Communication Skills- Group Discussion

Group Discussions are key to a productive influx of new ideas and enhancement of mutual cooperation to bring up a more holistic output relevant to the context, stimulating thinking skills of all those part of the group, and thus blending the final innovation into a worthy project juxtaposed with credibility.
 

A group discussion consists of :

- Communication Skills
- Knowledge and ideas regarding a given subject
- Capability to co-ordinate and lead
- Exchange of thoughts
- Addressing the group as a whole
- Thorough preparations

The Group Discussion is essentially used as pointer to assess a student in the following areas:
- Communication skills
- Clarity of thought
- Inter-personal behavior
- Ability to work in a team
- Reasoning ability
- Leadership skills
- Initiative
- Assertiveness
- Flexibility
- Creativity
- Ability to think on ones feet

Reasons for having GD

- It helps you to understand a subject more deeply.
- It improves your ability to think critically.
- It helps in solving a particular problem.
- It helps the group to make a particular decision.
- It gives you the chance to hear other students’ ideas.
- It improves your listening skills.
- It increases your confidence in speaking.
- It can change your attitudes.

Remember the DOs & DONT’s before attending any GD. They can really save you at times!!

Be as natural as possible. Do not try and be someone you are not. Be yourself.
A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal. The evaluator wants to hear you speak. Take time to organize your thoughts. Think of what you are going to say. Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject. Don’t start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject.

Work out various strategies to help you make an entry: initiate the discussion or agree with someone else’s point and then move onto express your views. Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition. If you do not give valuable insights during the discussion, all your efforts of initiating the discussion will be in vain.

Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say.

Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your points across clearly and fluently.

Be assertive not dominating; try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussion and analysis. Don’t lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to. The key is to stay objective: Don’t take the discussion personally. Always be polite: Try to avoid using extreme phrases like: `I strongly object’ or `I disagree’. Instead try phrases like: `I would like to share my views on…’ or `One difference between your point and mine…’ or “I beg to differ with you” Brush up on your leadership skills; motivate the other members of the team to speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to say “let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say,” or “Raman, let us hear your views” - Essentially be subtle), and listen to their views. Be receptive to others’ opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive. If you have a group of like-minded friends, you can have a mock group discussion where you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback.

Apart from the above points, the panel will also judge team members for their alertness and presence of mind, problem-solving abilities, ability to work as a team without alienating certain members, and creativity. Some other Dos are:

• Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success. In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is helpful.

• Power to convince effectively is another quality that makes you stand out among others.

• Clarity in speech and expression is yet another essential quality.

• If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later.

• A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.

• A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In the second part of the discussion candidates can exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral.

• Language use should be simple, direct and straight forward.

• Don’t interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short.

• Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone’s viewpoint speak of you positively.

• Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don’t keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.

There has been enough material on the subject - ‘What to do in a GD?’ Its now time for a few don’ts. And as a matter of fact, it’s more important to remember don’ts rather than do’s.

- Do not get into arguments with people, remember you are there to make effective points, do not waste time on futile arguments that do not contribute to the topic under discussion.

- Making yourself heard is important but do not try to hog the lime-light all the time, evaluate the worth of what you are saying, or you may simply make points that are irrelevant or were better left unsaid.

- Do not act patronizing with your fellow group members, it could backfire.

- Do not make use of gestures excessively as you may come across as aggressive, learn to toe the line between assertive and aggressive.

- Do not slouch but seat yourself comfortably, awkward posture could indicate nervousness or discomfort with your position in the group.

- Most of all, belief in your own ability to remain poised in any situation will allow you to sail through.

- 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.

- Try not to look at the Panel members during the discussion.

 However, in order to cater to the needs of a particular group, it is highly imperative that the designs and patterns of groups be in coherence with the typical composition of the group thus, catalyzing the overall progress. Too complicated to understand? In simple words: Groups need to be arranged such that the members of that particular group well adapt to its structure and acquire an encouraging environment to think, communicate, share, learn, participate &  interact with others- all of which are essential components of any sort of education or critical analysis.

Good Luck!!!