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Group Discussion

The document provides information about group discussions (GDs), including how they are used by organizations to assess candidates, typical discussion techniques, and tips for participating effectively. GDs involve giving a group of candidates a topic to discuss for 15-20 minutes in order to evaluate traits such as critical thinking skills, ability to work in a team, and leadership. Proper body language, actively listening to others, and avoiding domination of the conversation are important. The goal is not to reach a conclusion, but rather to understand issues from multiple perspectives and practice communication skills.

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Pardha Saradhi
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52 views

Group Discussion

The document provides information about group discussions (GDs), including how they are used by organizations to assess candidates, typical discussion techniques, and tips for participating effectively. GDs involve giving a group of candidates a topic to discuss for 15-20 minutes in order to evaluate traits such as critical thinking skills, ability to work in a team, and leadership. Proper body language, actively listening to others, and avoiding domination of the conversation are important. The goal is not to reach a conclusion, but rather to understand issues from multiple perspectives and practice communication skills.

Uploaded by

Pardha Saradhi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GROUP DISCUSSION

DEFINATION
 A GD is a methodology used by an
organization to gauge whether the candidate
has certain personality traits or skills that it
desires in its members. In this methodology,
the group of candidates is given a topic or a
situation, given a few minutes to think about
the same, and then asked to discuss it among
themselves for 15-20 minutes.
Why do we have a GD? 
 Understand a subject more deeply.
 Ability to think critically.
 Solving a particular problem.
 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.
 It can change your attitudes. 
BODY SPORT OF GDs
POSITION SIGNIFICANCE

 Push your body to the  Keeps you alert.


back of the chair.
 Keep your hand on your  Indicates that you are
lap right logical person.
 Hand movements should  Indicates you that you
be restricted. don’t need hands as
props when speaking.
 Keep your legs stationed  Keeps you firmly
firmly on the ground. positioned.
DISCUSSION TECHNIQUES

 How to join the discussion.


 To support what some other participant has
said.
 To support disagreement.
 To make a point very strongly.
 To bring a discussion back to the point.
PERSONALITY TRAITS
FOR GD
 Ability to work in a team  
 Communication skills
 Reasoning ability
 Leadership skills
 Initiative
 Assertiveness
 Flexibility
 Creativity
 
TYPES OF GROUP DISCUSSION

ABSTRACT TOPICS FACTUAL TOPICS

CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS
Factual Topics

Factual topics are about practical things, which an ordinary


person is aware of in his day-to-day life. Typically these are
about socio-economic topics. These can be current, i.e. they
may have been in the news lately, or could be unbound by
time. A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance
to prove that he is aware of and sensitive to his environment.

E.g. - The education policy of India, Tourism in India.


Controversial Topics
 
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in
nature. They are meant to generate controversy. In GDs where
these topics are given for discussion, the noise level is usually
high, there may be tempers flying. The idea behind giving a
topic like this is to see how much maturity the candidate is
displaying by keeping his temper in check, by rationally and
logically arguing his point of view without getting personal
and emotional.

E.g. - Reservations should be removed, Women make better


managers.
Abstract Topics

Abstract topics are about intangible things.


These topics are not given often for discussion,
but their possibility cannot be ruled out. These
topics test your lateral thinking and creativity.

E.g. -A is an alphabet, Twinkle twinkle little


star, The number 10.
HOW TO FACE GD?
 Communication skills.
 Knowledge & ideas regarding a given subject.
 Capability to co-ordinate & lead.
 Exchange of thoughts.
 Addressing the group as the whole.
 Through preparations.
Tips for summarizing a Discussion
 Avoid raising new points.
 Avoid stating only your viewpoints.
 Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.
 Keep it brief & concise.
 It must incorporate all the important points that came
out during the GD.
 If the examiner ask you to summarize a GD, it means
the GD has come to an end.
 Do not add anything once the GD has been
summarized.
DO’S IN GD
 Listen to the subject carefully
 Put down your thoughts on a paper
 Initiate the discussion if you know the subject well
 Listen to others if you don’t know the subject
 Support points with some facts and figures
 Make short contribution of 25-30 seconds 3-4 times
 Give others a chance to speak
 Speak politely and pleasantly. Respect contribution from other
members. 
 Disagree politely and agree with what is right. 
 Summarize the discussion if the group has not reached a
conclusion. 
DON’TS IN GD
 Initiate the discussion if you do not have sufficient
knowledge about the given topic.
 Over speak, intervene and snatch other’s chance to speak.
 Argue and shout during the GD
 Look at the evaluators or a particular group member
 Talk irrelevant things and distract the discussion
 Pose negative body gestures like touching the nose, leaning
back on the chair, knocking the table with a pen etc.
 Mention erratic statistics.
 Display low self confidence with shaky voice and trembling
hands.
 Try to dominate the discussion
 Put others in an embarrassing situation by asking them to
speak if they don’t want.
SUMMARY
 It’s a personality test.
 It consists usually in 8-10 candidates in
a group.
 It held with a particular purpose in
mind.
 We look for certain quality in a GD.
 There are certain techniques which is
followed.
 Listening attentively & with patience.
THANK YOU

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