UNIT II: EXCELLING IN

GROUP DISCUSSIONS
Group Discussion

 Group discussion is a group interactive selection process,

which the employers use to gauge certain personality
traits of prospective candidates.

 Usually, the candidates will be asked to respond to the

topic within 10 to 15 minutes.

 Given infinite time, everybody can speak on any topic.

But when time is limited, it calls for one’s presence of
mind, mental alertness, ability to apply knowledge within
the stipulated time.
 Group discussion elicits the views of all participants and
evolves a consensus through active and intense
interaction.

 Consensus is the collective agreement on an issue after

successive stages of conflict, agreement, disagreement,
negotiation, and reconciliation. This is done through a
very intense and interactive process.

 Understand that it is group discussion—NOT public

speaking or debate or interview.
 How do we differentiate discussion from public
speaking?
 Group discussion involves so many people interacting
with each other. In public speaking, the audience judges
a speaker without competing with him.
 In group discussion, there are judges who assess the
participants with whom the other persons are competing
with equal interest.
 In public speaking, the speaker has already been
conferred leadership by the audience. In group
discussion, leaders are what the audience (or the
judges) are looking for.
What Qualities are assessed during Group Discussion?
 leadership skills
 team working skills
 communication skills
 reasoning ability
 analytical ability
 logical and coherent thinking
 adaptability and flexibility
 positive mental outlook
 decent and professional dressing/grooming sense
 assertive body language
 projection of a distinctively likeable personality.
Phases in a GD
 Initiation/introduction
 The central group discussion
 Summarization/conclusion
Roles in a Structured GD
 Initiator
 Information seeker and giver
 Opinion seeker/giver
 Clarifier
 Summarizer
 Social supporter
 Harmonizer or Tension reliever
 Energizer
 Attacker
 Dominator
What to do in a GD?
 Speaking is important; do not sit silently.
 Speak freely.
 Do not monopolize the conversation or talk too
much.
 Give everyone a chance to speak.
 Maintain eye contact with everyone in the group.
 Show active listening skills.
What to do in a GD?
 Do not interrupt anyone while they are speaking.
 Keep the topic on track and don’t be irrelevant.
 Encourage someone who is silent to talk.
 Do not argue with anyone.
 Do not debate with anyone, while the group looks on.
 Do not repeat what has been said; be attentive; try to
develop on ideas expressed or give out new ideas.
 Clarify your doubts and then proceed.
 Be brief.
 Do not commit grammatical errors while talking.
 Go Round The Circle
Each student is asked to respond to the same topic
and when all the students have contributed the topic
is closed.
Terrorism in India
Methods used for idea generation
 The three methods / approaches are
 Key Word Approach (KWA)
 Viewpoint of Affected Parties (VAP)

 Socio-cultural, Political, Economic, Legal and

Technological (SPELT) angles to the given topic.
What is KWA?

 In this approach, one should look at the topic word

by word.
 Take each key word or phrase of the topic and see
what it means.
 It has to be clarified as to what “frame of
reference” you are using.
Topic: Excessive exposure of female anatomy in
advertising should be banned.
 Excessive Exposure: What is exposure? How can
excessive / adequate be defined? How does it affect
the viewers? What will be the impact on various
categories of viewers, say children?
 Advertising: Types of advertisements? What is the
Purpose of advertising? What is effective advertising?
When are females effective in advertisement?
 Ban: Is it possible to ban and implement the ban? Will
the ban be effective? What was the impact of other
things that were banned? Is it correct for a democratic
society to ban all? Share things that some of its
members dislike?
What is VAP?
 Viewpoint of Affected Parties
 Consider all the people or parties who are likely to
be affected by the topic viewers / readers, parents,
children; the companies whose products are being
advertised; advertising agencies / media TV,
newspapers, magazine) who are the people
involved in “exposing”.
What is SPELT?
 Socio-cultural: Our culture and traditions; family set-
up values and related issues.
 Political: The political will to implement an action of
this nature.
 Economic: The adverse effect on the performance of
advertising companies, advertising agencies.
 Legal: Is such a ban legally tenable? The affected
parties are likely to take recourse to legal help.
 Technological: How can such a ban be implemented
on media like satellite TV?
Handling Abstract Topics
 The techniques that you can adopt to manage
abstract topics are:
 Creativity and Lateral Thinking
 Linking to factual issues
 Ability to understand and develop: Paying close
attention to other people’s points so that they can be
developed further
 Linking abstract concepts: Connecting two concepts to
form a third one and creating a new area of thought is
an impressive way to take forward the discussion
 Funnel Approach
Techniques to be used for idea generation for
abstract topics: POP-BEANS
BLACK
 People- corrupt/ dishonest people
 Objects- Black hole, manipulated balance sheet (commerce
point)
 Place- Historical monuments, graveyard, South or North pole
 Behaviour- rude and aggressive behaviour
 Event- Pulawama Attack, 26/11, other tragic events
 Actions- Honour killing, female foeticide , Negligent
behaviour
 Nature – environmental degradation, catastrophic events,
 Society- Decline in values, morals