Group Discussion - Tips & Strategies

While you are getting ready for your GD round, be enriched with the top basic tips and be well versed with the best strategies to ace the assessment. Here is a small tutorial on the tips and strategies to crack your GD round.

The MBA selection board’s motive is to assess the participants’ constructive and argumentative skills when they conduct the Group Discussion. They also test their social fit factor, confidence, communication skills and precision of thought process, etc. Based on this, here are 5 fundamental strategies to recognize that get you to the top of a GD.

1. Prepare

   Candidates need to prepare and read thoroughly to remain updated on the trending GD topics, current affairs, latest trends, and information spanning your world. Reading a lot, following the stories of high achievers and the trending reads gives you the stimulus to quote these shining examples as references and present your viewpoints congruously. If during the GD, the selectors get to learn some facts from you, it sits well with them in their minds about you. Make sure that the facts are in conformity with the topic.

2. Sentence Construction

   GD requires a lot of spontaneity while speaking during the assessment. The thoughts need to be devised nicely into a strong statement, to draw the attention of the group towards you. If you stammer or make pauses, you will be interrupted by others on an immediate basis. This requires long practice to ace it. Take the help of a mirror to practice and speak on the topics. Make note of tongue slippages and other falter and try to improve on them. Work on translating complex ideas into statements. Record your own videos every day to improve each day and you will be astonished to see the improvements you make in a few days. Revisit your earlier videos to review the improvements. Learn how to speak crisp, confidently, and unhindered. You will certainly walk with confidence when entering your GD room.

3. Prime Mover Benefit

   Initiating the discussion is beneficial, as the selectors can recall the candidates who started the GD. But, remember to take the lead only when you understand the topic thoroughly. Organize your contemplations and formulate the statements as you would present them. Write down these statements before the GD starts. Be confident and precise. This being the first move, if you have spoken well, it will set a positive note for you in the evaluation and will help you sustain the GD

4. Mediator

   When the discussion is deviating from the aim and topic, enter the discussion and point out the digression. Make a valid point, if you think so, and open the viewpoints for further discussion. This will set a good example for the demonstration of your professional temperament and maturity.

5. Discussion Etiquettes

   Present positive body language and hand gestures. Stay sensitive and listen to what others have to say. Speak always in continuation to the earlier point. If you have a new perspective, say, “I would like to raise a point”. If you actually listen to someone and support or contradict and make some contribution, it scores you big. If you have an opposing opinion, oppose it but, do it positively and constructively with respect to the audience.

   Quality is always crucial, so speak relevant points with confidence, without interrupting anyone. Instead of trying to grab a chance to speak time and again, add value to what you speak.

Here are a few tips to tackle situations, when in a GD

• Be yourself and be natural, this will make your responses spontaneous.
• To speak, is the minimal requirement of a GD. Write notes, list down the points to speak, create an outline and note multiple facets of the topic. When you let others speak, they will let you speak, and the GD will flow naturally.
• If you decide to take the lead and initiate the discussion, be sure that that you deliver quality content and that you lead the discussion towards the right direction.
• Observe the patterns in a GD. There are highs and lows during the discussion. Wait for the vociferous moments to low down and then take the entry into the conversation. But when there are no low moments take a step ahead and get inside the conversation tactfully.
• When you want to enter the discussion, there is no way better than asking a question. It attracts the attention of the group towards what you have to say.
• When you need to interject someone, do not cut them short, allow them to speak their point, and then enter the discussion.
• When you want to interject the other person with your viewpoint, do it using supporting phrases like, “I agree with what you say, my friend…..”
• Use facts and illustrations to put forth your thought process.
• Listen to others actively, it will help you understand the topic better, and take on from where the other participant left.
• Be assertive but not aggressive. Put your points across rationally and strongly but do not raise the voice or dominate others.
• Making friends and allies is an important part of being heard and getting positive responses. You build allies when you give them their chance to speak, add value to their points. Smile and appear friendly, and they will not interject you and will also support your arguments.
• It is the quality of content that you speak that matters more than the duration for which you speak.
• Avoid, aggression, negativity, unfocussed behaviour, wrong facts, and being highly individualistic.

Having covered all the strategies and the tips for your GD assessment here is hoping that this brief tutorial will help you crack your GD interviews substantially.