Ways to Prepare for Group Discussion

Every student aspires to get into the best institutes in order to be able to hold a degree which is recognized and valued. Anyhow before entering into any eminent institute of repute, one needs to stand up to some criteria and expectation of the concerned institute, only then a student's become eligible to study their course from that institute. Compared to early days when only a good grade could enable the student to choose their preferred study destination, modern-day institutions ask the prospective students' to qualify the entrance examination followed by group discussion and personal interview.

Where in the entrance exam and personal interview, the students are left alone to perform according to their convenience, the group discussions (GD) required the students to sit with a group of other students and faculty members to prove their point, making them conscious and nervous. It is often found that the students fail to crack the criteria of their dream college mostly because of their failure in the GD round. Taking this into consideration, we have bought some of the ways which will help the students to go through the GD round smoothly.

What is a GD?

Group discussion is a process where a topic is presented by the host and every participant is asked to share his/her opinions and ideas, and the one who comes up with the most reasonable answer wins it big time. Specifically, Group Discussion is the part of the selection process in MBA institutes and other colleges providing professional courses.  In a GD, generally a topic is given and around 3-5 minutes of time is given to prepare. The duration of the discussion depends on the group, topic, college to college and organization to organization. For considering the assessment parameters such as content, supporting others point, giving relevant examples, latest updates or news, eye-contact, conclusion, and behavioral traits are followed.

The Reasons for Failing

a) Due to the fear of speaking in public.

b) Lack of knowledge on the topic.

c) No proper command on language.

Tips for Excelling

1. Develop the patience to listen attentively –from understanding the discussion topic to listening to your fellow participants. If it is not clear initially or you have some doubt regarding the topic, ask immediately. Clarity of the topic is of utmost importance to ensure that you perform well in the GD. Make sure that you comprehended what they discuss, as only then you will be able to reply them back in an effective manner.

2. It is of paramount importance to prepare yourself well; before you attempt any GD. Various topics in areas like current affairs, history, sports, arts, and literature should be vividly read upon by the students. Practicing yourself will greatly help in gaining the confidence that you will need during the GD session.

3. Ensure proper body language and maintain relaxed eye contact. Make sure when you are listening to others you are attentive and demonstrate this through nods and gestures of agreement. If you feel uncomfortable in terms of how you are sitting, simply ‘mirroring' other people will help. Smiling always helps too.

4. One of the key objectives for conducting a GD is checking up on the team spirit of the students. Hence, in this situation, avoid confrontation and ensure you allow everyone a chance to speak. If someone is consistently rude and aggressive, do not resort to this behavior yourself. Assessors will pick this up. Avoid being forceful or speaking over anybody. Exhibit the team player, hidden in you.

5. Learn to be open-minded and recognize the fact that people think differently about issues. When speaking in a GD, your job is to articulate your point of view in a way that is easy for others to comprehend. Acknowledge that everyone has something valuable to say. Only because you are against that particular topic, that doesn't mean the other participants will think the same. Respect their views as well and speak on your behalf. Never forget, respecting is a reciprocating thing.

6. When you speak you should speak to the point without any ambiguity of thought. Express your ideas at length. If you simply follow the other speaker or his ideas, remember your elimination is imminent. Wherever possible, emphasize your point with facts and figures.