Title: Tips for Performing Well In a Group Discussion
17 TIPS on performing well in a Group Discussion
2Tip 1 Preparation steps before the Group
Discussion
Make sure you stay up to date on current affairs
Dress smartly. Formal shirts, ties and suits for
men. Ladies can wear ethnic dresses or
suits. Avoid jeans and T-Shirts. Avoid canvas/
sports shoes.
Make sure you bring a notebook and a pen.
3Tip 2 Some Frameworks for analyzing a given
topic/ case
Topic In some Group Discussions, you would be
given a topic, usually in the form of a single
sentence. Demonetization. The best way to
learn is to teach. Case Sometimes you would be
given a detailed hypothetical case (one or two
paragraphs in length) and asked to analyze it and
then discuss it as a group.
4Tip 2 Some Frameworks for analyzing a given
topic/ case
Pros Cons Make two lists of the advantages and
disadvantages of some given action. Ideal for
analyzing topics like Demonetization. Weighted
Decision-Making If a specific decision is to be
made, determine the factors involved, assign
weights to those factors and analyze all options
against those factors. A developing nation needs
access to cheap energy to grow its way out of
poverty. Which form of electricity generation is
best suited for a developing nation?
Factors Weights Coal Hydro Nuclear
Low Cost High Costs are low Costs are high Costs are medium
Renewable Low Not renewable Renewable Not renewable
Pollution Low Pollutes a lot No pollution No pollution
Using this weighted decision approach, Coal seems
to be the best option for a developing nation.
5Tip 2 Some Frameworks for analyzing a given
topic/ case
(Re)defining the problem Ask further questions
like What? Why? multiple times to understand
the problem with clarity and to look at the case
through multiple angles. Should NEET be used in
Medical Entrance Exams? Q Why is this
controversy happening? A Because number of
medical seats is limited. Then, perhaps building
more teaching hospitals could be a workable
solution. Solution Enumeration Tree If you have
clearly defined the problem, then you can create
a tree enumerating all possible solutions. How
can a street vendor selling tender coconut water
increase his revenue? Revenue No of units sold
x Selling Price
Increase prices. Price conscious customers can
negotiate down, while others will pay a premium.
Attract more customers
Get more sales from regular customers
Get a prime location with a lot of foot traffic
Call out to pedestrians
Give out your phone numbers and offer door
delivery
6Tip 2 Some Frameworks for analyzing a given
topic/ case
SPELT framework This is a framework to ensure
that you analyze a given topic or a case from all
possible angles. S Social P Political E
Economic L Legal T - Technological
7Tip 3 Listen carefully when youre not talking
- Listening to the conversation will help you
identify opportunities where you can jump in and
contribute - It helps you avoid repeating something that has
been covered in detail already - If you keep notes of the conversation, it will
come in handy if you need to summarize the entire
discussion towards the end
8Tip 4 Identify opportunities to grab your turn
Set the Stage Try to be the first person to
talk. Dont jump into the solutions. Rather,
elaborate on the exact problem the group is
trying to solve. Offer a clarifying re-definition
of the problem statement. Suggest various angles
from which the problem could be looked at. Jump
in with the flow After someone else in the group
has made a point, respond with a relevant
counter-point or suggest some enhancement or
point out exceptions where that point is not
valid. Dont simply read out your points from
your notebook, use the conversation flow to enter
into the discussion. Steer the conversation if
needed You can also talk against the flow of the
conversation, if you believe that some important
angles are being ignored or if the problem has
been poorly understood. Point out that there are
some aspects that have not been covered and start
elaborating on that.
9Tip 4 Identify opportunities to grab your turn
Ask questions This is a rarely used technique in
a Group Discussion, yet it often works wonders.
You dont always have to speak. Sometimes, you
can just listen and ask clarifying questions to
which others can reply. If you ask questions of
people around the table, you become the focal
point of the group. Pair up to create a back and
forth dialogue After someone else has finished,
you can ask questions to that person. In turn,
that person might hand the conversation back to
you after issuing a clarification. The two of you
can effectively hog the limelight, passing the
turn back and forth, while the rest of the group
looks on. Summarize everything towards the
end If you have been taking notes, you could
summarize the whole discussion towards the end
when the natural flow of the conversation has
been exhausted.
10Tip 5 Use your turn wisely
- Dont cover items that have been discussed in
detail already. - Be specific. Have a structured bullet list of
items you want to cover. - Use personal anecdotes illustrations to make
your point clearer and worthy of remembrance. - Use your fingers to count out your points. This
will force others to wait until youve finished.
- Illustration
- I want to talk about three things, she said
while holding up three fingers of her hand.
First, she continued as she pointed her index
finger in the air, While we have already covered
A, I have a personal anecdote that illustrates
this issue in depth...
11Tip 6 Adopt the mindset of a conductor in an
orchestra, not just a participant
Avoid the Fish Market If no one is listening and
everyone is just trying to talk over each other,
you can step in and try to restore order by
holding back interruptions and asking everyone to
allow the current speaker to finish. Get the
discussion back on track If the discussion has
gone off topic, or if the original problem
statement has been misunderstood, speak up and
try to get the discussion back on track. Help
out others who are struggling to get a
turn Towards the end of the discussion, if there
are a few people who have not yet had their turn,
you can ask them politely if they would like to
add their thoughts to the discussion. NOTE The
three items listed above are NOT techniques for
you to grab a turn. Rather, they are ways to
showcase yourself as methodical and fair-minded.
12Tip 7 Communicate with confidence and calmness
Get the body language right
- Dont lean forward. Dont crouch. Dont slouch.
Sit up with a stiff straight back. - Make eye contact with everyone as you speak.
Dont look down into your notes. - Use open hand gestures with your palm open and
visible to everyone.
13Tip 7 Communicate with confidence and calmness
- Address everyone by their first names. If you are
in a Group Discussion with strangers, make the
effort to know and memorize their names before
hand. - Dont be aggressive. If you and someone else get
into a disagreement which cannot be resolved,
just smile and say, Lets agree to disagree. - Admit errors graciously. If you spoke something
that has been refuted, admit it and thank the
other person for correcting you. - If you stutter or stammer, offer a
self-deprecating smile and acknowledge your
nervousness and then continue with the
discussion. - If things are not going your way, take a long
deep breath, raise your energy levels and jump
back into the discussion.
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