Group

Discussions
Group Discussion

Winning Techniques
Why Group Discussions

□ GD is held to test whether you have the

basic confidence and communication
skills required to be a manager

□ Two skills must be developed for a GD

■ The confidence to speak in a group
■ the ability to make a meaningful contribution
Topics for
group
discussions

□ Factual Topics

■ Factual topics are about practical things, which an

ordinary person is aware of in his day-to-day life. 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 E.g. Reservations should be removed,
Women make better managers
Topics for group discussions

□ Abstract Topics
■ Abstract topics are about intangible things. These
topics test your lateral thinking and your
creativity For eg A is an alphabet Number 13
Color Red

□ Case-based GD
■ The case study tries to simulate a real-life
situation. Information about the situation will be
given to you and you will be asked as a group to
resolve the situation.
What is
observed in
a GD □ Ability to speak
intelligently
□ Leadership skills
□ Team work
□ Confidence
□ Use of formal language
□ Consideration for others
□ Manners
□ Aggressive behavior
□ Substantial points versus
frivolous viewpoints
What is □ Communication ability –
tested in GD Organize your points and speak
for 1 to 3 minutes at a stretch
□ Team skills – Show willingness
to accept other viewpoints to stay
objective and evaluate each
thought or idea
□ Analytical skills – Think from a
different perspective but present
it in a structured way
□ Awareness general knowledge –
Examples to be given from
current happenings around us
What is
tested in GD

□ Leadership
■ Show direction when group moves away from topic
■ Coordinates the efforts of the group
■ Contributes to the group at regular intervals
■ Inspires and motivates team members to express their
views
■ Steer the conversation towards a goal
■ Summarizing the outcome of the discussion at the end
What is
tested in GD

□ Assertiveness – present points in a confident

and positive manner

□ Initiative – Start the GD

□ Creativity – Contribute a new idea

□ Listening – Imbibing ideas of others

□ Awareness – Your general knowledge
How to prepare for GD

□ Form an informal group and

discuss serious issues
□ Discuss current affairs with
parents or elders
□ Watch news and current affairs
programs
□ Read good magazines and
newspapers
□ Always think of points in favor and
against a topic
□ Appear in mock Group discussions
Do s for a Group □ Your posture should be straight
and upfront.
Discussion
□ Make use of hands and facial
expressions to make your point
more emphatic.

□ Make an attempt at opening the

discussion. The opening has to be
a general introduction to the
topic briefly laying the scope of
the discussion.

□ Make sure that all the points that

you make are original and backed
by substantial reasoning as to
why you believe so.
 Do s for a
Group
□ Modulate the various aspects of your Discussion
voice - volume pitch tone - to suite the
nature of the point that you are making.

□ While speaking make eye contact with

every one in the group.

□ When not speaking make sure that you

are looking at the person who is speaking
and maintain non-verbal contact
Do s for a
Group
Discussion

□ If the discussion is revolving around a certain

point for too long give a new direction by
introducing a new angle to it.

□ If the discussion is straying from it's main

idea, get it back on track by giving a new
directional point

□ If the discussion is too unruly wait for the

right opportunity, make your point and get
out of it.
 □ Do not get into arguments with
Don’t s for a people
Group
Discussion
□ Do not waste time on futile
arguments that do not contribute
to the topic under discussion.

□ Do not try to hog the lime-light all

the time, you may simply be
making points that are irrelevant
or were better left unsaid.

□ Do not act patronizing with your

fellow group members, it could
backfire.
Don’t s for a
□ Do not slouch but seat yourself
Group comfortably.
Discussion
□ Do not fidget or act restless.

□ Do not stare at the floor or out of

the window, you may come across
as uninterested or inattentive.

□ Do not make use of gestures

excessively as you may come across
as aggressive.
 □ Do not speak for too long
Don’t s for a
Group □ Do not give personal examples
Discussion
to support your viewpoint

□ Avoid saying ‘Yes’ ‘No’ ‘I agree’

‘I disagree’

□ Avoid words like ‘ I think’ ‘Sort

of’ ‘Like’

□ Do not take your mobile phone

Opening
sentences □ Good morning friends We have
been given a very topical issue to
discuss
□ The topic given to us is a sensitive
and controversial issue
□ Yes I do feel that
□ Dear friends we have been given a
topic is uppermost in our minds\
bothering the minds of people\ is
a thought provoking issue
□ Hey guys Hello friends
Entering □ I am also in favor of \ I am in
sentences - complete agreement \ I would like
Agreeing to add to your point
□ I totally subscribe to the view that
□ Taking your point further \
Further
□ I would like to also draw your
attention to
□ I would like to take the discussion
to a different viewpoint
□ Let me elaborate on that point
□ Let me explain how we can
 □ I would like to draw your attention
Entering to the negative aspects of
sentences -
Disagreeing □ I am sorry that I differ with the
views of the participants
presented so far
□ My answer would be a big NO
□ Thanks for presenting your views
but I beg to differ on your
viewpoints
□ Your point is well taken\
appreciated \ agreed to \ BUT I
think \ I would like to raise the
issue
Group □ Are we permitted to carry a
Discussion - piece of paper during GD to
FAQs jot down important points?
□ Can there be a favorable
seating arrangement?
□ Can we appoint one person
among us as a leader?
□ Should we distribute time
available among ourselves so
that everyone gets a turn?
 □ Can we take an initial stance
Group
and then change it towards the
Discussion -
FAQs end?
□ If I feel strongly on an issue
should I raise my feelings?
□ Can I use technical terms or
jargon or slang?
□ Do I need to request the
group’s permission to start the
discussion or participation?
□ Which would be the right time
to enter the GD and attract
attention?
 □ Should I be sensitive to the
Group feelings of the participants?
Discussion - □ Is it beneficial to be the first
FAQs person in the discussion?
□ How long should I
participate in a GD?
□ Is it good to be humorous in
a GD?
□ What should be done to
restate a point already raised
by another participant?
□ Is the person who speaks
the most the most
successful?
 thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at
sundarvs28@rediffmail.com

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