Group Discussion Tips

We discuss too many things in daily life at home or in the office, or in college on various topics. We find a few agree with us, and a few disagree with us. At home, if there are more family members and when they want to decide, they talk to one another either at the dining table or in their leisure time. After heated or excellent discussions, they build a consensus and finalize a decision.

 Some Tips:

• Speak clearly, audibly and politely. Do not use a harsh tone.

• Initiate the discussion if you are confident of the topic and if you can provide valid justification to prove your point. Or else wait for the right opportunity to express.

• Don't look at the moderator. Do concentrate on the topic only.

• Don't jump to conclusions. Talk about the topic, provide valid points and then offer firm opinions.

• Listen attentively to the topic, weigh its pros and cons, and then comment.

• Try to carry the participants along with you.

• Don't get emotional, and do maintain calm and stability.

• Don't declare yourself as a self-styled leader.

• Never get sidetracked from the given topic.

• Don't agree for the sake of deciding to build consensus, and don't dilute your independent thinking.

• If someone talks longer, request that he make it brief and concise and allow others to speak.

• Present yourself professionally to create a good impression.

• Do demonstrate conceptual skills, human skills, critical skills, analytical skills, everyday skills, hard skills and soft skills in the entire session.

• Do not interrupt the conversation. If you strongly feel about intervening, then add statements like' if you permit, I would speak. . . .' and then offer your comments.

• How you present is more important than what you offer. Application of soft skills will prove to be handy.

• Do not monopolize or hijack the discussion. Provide an opportunity for non-participants to air their views.

• Don't provoke any conflict.

• Never snub the participants. Always express assertiveness in your views.

• Support and substantiate your views with facts and figures or by narrating a brief story.

• If possible, open the discussion with a beautiful quotation, shocking statements, or revelations to make your comments catchy.

• Don't speak for the sake of speaking but say for the sake of providing substance.

• Honestly accept and accommodate the comments of fellow participants to get along with the participants. Don't gaze at a particular participant and talk; instead, shift your eyeball movement towards all the participants so that they will develop interest and curiosity to listen to you.

• Demonstrate positive body language.

• Be cheerful and maintain a smile.

• Do lay stress on the quality of delivery, not the quantity.

• You may criticize the views or opinions of other participants but not them personally.

• When you differ with another person's views, you may say, 'I respect your views. However, I differ with your views on the topic . . .' and offer your views.

• Be tactful and diplomatic, especially when your views are not in tune with another participant.

• Use simple and straight language, and don't confuse the participants with jargon.

• Present your views logically, coherently and forcefully.

• Look at things from others' perspectives.

• Manage your time judiciously.

• Try to build consensus, collaborate and bring different viewpoints into one main line at an acceptable level.

• At the end, take the initiative to synthesize and summarize what was discussed and provide a conclusion. But don't add any new points.

 Communication is the key to any group discussion, and the same is rated in three categories: expression, politeness and tact. Under the presentation, the traits noticed are eloquent, fluent, expressive, strained, coherent, dumb, halting, polite, and impolite. Again under politeness, it is observed whether polite or rude. And about tact, the areas to be followed are skilful, clever, understanding, aggressive, too passive, tactless and bully. Ultimately, the predominant and average are recorded for final comments.

Interpersonal skills are another critical component that either makes or mars the participant's prospects in Group Discussion. It is further divided into three segments: encouraging, interactions and impact on the group. In the encouragement segment, whether the participant is natural, artificial, or genuine is noticed. Then the focus is on interactions such as whether the participant is adaptable, sociable, conservative, rigid, timid or tactless are critically observed. In the impact segment on the group, whether the participant is marginal, conspicuous, hurts others, or is punchy or pushy in his approach is recorded.

 In the area of 'flow of thoughts,' the moderator looks at the reasoning ability, content, relevance, logic, originality, quality of ideas, assimilation ability, and general awareness and offers his comments.

All five elements, attitude, confidence, communication, interpersonal skills and flow of thoughts, are essential for becoming a successful professional. Most companies insist on conducting GD to check the suitability of the candidate. Even GD is necessary to get into premier Business schools in India. It is required to have good practice by having a mock interview with like-minded people and friends to have total confidence in the real GD.