A number of people who can communicate their ideas clearly and discuss effectively with others in face to face communication become tongue-tied in a group communication. A Group Discussion will identify people who have such group communication skills and those who do not possess such group communication skills.
Group discussion has become an inevitable part of recruitment process. It measures certain attributes of candidates that are otherwise difficult to identify and time consuming to assess.
What is Group Discussion?
- It is essentially a verbal -oriented performance where participants have to talk their way out.
- It is a technique or a method used for screening candidates as well as testing their potential.
- It is used as a tool to assess candidates in a group at one glance in order to select the best in comparative perspective.
- It is also called leaderless discussion as it aims to find out the natural leadership level of candidates.
Importance of Group Discussion
- It helps to understand the subject from various angles and improves the ability o think critically
- It helps the group to reach a decision and solve the problem
- It improves listening skills and also gives a chance to listen other participants’ view points.
- It helps participants to gain confidence by expressing their opinions.
Types of Group discussions
Group discussions can be classified based on the following:
Nature of topic
- Topic Based
- Case studies
- Group Tasks
Method of conduct
- Structured Group Discussion
- Unstructured Group Discussion
- Role Play
- Group Discussion with a Nominated Leader
Types of GroupDiscussion based on Nature of topic
Topic Based
Topic based Group means a topic is given to the participants and allowed participants to express their views in a group.
Group discussions can be further categorised based on the nature of topic given to the participants for Group Discussion .
There are three kinds of topics provided to the participants for Group Discussion:
Factual Topics:
- These group discussions are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of.
- Typically these are socio-economic topics which may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time.
- It gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of his environment.
- Typically these are socio-economic topics which may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time.
- It gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of his environment.
- Examples: Global warming, Population explosion and development, The Education Policy of India, Tourism in India, LokPal Bill
Controversial Topics:
- These group discussions are argumentative in nature and are meant to generate controversy.
- Noise level is usually high, there may be flying into a temper.
- Objective is to see how much maturity the candidate displays by keeping his temper in check, by rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional.
- Examples: Reservations should be removed, Women make better managers
- These group discussions are about intangible things.
- Usually not given often for discussion, but their possibility cannot be ruled out.
- Objective is to test your lateral thinking and creativity.
- Examples: A is an alphabet, Does India need potato chips or computer chips? The status of women in India, Marginalisation of women at workplace
Types of Group discussion based on the Method of Conduct
Based on the method of conduct, group discussions can be further classified into the following:
1. Case Studies:
- Tries to simulate a real-life situation with an objective to get you to think about the situation from various angles.
- Information about the situation is given and participants are asked as a group to resolve the situation. There are no incorrect answers or perfect solutions.
- These types of GDs are normally used by management institutes.
2. Group Tasks:
- These are an extension of case studies where specific objectives are to be achieved as a group.
Process of Group Discussion
- 8-10 students are taken as a group, though in some cases up to 16 people may be included in a group. The GD lasts for 10-15 minutes.
- For a topic-based GD, 2-3 minutes of thinking time may be given, though the group is often told to start right away. For case studies, however, about 15 minutes is given.
- Evaluation is done by experts, usually professors from B-School, HR managers. These people are experts and observe all details, even if the GD is chaotic.
- Candidates may be seated in a circle or in a rectangular arrangement, with or without a table. Seating arrangements may be prefixed.
- Discussion may be stopped at the set time or even earlier. Conclusion or written or oral summary may be asked for at the end from each candidate.
Evaluation Criteria for Group Discussion
- Personality: It includes smartness, cheerfulness, enthusiasm, attitude and confidence.
- Communication Skills: It includes interpersonal skills, body language and assertive communication.
- Knowledge: It includes subject matter, relevance, and depth.
- Leadership: It includes giving direction to the group in terms of content.
- Analytical Skills: It includes thinking logically and rationally.
- Persuasion Skills: It includes ability to convince other participants without being aggressive.
- Creativity: It includes thinking out of the box.
Preparing for Group Discussion
Content
- Develop subject knowledge on current affairs, general awareness & business trends.
- Structure arguments [for & against] on selected topics, considering both sides to the argument.
- Plan for short and crisp points
- Leadership trait is displayed by showing direction to the group whenever group moves away from the topic, coordinate the effort of participants.
- Assertiveness is displayed when you put your point to group in a very positive confident manner.
- Listening skills can be displayed by striking a proper balance between expressing your ideas & suggestions.
- Creativity is reflected when you put across a new idea, such that it is discussed at length by the group.
- GD skills cannot be learnt from books. Get into practice groups.
- Get skilled people to observe and give feedback.
- Spend a lot of time analysing each GD performance. Plan specific improvements
Do’s & Don’ts of Group Discussion Do’s:
- Be prepared with some of the topics. Keep yourself updated on current affairs
- Listen to the given topic carefully. Structure your points on the sheet provided.
- Be assertive not dominating; try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussion and analysis.
- Summarise the discussion if the group has not reached a conclusion.
- Try to remember the names of the participants in the GD when you are targeting individuals address them with the names.
- Respect the contribution of other speakers.
- Speak pleasantly.
- Listen well to the ideas of other speakers, you will learn something.
- Learn to disagree politely.
- Respect that others have differing views.
- Think about your contribution before you speak.
- Try to stick to the discussion topic.
- Your body language should be ‘open’ and friendly.
- Agree & acknowledge anything interesting.
- Stay with the topic. If the discussion does waiver, bring it back on topic by saying “that's an interesting point, can we come back to that later?”
- Try to speak clearly. Don't whisper.
- Initiate GD only when you have understood the topic clearly & have some knowledge.
- Do not interrupt anyone while speaking even if you don’t agree with that individual. Wait for your chance.
- Use simple words while speaking. Don’t be too aggressive if you are disagreeing with someone.
- Be in formals. No fancy and funny dressing. You should be comfortable while speaking in group.
- Be confident. Do not try to dominate anyone. Keep positive body language. Show interest in discussion.
- Don't take offence if a person disagrees with you.
- Don't ridicule the contribution of others by using comments like “that's stupid”, “that's ridiculous”, or “you're wrong”
- Don't try to intimidate another speaker.
- Don't use a loud or angry tone. Others will not want to listen to you if you are being aggressive.
- Don't use aggressive gestures like finger-pointing and table- thumping.
- Try not to dominate the discussion. Confident speakers should allow others a chance to speak.
- Avoid drawing too much on personal experience.
- Don't interrupt or talk over another speaker. Listening to others earns you the right to be heard.
- You should speak more (No!)
- You should dominate the discussion (No!)
- You should project yourself in style (No!)
- You should speak in favour of topic (No!)
- You should make others agree to your point (No!)
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