The Group Discussion or GD has become an inalienable part of the selection processes in most of the companies and institutions. The one such example is SSB – Service Selection Board Interviews conducted for CDS Exam – Combined Defense Services. Apart from this one particular exam, we may find the recruitment boards such as SSC – Staff Selection Commission and the top notch premier management Institutions like IIMs (Indian Institute of Management) conduct Group Discussion rounds to select the candidates.

What Does It Mean By GD And Why It Is Needed?

We all know and have come across the interactive sessions or lectures in school and college. Sometimes our teachers would make the students talk on diverse subjects and try to enlarge the scope of the students’ thinking power. We then at such interactive sessions would have some words or two and we sometimes ended up putting our own opinion in front of all. We can even remember, in our friend circle we have discussed on a particular issue where everyone was arguing and tried to convince others about how feasible his/her suggestion was. These all the above mentioned moments are nothing but a form of group discussion though the informal one.

These days academic institutions and the private companies or even the governments conduct group discussion to select candidates. Through group discussion, we easily come to know about the interpersonal and communication skills of the person. Group discussion evaluates the candidates for various skills and it basically judges how the participants orally express their opinion and react to others in a team setting. With the help of group discussion, institutions and companies find it easy to select deserving candidates.

Tips For The Effect Group Discussion

• Appearance makes the first impression: Being on time with dressing up professionally would make the concerned company/institution and the panel of evaluators feel good about you. Always maintain an upright posture while in the discussion and carry a notepad to note down the important points so as to support/put your opinions confidently.
• Understand the topic and make a brief brainstorming: Knowing the topics beforehand and having a short brainstorming would ease the further discussion as you will be having a clear cut idea about what to speak and what not. If you understand the topic very well you can initiate and put your opinions so easily and confidently.
• Be the initiator: You will definitely have an edge over others if you are the first one who is gonna get off the block. Be in the lead role and reap the benefits. If you don’t get a chance then still be not worried about and put your opinion confidently after getting a chance. Be natural in your opinions and stands. Totally opposing or supporting the topic is not desired, you should have some positive counter opinions that too by taking a natural stand.

• Listen to others and be clear in your points: Listen to others carefully! Being a good listener is beneficial and it helps grow your knowledge about the topic. Listening to others helps to form your own points and opinions which will have an edge over others and would seem meaningful.
• Never ever make arguments: Group discussion is all about testing the participants for the desired skills and values so never be in disadvantage being aggressive. The arguments signals rudeness so always make healthy discussion. Whenever you need to raise an objection, you do so after the member finishes the ongoing talks. Be patient and act as a team.
• Make fair conclusion: Do not stretch the discussion for long and conclude it in time. Reach the common point which will be acceptable to all including all the fair opinions by other members so that panel of evaluators would be impressed.

The Way Ahead: Prepare, Participate, Perform and Practice

Preparing well in advance is necessary. Try to be confident and assertive but not aggressive. If you ever get a chance to participate in formal or informal talks then never miss it. Participating voluntarily would help you improve your skills and add to them some extra. Always pay attention toward how you talk and react. Such practice helps a lot. Even you can arrange some mock discussions and perform there as if it has been conducted officially.

For further queries and related information, you can approach the Professional Experts at CareerGuide. Hope this will help you!

Hello Roydilson,

The most important quality needed to clear GD is KNOWLEDGE.

Knowledge on all sorts of topic right from politics to history to geography to travel to cuisines to meditation to sports to any topic you could think of on earth. 

This is possible on through Reading. So Read anything and everything you can lay your hands on. It can be encyclopedia or magazines or a google search etc.

But just reading and storing knowledge is not important. Being able to Communicate it is also very very important. Without being argumentative, supporting your ideas with facts and logic and trying not to be very convincing but being confident of your knowledge in itself will convince others is the main crux of communication.

Stick to one point only. Listening to others and changing your views would have a negative impact on others. Sometimes, others may have a valid reason, but you must be polite and be bale to defend your point.

Being a leader but not bossy is another trait on winning a group discussion. If you are confident, you can start the discussion, how you pitch in the middle of someone else talk is also important and most important is helping others in the group, the quiet ones to speak is an art.

Maintaining a calm, confident and an approachable demur is important. Maintaining eye contact is also essential. Thus wearing something you are comfortable is a must. Just to get accustomed to the environment,  see is you could be friendly with the others who are in the campus, few of them would be in your team. At the sametime, greet everyone you meet helps you relax and study people.

Hope this helps.

Wish you good luck...