The following article is submitted by subhashis . You can publish similar articles here
Successful GD mantra is “Read, Read and Read”
If you can do that you increase your knowledge field making you both confident and ready to take on anything. Best place to do this is newspaper and wikipaedia. I understand we don’t have time to read the full paper – at least glance through the headlines – “don’t mug”. Know what going on around- that’s the key.
Next comes your conversation skills. Improve on them, speak in English in front of mirror for any topic on which you can speak for 2 mins; judge your voice quality and conversations skills. Watch English news – Headlines Today/Times Now/NDTV Profit (for Business Bug), observe how newsreader go about it. One thing I can assure you if your voice quality is good, people will listen to you. Few Don’ts here – Don’t try to mimic British or American accent. Try to speak with no accents. Don’t use jargons – keep your language lucid for the people to understand. Your voice should be clear and loud enough for everybody in the room to hear. Don’t shout.
For GD,
1. Usually you will get some time to get your thoughts and jot down a few points on the topic. Jot down few points on which you can at least speak 2-3 mins. Organise your thoughts start with most important ones discuss the minor issues at a later part.
2. It’s always better to start first, not only it shows your leadership qualities but in my experience the first speaker always gets the maximum uncontested, unhindered time to share his/her views. Also no one will find them repetitive. While speaking look into the eyes(don’t glare) of each and everybody (excluding the examiner, behave as if he doesn’t exist).
3. It’s not important that how much time you spoke, what is more important is what is your contribution to the group, in terms of content. Quality of content is also important.
4. Once you have shared your view, hear other person’s view too - from their point of thinking, it’s also equally important to be good listener. Maintain eye contact with the speaker (don’t maintain eye contact with examiner or the pretty girl seating next to you, you will have lots of time for that). Your body language should be positive. It should exude confidence.
5. Supposing due to some reason you were unable to go first don’t panic try to get a chance, you have to create your own chance and put up your view.
6. Whatever points you come up with should in sync with the flow of discussion, the timing of the comment should be right.
7. Don’t initiate the fish market situation and split the group in to sub-groups and start shouting at the top of your voice. It indicates that you have already pushed your panic button. It’s a mind game not a shouting competition.
8. In case fish market situation has already been made, try to control the situation. Fish market situation does not help anyone and the whole group suffers.
9. In course of GD if you find that someone has not spoken, please raise this point and ask everybody to let that person speak–it adds up in your leadership skills.
10.Also try to initiate the conclusion. Each successful GD must have a conclusion otherwise there is no point of that discussion. It’s wastage of time – no one likes that.
The bottom line is stand out from the crowd; create your identity and make yourself counted.
Group Discussions I - GD Types and introduction
Group Discussions III - GD Starting Blues and What if topic is difficult
