A group discussion is your chance
to be more vocal. The evaluator
wants to hear you speak.
Take time to organize your thoughts.
Think of what you are going to say.
Seek clarification if you have
any doubts regarding the subject.
Don't start speaking until you
have clearly understood and analyzed
the subject.
Work out various strategies to help
you make an entry: initiate the
discussion or agree with someone
else's point and then move onto
express your views.
Opening the discussion is not the
only way of gaining attention and
recognition. If you do not give
valuable insights during the discussion,
all your efforts of initiating the
discussion will be in vain.
Your body language says a lot about
you - your gestures and mannerisms
are more likely to reflect your
attitude than what you say.
Language skills are important only
to the effect as to how you get
your points across clearly and fluently.
Be assertive not dominating; try
to maintain a balanced tone in your
discussion and analysis.
Don't lose your cool if anyone
says anything you object to. The
key is to stay objective: Don't
take the discussion personally.
Always be polite: Try to avoid
using extreme phrases like: 'I strongly
object' or 'I disagree'. Instead
try phrases like: 'I would like
to share my views on...' or 'One
difference between your point and
mine...' or "I beg to differ
with you" Ch etanaS
Brush up on your leadership skills;
motivate the other members of the
team to speak (this surely does
not mean that the only thing that
you do in the GD is to say "let
us hear what the young lady with
the blue scarf has to say,"
or "Raghu, let us hear your
views" - Essentially be subtle),
and listen to their views. Be receptive
to others' opinions and do not be
abrasive or aggressive.
If you have a group of like-minded
friends, you can have a mock group
discussion where you can learn from
each other through giving and receiving
feedback.
Apart from the above points, the
panel will also judge team members
for their alertness and presence
of mind, problem-solving abilities,
ability to work as a team without
alienating certain members, and
creativity.