Group Discussion (GD)

Group Discussion is normally 2nd or 3rd round in most of the companies to check the capabilities of candidates. GDs are good indicators of managerial ability. Use these tips to improve your performance at a Group Discussion.
Passed the written test for the first job? Managed to talk your way through the interview? Wait! you still have a major hurdle to cross. GDs make our worst fears come alive: to speak in front of a group of heckling strangers and having to make an impact.
GDs are a popular method of recruitment for B-schools. Now they are also gaining respectability as companies are increasingly using GDs for recruitment at junior management levels. The popularity of the GD rests on the fact that they test the real-world skills like teamwork, group interaction and the ability to solve a problem logically; attributes, which are essential for good managers.
Types Of Group Discussions
Normal GD: A group of 10-12 candidates are given a topic to discuss. They are seated in circular or semi-circular fashion. They are given 2-3 minutes to prepare and then asked to speak on the subject. The topics are general and open-ended.
Controversial GD: The purpose of this kind of GD is to encourage debate so that the participants are forced to take a stance for or against the topic. This enables the recruiters to gauge the candidates more deeply. Controversial GDs are not open-ended.
Case Study GD: In this kind of GD a complex situation is given to the participants, who are asked to discuss it and recommend a course of action. This kind of GD tests a) the analytical powers of the participant. B) Whether they can pinpoint the real problem in the case study. C) Their ability to come up with a feasible solution. Candidates are also expected to provide the reasons for coming up with their solution.
Recent GD topics in top B-schools:
1. Growth and Integrity are poles apart? (IIM-B)
2. Internet builds connections, but destroys relationships (IIM-C)
3. The job of a manager is to do the right things or to do things rightly. (IIM-L)
4. The UN has not served any purpose in the last decade. (IIM-B)
5. Government should ban entry of foreign Automobile Manufacturer in India.
6. In India, democracy is nothing but politicized monarchy (IIM-C)
7. New Delhi should not be the capital of India. (IIM-C)
8. Indians are less efficient in groups because of contradictions in social structure (IIM-L)
Skills Tested In A Group Discussion
It is essential to know which skills are primarily tested through a GD or are given the highest marks by the evaluators. Most applicants assume that only being heard and talking more generally impresses evaluators. However to excel in a GD you must have high ratings in the following areas.
Group interactive skills: This is the most important skill being tested during a group discussion. Evaluators know that good managers have great interactive skills. Thus evaluators keep the following questions in mind while evaluating a candidate in a GD.

• How good is the person in getting along with people?
• Is he a good listener?
• Is he a good leader who can influence people?
• Does he antagonize or put off others?

Logical Thinking: Group discussions are really a test of logical thinking. Evaluators are looking for candidates who have the power and ability to logically think their way through the problems. They do not want hotheaded managers jumping to erroneous conclusions and negatively affecting the company. Thus you need to underline your analytical ability and logical thinking to score high points in a GD. The evaluators ask themselves the following questions to determine whether you are logical thinker.

• Has the candidate understood the definition of the topic clearly?
• Does he know the boundaries of the subject?
• Can he substantiate his arguments with examples?

Knowledge: Recruiters and evaluators are looking for knowledgeable candidates not only in their own specialized field but one who is well read and in touch with current affairs as well. The topics in most GDs are based on current events being reported in the newspapers and magazines daily. If you are a poor reader then you might find that even simple issues just go over your head. So read up on the daily newspapers and magazines.
How To Score Higher In Your GD
1. Define Your Objectives: Before going to any Group Discussion get your objectives clear.
2. Speak: All of us, even the experienced speakers suffer from fear of public speaking. Most people find it difficult to enter a group discussion because of nervousness, inability to converse fluently in English or simply because it might be difficult to jump in a conversation when other people are not giving you a chance to speak. However in a GD-YOU HAVE TO SPEAK. If you keep silent you will not qualify the GD. If you are a shy person who is easily out-shouted then you will just have to learn to leave your shyness behind for half an hour. Most people complain that they don’t even get a chance to speak-but the truth is that the chances have to be made by you.
You can ensure you get a chance to speak by adopting the following methods:

• Opening the GD: This is a high risk, high return policy. The candidate who opens the GD has the advantage of getting the maximum time to speak. However he runs the risk of speaking before he has had time to gather his thoughts, thus leading the discussion in the wrong direction or appear illogical to the evaluators. Thus only open the discussion if you are confident of the reasoning of your argument. You can also open a GD without taking a conclusive stand. Just outline the major issues at hand and set the GD in the right direction.
• Entering the GD In the Middle: Most candidates have difficulty finding a point at which they can enter the GD. Since everyone is competing with each other it can be difficult to enter the GD in the middle of the discussion. Use the following strategies to jump into the discussion.

o Try to interject at a low point when the debate is not all that heated. However this would mean entering the initial stages of the discussion because the debate gets very loud at the end.
o Speak when a speaker finishes speaking. Do not interrupt another participant. Not only is it ill mannered, but there are fewer chances that the speaker will allow you to cut his speech short. Thus it is best to wait till he finishes his speech and then enter the GD.
o Enter the GD by agreeing: A pleasant way of entering the discussion is by agreeing or supporting the preceding speaker’s point. This way he is less likely to cut you midways. However you must have solid arguments for supporting his point.
o Enter by speaking loudly: A louder voice generally catches the attention of people. However this strategy can backfire as it can antagonize others in the group or compel them to speak louder than you. Thus adopt this measure only as a last resort.
3. Make a meaningful contribution: Often candidates make the mistake of assuming that talking more gets more points in a GD. However it is not quantity but quality, that is important . Your speech should be audible and your thoughts and arguments must make sense. How much time you speak for generally doesn’t matter. The following tips can help you make a valuable contribution:

• Take a paper and pen with you. In the first two minutes jot down as many ideas as you can.
• Don’t speak for the sake of speaking. Make a positive contribution every time you speak.
• Give a fresh direction to the group. When the group drifts away from the subject at hand then try to steer it back in the right direction. The evaluators award high scores to the candidate who attempts to do this.

4. Attempt to build a consensus: Real work situations require teamwork and potential employers are on the lookout for candidates who have the capability to build a consensus in a chaotic situation with diverse viewpoints. Thus in a GD:

• Try and resolve the arguments in a group.
• Try and summarize the discussion at the end. If the group did not reach a consensus, say that in your summary.
• Don’t agree with another participant only for the sake of building a consensus even if you differ from his opinion.

However the operative word here is ‘try.’ Evaluators know that candidates, with different views can rarely reach a consensual conclusion. But if they perceive you as trying to build the consensus then you will score additional points.
5. Be A Good Listener: In a Group Discussion, it is not only important to be a good speaker but also a good listener. Thus listen to other people’s points of view carefully. Then base your arguments in favour or against that point of view. Sometimes candidates are also expected to provide a summary of the discussion in a written format so that the evaluators can judge whether the candidate was listening to the other persons point of view or not.
6. Be assertive Not aggressive: An aggressive person tries to dominate a discussion by talking a lot and saying it loudly. He might get into arguments with other people in the group or antagonize the rest of the group. However an assertive person states his position confidently without shouting and does not antagonize others. In a GD be assertive and not aggressive.

References: Ace That Group Discussion
You can win by Shiv Khera