Group DISCUSSION

Definition Group Discussion is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has certain personality traits or skills that it desires in its members.

Traits the GD is trying to gauge Ability to work in team Communication Skills Reasoning Skills Leadership Skills Initiative Assertiveness Flexibility Creativity Ability to think ones feet

Why group discussion? To get to know you as a person and gauge how well you fit in their organization. To test how you function as a part of a team

From company’s perspective To check your interactive skills Your behavior and contribution in the group How much importance you give to the group as well as your own How well you listen to the viewpoint of others How open minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own.

Group Discussion The term suggests a discussion among a group of persons. The group will have 8 & 12 members who will express their views freely, frankly in a friendly manner, on a topic of current issue. Within a time limit of 20 to 30 minutes,the abilities of the members of the group is measured.

Important personality traits that candidate should possess 1.Team player- aspirants who lack team skills cannot be good manager 2.Reasoning Ability- an opinion can be better stated by demonstrating your reasoning ability 3.Leadership- contribute to the GD with your ideas and opinions, but also try and steer the conversation towards the goal

4.Flexibility- if you change your stand, you are seen as fickle minded. If you do not change the stand you are seen as an inflexible, stubborn and obstinate person.

5.Assertiveness- do not confuse assertiveness with aggressiveness

MOTTOS AND BELIEFS Every one should be like me. I am never wrong. I got rights. But you don’t. Won’t express feelings. Won’t disagree. Others have more rights than I do. Believes in self and others. I have rights as others have. Always we only do not win. But mainly win-win. Communication Skills. Closed mind. Poor listener Will not accept other’s views. Interrupts and Monopolizing Indirect expressions Always agrees Hesitant. Effective; Active listener. Sets limits for expectations. Expresses self honestly and as quickly as possible. Aggressive Passive Assertive

Characteristics. Achieves goal but at the cost of others. Dominating and bullying Patronizing condemning and sarcastic. Apologetic, Self- conscious Trusts others, but not self. Allows others take decisions for self. Doesn't get what he wants. Loses for others. Non-judgmental. Confident. Open and flexible. Playful and sense of humor. Decisive and proactive. Behavior. Puts others down Never thinks they would be right. Bossy. Know – it – all type..Sighs a lot. Tries to sit on both sides of the fence. Asks permission unnecessarily. Lets others make choices, even for him. Difficulty in implementing plans. Action with plans. Actions have objectives. Realistic and fair. Consistent. Takes appropriate action without denying others. STYLES OF COMMUNICATION.

Aggressive PassiveAssertive Non-verbal Cues. Points fingers. Shakes fingers. Frowns – glares –stares. Rigid posture. Critical and loud. Nods head often. Down cast eyes. Low volume Meek. Fast when anxious and slow when in doubt. Open and natural gestures. Attentive and interested facial expressions. Direct eye-contact. Confident and relaxed posture. Vocal volume appropriate. Verbal Cues. Your must ( should or ought) Don’t why. Just do it. Verbal abuse.. you should do it. You have more experience than I do. Monotone, low. I choose to.. Want more options. Is there any other way? STYLES OF COMMUNICATION.

Aggressive PassiveAssertive Feelings. Anger Hostility Powerlessness Wonders why good work is not always rewarded..Enthusiasm; Even tempered. Balanced mind. Effects. Provokes counter aggression. Ill health. Wastes time and energy on supervising others. Builds up dependency relations. Promotes other’s causes. Increased self confidence. Motivated. STYLES OF COMMUNICATION.

6.Initiative- You never get second chance to create first impression 7.Creativity- out of box thinking 8.Inspiring ability- a good GD should incorporate views of all the team members

9.Listening- try and create proper balance between expressing your ideas and imbibing ideas 10.Awareness- The content or awareness generally constitutes 40-50% marks of your GD

How to prepare-Content Develop subject knowledge on current affairs, general awareness and business trends Structure arguments on selected topics, consider both sides of the arguments Plan for short and lucid points

How to prepare-Practice GD Skills cannot be learned from books. Get into practice group Get skilled people to observe and give feed back Spend a lot of time analyzing GD performance Plan specific improvements

EVALUATION FOR GROUP DISCUSSIONS. HOW ARE YOU EVALUATED IN YOUR GROUP DISCUSSIONS? Personality Communication Skills Knowledge Leadership and teamwork.

EVALUATION FOR GROUP DISCUSSIONS. HOW ARE YOU EVALUATED IN YOUR GROUP DISCUSSIONS? Personality Smartness – dress – smile on the face Cheerfulness – free from tensions and nervousness. Enthusiasm – attitude of taking that one step extra.

EVALUATION FOR GROUP DISCUSSIONS. HOW ARE YOU EVALUATED IN YOUR GROUP DISCUSSIONS? Communication Skills Fluency – not speed. But poise and right word in the right place. Clarity – Effectiveness of the message. Logic – the presentation skill.

EVALUATION FOR GROUP DISCUSSIONS. HOW ARE YOU EVALUATED IN YOUR GROUP DISCUSSIONS? Knowledge Relevance. – Topic related. Depth – in and out of the subject. Factual info and data.

EVALUATION FOR GROUP DISCUSSIONS. HOW ARE YOU EVALUATED IN YOUR GROUP DISCUSSIONS? Leadership Initiative – taking the lead. Breaking the ice. Being in the forefront. Team Spirit. – ability to work with people. Cooperation and consolidation.

Your Innate Skills. 1.Interpersonal Skills - Ability to interact with others. - Emotional balance. - More people centric, that self-centered. 2. Persuasive Skills - Ability to analyze and persuade others to see the problem from a different perspective.

Your Innate Skills. 3.Pressure. Too short a time like 20 minutes, and about 10 – 15 group of people each trying to ascertain themselves. So naturally there will be pressure on you. You may scream shout, annoy or agitate. But to remain calm and balanced is your ability to withstand pressure. 4.Generate Idea. - Don’t remain to be a copy cat. Think differently and Search for new ideas. This shows your creative ability.

Your Innate Skills. 5.Conceptualizing Skills. Your ability to grasp the situation and look it to a macro level. This is an overall perspective. 6.In depth knowledge. An overall picture as related to other issues in that environment. Examining the issue from different disciplinary perspective. Read books/magazines/News- papers/ watch TVs. Talk to educated elite and discuss problems.

Behavioral Traits. 1. DO NOT SHOUT. It will take you no where. As already chaos exists, it is you that has to bring order in the house. Direct the house with some new thinking. Then the whole group jumps on it and sanity is restored. 2. DISPLAY AN OPEN MIND. GD is not fighting for your stand. A word of appreciation any good idea would be ideal. Assertiveness to your stand. If there is disagreement, say it politely, but appreciate the idea. “ I do appreciate your idea, but I am convinced about mine.”

Behavioural Traits. 3.BE AWARE OF YOUR POSTURE AND BODY MOVEMENT Your body posture speaks a lot about your attitude. a) Too much laid back with all your weight, tells that you are totally relaxed and not participative. b) Too much of forward bend make you a shaky person. c) Try to look at a person who is speaking/listening, and then pass on your looks to the whole crowd. d) Don’t show finger and shake. Instead, move your hands approbatory. Occasionally, nod your head indicating that you are listening carefully.

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