters and make a generic statement relevant to the topic. If you can, back it up by relevant data.

7) Try and Maintain a Balance in your Tone: Besides what you are saying, remember that the panelists are observing your body language as well. If you do not agree with the other student’s point of view, do not raise your tone in objection. Listen to his point of view and instead of dismissing it upfront, try and draw a common ground. .

8) Listening Skills are Essential: Carefully listen to what others have to say. Just speaking throughout the discussion doesn’t make you smart, you should also give others a chance to speak. Try and listen to him/her, respect their view point too. If the speaker is making an eye-contact with you remember to acknowledge him by saying “yes, you agree” or just by nodding your head, so that the speaker is aware that his listeners are listening to him and paying full attention. This will also show that you are vigilant and are an active participant in the discussion.

9) Body Gestures are very Important: The panelists observe the way you sit and react in the course of the discussion. . Body gestures are very important, because your body language says a lot about you.In a GD, sit straight, avoid leaning back on to the chair or knocking the table with pen or your fingers. Also, do not get distracted easily. For example, if the door in room you are sitting in opens, do not look back to see who it is , this will show how distracted you are.

10) Be the first and also the Last to Speak: As mentioned earlier, initiating a GD is an advantage. Closing it too also adds brownie points. If you can grab the opportunity to close the discussion, then you should summarize it. If the group has not reached a conclusion try concluding it .

Imagine you are driving and you have the power to accelerate or brake according to the situation on the road and avoid any accidents. Try to be that conscientious driver in a GD. Take the initiative, know when to apply your brakes and when to seize the opportunity and accelerate the conversation to reach to a desired destination; conclusion in your case.