Preparation for Group Discussion: Persuasive Leadership

By Prof. ShrikantPrasoon

This book explains the reasons for conducting Group Discussion and how it discovers leadership and personality traits of a person. Through various chapters, it takes the reader straight into the what, how, why, do's & don'ts and body posture besides the knowledge of the topic given by the Group Testing officer required to succeed at the Group Discussion. Take hold of the following nuances:
1. Understanding the topic - When the topic is given, understand the topic carefully. If it is not clear initially or you have some doubt regarding the topic, ask immediately.
2. Knowledge about the topic - When you are talking on the topic, choose your points in a manner that they convey the depth of knowledge that you possess. Citing relevant examples will also help to a great extent. Superficial talk is a strict no-no.
3. Precise and sharp thoughts - As you are gathering thoughts, try to stick to precise and concise thoughts. In a Group Discussion, it is always quality over quantity. Let your views be relevant and to the point.
4. Communicating your views - To develop communication skills, you can choose a topic, stand before the mirror and start talking about it. As you are talking, anticipate few questions from an imaginary audience and try replying them. This will help you come across as a confident person during the GD.
5. Taking the initiative – If you can, try to initiate the Group Discussion. By taking the initiative, you will be giving a structure to the discussion and defining the manner in which the discussion will progress. This will exhibit your quality as a person who can facilitate actions by breaking the ice. Act wisely and get selected!

• Language: English
• Publisher: V&S Publishers
• Release date: Jan 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9789350578971

Book preview

SECTION 1

Mental Preparation - Knowing and Feeling

CHAPTER 1

Group Discussion and Introduction

Agroup discussion, popularly known as GD and will be frequently called GD here, is a new version of interview deliberately structured in a way so as to take away the monotony from the traditional interview. Although equal opportunity is given to each candidate, since they have to maintain decorum and stick to the given topic, all the latent abilities of any one candidate do not come to the fore. But it gives an opportunity to the selectors to select the best candidate from the lot available or participating.

A Group and a Topic for Discussion

As the term itself suggests, a GD is a discussion, but most students misconstrue it to be a debate. They consider it to be a wrestlingmatch and try to score points over other participants. Consequently, a GD turns into a ‘fish market’. What is actually expected in a GD is participation in a systematic way to express one’s views on a particular topic so that the thought, thinking process and inner possession of the candidates is judged.

The prospect of a GD tends to leave most students petrified. You can get rid of that feeling of fear by remembering that you have experienced group discussions right from your childhood. Remember those heated discussions you had across the dinner table with family members, friends and relatives? Consciously or unconsciously, they have helped you learn a thing or two about discussing in a group.

Your parents may have come across as the most heard and respected as they were much better informed than you. Besides, instead of forcing their point of view on you, they heard you out and presented their points in a logical and methodical manner because they had the strength of content and courage of conviction.

As a result, you would have often felt the desire to prove that you were right and they were wrong. A bundle of angst would build within you.

Discard that feeling now. Remember, a GD is a discussion – and not a debate – among the members of a group.

Discussion versus Debate

Human beings love debates because we like to win and see others lose. A debate is a perfect situation for expressing intense emotions. A GD, however, calls for a lot more maturity and logic.

The purpose of a GD, though conducted in a competitive mode, is not to establish one person as a winner and others as losers. Its purpose, as far as you are concerned, is to help you come across as a person with sound, logical reasoning and an ability to respect another’s viewpoint.

A critical difference between a GD and a debate is that, while a debate begins with two groups’ bids to outwit each other, a discussion is evolutionary; this essentially means participants have the opportunity to refine their views in the course of the discussion. Thus, every member needs to contribute substantially and add to the existing knowledge base instead of pulling each other down.

The difference, thus, lies not just in style, but also in the mindset that is required to tackle either challenge.

Preference to GD

Many companies and institutes are making group discussion their first criteria for screening candidates for face-to-face interviews. And there is reason too for giving such importance to group discussion. Firstly, group discussion is used for mass elimination! Secondly, group discussion selection criterias are based on actual company requirements.

Communication and group discussion skills are two relevant soft skills that are required in all those who want to show the world in general, and their family and society in particular, what they can perform and achieve.

Why should group discussion be the first criteria for selecting a consistent performer?

A prospective employee is required to communicate with different people like team members, managers and customers. So, interpersonal skills are very important for those who test for selection.

Many candidates complain that they raised important points but were not marked while another candidate almost repeated the same points and was selected. The reason behind that is the simple fact that they lag behind in communication skills. They have made painstaking preparations but have not developed the most important thing: an effective way of presenting the facts and ideas to attract the attention of the