Group Discussion: B-school Admissions

Group Discussion: DOs and DONT's

You can have all the fabulous points in the world but if you don’t speak at all they are of no use. You can speak some points but if they are not good content-wise or irrelevant to the topic then it won’t make much difference. You can speak a good point but if your voice is lost in the crowd or if your voice is too soft, your speech too fast, your English too messed up, then it is of no use.

Your body language in a GD reveals more than your CV. The kind of person you are comes out clearly and the panel can see it when you are trying to be someone you are not. Do not pretend. Practice !

Do you overspeak or do you underspeak ?

Yelling will not help but sitting quietly for 15 minutes will not help either so you have to strike a balance.

After all, in a GD of 10 minutes, a group size of 10 candidates would mean 1 minute of speaking time for each person.  2 out of 10 people will speak for less than one minute and 2 or more people will speak for more than one minute so where do you fall?

Try and work on striking a balance. If you fall below 30 seconds or above 5 minutes then you might need a new strategy. Not speaking at all or going on non-stop, cutting everyone and not letting anybody else contribute much are both signs of immaturity. 

Talk, speak, listen, discuss and enjoy the discussion. Don’t try to be all high and mighty; also don’t try to hide in a corner.

So start practicing for Group Discussions and always remember:-

1. Don’t Be Late, Don’t look messy: Reach the venue well in advance, be properly dressed. Always carry a handkerchief, a small comb, blazer, small shoe polish liquid with you so that you can spruce yourself up in seconds and even if you reach the venue looking a hurricane- make sure you enter the GD Hall looking like a well-groomed manager. Avoid greasy hair, dirty shoes, too much perfume etc.

2. Introduction: Have a simple 2-3 lines short introduction of yourself already prepared.  Write it down and memorize it before going for the process. (Refer to previous post for what to say in your Introduction.)

3. Understand the Topic properly: Do not give irrelevant points, do not find faults with the topic. Manage the best you can by first attempting to understand the topic properly. Jot down your points on paper before you begin speaking. (I will tell you how to create points for any GD topic in my next post.)

4. Try to give structure to the GD: If you cannot instantly think of good points or if you have too many and are getting confused, then just start off by giving a framework for the discussion i.e. a step by step agenda for the discussion. This can also be done when there is general chaos in the GD. Make sure you listen, add some good points of your own and try to give a well-balanced conclusion to the whole thing.

5. Don’t pick a personal fight: Do not tell other members what to do, never say negative statements in a forceful manner. Avoid saying things like “No, No, No....You don’t even know about the topic, the real facts are these…” “You are wrong”. Don’t try to correct anyone; the panel can already see when a person says something that is factually or otherwise incorrect. Just take care of your own content and expression of that content in a well-behaved manner.

6. Stick to the Topic: e.g. TOPIC: Cricket Celebrities as Brand Ambassadors – Good or Bad?

Do not waste your precious 1-2 minute window of opportunity in talking about cricketers or giving facts about cricket matches etc. A stupid thing to do in this GD would be to talk about Movie celebrities/Bollywood actors as brand ambassadors. You should talk about only those cricketers who have endorsed famous brands and try to analyze how they have helped or not helped that particular brand.

Always make sure you read and understand the topic properly.

7. Always validate your points with examples: Just giving your opinion in a GD isn't enough, you must explain why you think so. Followup your point with a proper example or logical reasoning to explain why you are supporting that point. 

8. Be assertive not aggressive. Express your thoughts and discuss the topic without getting too emotional or angry. Your body language should not display impatience, hostility etc.

9. Do not repeat the same point over and over again: Unless you feel your point was not properly audible the first time, don't repeat your words. Saying the same thing over and over again only shows that you don’t have anything else to say.

10. Do not criticize, but always agree when there is good reason to: If someone gives a good point, you can agree and add more to the point or fit the point in the framework of the GD and show how it is relevant to the discussion. This shows that you are a good listener, a team player and also displays your ability to see the big picture.

11. Rate of speech: Do not speak too fast like you are in a hurry to catch a train, do not speak so slowly or stutter so much that it becomes very easy for anyone to interrupt you.  Make sure you are audible but do not yell. Do not use flowery English or fake accents and do not smile too much, especially during a serious discussion.

12. Eye contact: You can smile a little when you enter the room or when you greet the panel. During the GD just be yourself. While the GD is going on, make sure you don’t keep looking at the panel, maintain eye contact with all members of the group while you are speaking. If you are constantly looking in one particular direction, someone from the other side can easily cut you off.

If the moderator/panel member is playing an active part in the GD, then it is okay to look at him/her during the GD while he/she is explaining something. 
For the most part, forget that anyone else but the group exists. Be focused towards the discussion, be alert and aware. Do not look out the window or here and there unnecessarily, during the GD.

13. Summary vs. Conclusion:  A summary is the sum total of all that has been discussed by the group. When asked to summarise make sure you start from the beginning, cover the most important points spoken, like you are giving a small press release about the GD that just took place. Do not give any new points. A summary is a test of your listening skills.

A conclusion is “your final words on the matter”. Your opinion must be given when you are asked to ‘conclude’.  Cover the most relevant part of the discussion based on the central theme of 'how you feel about the topic'. You may disagree with the group, if you can back up your point with strong, valid reasoning. It is not about being politically correct, it is about how well you understand the topic. 
These final statements are a test of your thinking ability and understanding levels, they also determine your 'last impression' on the panel. The impression they are more likely to remember, if you handle this part well.

Note: Having a glass of water just before you start the GD really helps clear the mind and the throat.

All the Best. 

-TCM.