Group Discussions
What are GDs?
Why a GD?
Who conducts it?
Why do students fail to perform well in a GD?
Process followed in a GD
How to perform GD?
Tips for GD
Time Management
Group Discussion: Definition
Symmetric
exchange of
Participants Aims to find
thoughts/ide
Reliable Assesses all are from out natural Screen-out or
as of the Leaderless Informal
testing candidates same leadership rejection
participating discussion discussion
device in one go educational level of the process!!
individuals on
standard candidates
a specific
topic
Purpose behind conducting GDs
Share ideas-solve problems-give comments
Filters candidates’ soft-skills
Assesses the following skill set of the candidates:
Communication Team building Problem solving Presence of
Leadership skills Managing skills Social skills
skills skills skills mind
Who conducts it?
Universiti
es
Top
rated B-
schools
MNC’s
Why students fail to perform well in a
GD?
Fear of speaking in public
Lack of knowledge on the topic
No proper command on language
Tips for outshining in a GD
Tips
Agree Disagree Rephrase
Time Management
Content Delivery Intervening
Eye contact
Time Management-Content Delivery
Each
10 15 person
people minutes 90
seconds
90
3 turns 30
seconds
minimum seconds
per
to speak per turn
speaker
Time Management- Eye Contact
• 30 seconds to speak
Speaker • 9 people(other than self)
• Roughly 3 seconds(max) per person
Listener • All the time with the speaker
Time Management- Intervening
When can a
Listener
intervene?
Speaker has
Speaker has
exceeded the
deviated from
time limit (30
the topic
seconds)
Use of Props (Pen and Paper)
Only if allowed!
Helpful to remember and
Initially, before the start for writing the
important points that strike your mind recall the points while
contributing
Uses
Uses
Giving the written points a
sequence/order Relieves stress
Writing the important points(both Handy while concluding the
negative and positive) contributed by
participants(including self) GD
13
Dos and Don’ts
14
Dos and Don’ts
Stick Refrain
to the from
Dos Don’ts
15
Carry a pleasant Smile
SMILE
NOT TOO MUCH
16
Style of dressing up
Don’t dress up for
the job you want, Neither dress like a Wear formal
rather wear wannabe clothes
something that will
land you in the job
17
Posture
Carry a confident and good
posture(Either erect or bit inclined
towards the speaker)
Avoid being a robot
This posture is a BIG NO!
Refrain from this posture as well
18
Posture
Don’t use
your hands
Don’t sit with
Don’t play for Don’t use
Don’t Don’t hand/fingers
with the scratching the backrest
fidget knuckle or feet
props your for- of the chair
crossed
head or
cheek/chin
19
Facial Expressions
Positive Look Frowning Look Cringing Look Judgmental Look Disapproving/
confused Look
20
Jewelry and Make-up
Avoid
Don’t wear Don’t wear
wearing
too much too much
clanking
jewelry make up
jewelry
Go for a Comb your
simple look nicely
21
Language
Avoid using Use small,
Don’t use
Speaker words from crisp and
Tharoori-an Don’t use
Use simple should be any precise
English. Yes! complex
English comprehensi language sentences(Y
It is usually a words
ble to all other than es.. Economy
bouncer
English of Words!!)
22
Language
Don’t use un-parliamentary language
Avoid using:
Slangs
Jargons
Impolite words
23
Speak
Don’t stay silent
Don’t speak too much Don’t speak continuously
Use appropriate gestures
24
Be an Active Listener
Be welcoming
Be attentive Understand the
perspective of
Be open minded others
25
Be an Active Listener
Don’t judge by the style of delivery
Don’t be rigid about other’s ideologies
Don’t be stubborn
Don’t be a Selective listener
26
Flow Diagram of a GD Process
All the participants
Concluder
Participants get take part and
concludes the
seated exchange their
discussion
views
Supervisor
Initiator starts the
announces the topic
discussion
for the discussion
Supervisor gives 1-2 Participants think(or
minutes to the write) the points and
candidates to think put them in the
on the topic order of relevance
27
Intricacies of a GD
Qualities
Initiator Concluder Judged in a Type of Topics
GD
28
Who Initiates a GD?
Only If you confident
about the topic
Never when you are
clueless/confused
29
Who concludes a
Group Discussion?
Supervisor can (DONOT
nominate INTIMIDATE
someone from ANYONE TO
the group CONCLUDE)
If none of these
Anybody can happens, then
volunteer the Initiator has
to
30
Qualities Judged in a GD
Communication Skills
Behavior
Open Mindedness
Listening Skills
Leadership Skills
Decision Making Capability
Analysis Skill
Subject Knowledge
Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
Attitude and Confidence
31
Types of GD Topics
•Factual Topics
Topic
•Controversial Topics
Based GDs
•Abstract Topics
Case
•Real-Life Situation Based Topics
Based GDs
32
Factual Topics
Allows the
Could be any candidate to
Usually are socio-
About practical current topic or a prove that he is
economic in Examples:
things topic unbounded aware of and
nature
by time sensitive to his
environment
•The Education
Policy of India
•Tourism in
India/Abroad
•State of the
aged in the
Nation
33
Controversial Topics
Argumentative in Nature
Are meant to generate
controversy
In GDs, such topics cause
flying temper and high noise
Maturity of a candidate is
checked
•Women make Better Managers
Examples: •Reservations should be Removed
•CAA-Justified or Not!
34
Abstract Topics
Check on Checks on
lateral and creative bent Examples:
critical thinking of mind
Life is a
Puzzle
As it
appears, as
it is!
Haste
makes
waste
Every cloud
has a silver
lining
35
Case Based Topics
We need more
money to fertilize
crops rather
than to increase
the band width
In such topics, Topics allows
Candidates are there are no the candidate Plans to attract
Simulates a real-
asked to resolve incorrect to think about Examples: foreign
life problem
the situation answers or the topic from investment
perfect solutions different angles
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