GD Preparation - A few useful Tips ‘n’ Tricks !!

Read the newspapers, current affairs magazines and business magazines.

Try and make your viewpoints on the various issues i.e. whether you agree or you
disagree and why. For example India and the WTO? Discuss them with your friends or
knowledgeable relatives.
Make notes or file news paper clippings of the news items that you think are important
for the area in which you intend to specialize, your country or the world as a whole.
Read books on the area you are planning to specialize into.
Read General Books.
Never get tensed about GD. Do not let this spoil you schedule which includes a good
nights sleep.
Normally the candidate is asked to report in the morning and the GD turn may come in
the evening. Hence ensure that you are physically and mentally fit to survive the whole
day Group Discussion is a discussion by a group of people which involves an exchange
of thoughts and ideas. It is largely used by institutes where there is a high level of
competition.
Group Discussion, as the most popular, reliable and dominant medium, heads the list
among the battery of personality tests used today for selection of candidates and
executives for managerial appointments, training, award of scholarships, admission to
post graduate or specialized courses, etc.
Group discussion like the interview, is a verbal test and hence can be administered
readily and easily. It also has all the advantages of field tests which make it more
objective and reliable. It has an added advantage in that the candidate themselves can do
a rank-rating which can be compared to the findings of the examiners or observers. No
special equipment or materials are required for administering the group discussion test
and it can be conducted anywhere, indoors or outdoors, and any time. A group consisting
of as many as 12 candidates can be exposed to the test for less than 30 minutes to
complete the evaluation. Thus GD is most economical and time saving as well.
A typical GD involves 8 to 12 participants sitting in a circle or semicircle discussing a
topic for a stipulated time, usually for 15 to 20 minutes. Most GDs follow one of the
three formats: Structured, Unstructured, or Specialized.
1. Regular Structured GDs: Here the time limits and topic is defined. No consensus
expected at the end. No leader is to be selected for facilitating the process. These are
easier to handle. Topics chosen are usually general and do not require technical
knowledge.
2. Unstructured GDs: Choosing a leader is mandatory and the group has to reach a
consensus at the end of the GD. The leader has to direct the group, set the tone for
discussion and control the dynamics of the group. Things are sometimes made more
complicated by asking the group to propose a topic, discuss it and reach a consensus.
3. Specialized GDs: These include role-plays or scripted GDs where the candidates are
given a certain brief about a role that they need to play. For example, a business situation
where to companies are negotiating a deal may be used. Candidates would be given the
profile of the two CEOs, marketing managers, HR managers, advisors, and a neutral
entity like a consultant. Alternatively, candidates could be given the role of the five
Pandavas and the main Kauravas negotiating the distribution of their kingdom in 20th
century setting.
The very concept of Group Discussion suggests coordination and cooperation on the
part of all who are expected to work as a team. Equanimity of mind pays. It is easy to
lose temper at the flimsiest provocation or the things do not go the way you desire. Any
kind of hostile approach by any one of the participants would not only rob the underlying
spirit of cooperation but also delay the entire process of discussion. Most of the ordinary
people get overjoyed in the flush of success and turn abysmally miserable in the face of
failure. Such people do not have the inner stuff that makes leaders. In a group, everyone
has to subordinate his ego to the larger objective of working together and accomplishing
the job in hand within the time allotted.
Being a verbal test, power of expression counts a great deal for scoring high marks in a
GD. Wide general knowledge of the subject would be the next contributory factor for
success. One who knows the subject will definitely be able to speak with confidence,
interest, inspiration, enthusiasm and authority. Competition within the group will be
tough and each candidate will try to impress all others in the group. Hence, there is no
bound to be overlapping, confusion, conflict of the interests and confrontation. The
candidate who enjoys maximum level of leadership qualities will ultimately emerge as
the natural leader. He will motivate others and make the group willingly follow his
suggestions.
Success speaks for itself. For a group leader, it hinges, to a large extent, on his ability to
deal with the most complex thing- human behavior. Not everybody behaves in the same
manner in terms of temperament, sociability and the delicate art of communication. It is
here, that the group leader has to raise himself to the stature of the corporate leader whose
dexterity in managing people of myriad viewpoints and maintaining a composure makes
a mark on others. Like a captain, whose ship has run aground, he has to make systematic
and dauntless efforts to make it sail on to its voyage. Apart from other attributes, it is the
crisis management which makes him acceptable to all.
Self-confidence, ability to articulate one’s thoughts and power of persuasion are the
hallmarks of a leader. Added to it are patience, perseverance, a deep understanding of
the working of the human mind and ability to interact with others in the group so that all
the members strive towards the same goal. A leader in the Group Discussion should be
able to manage the forum and float his views in the most lucid manner. To accomplish
these objectives, he needs ample amount of convincing power, mixed with politeness. He
should not get perturbed by the harsh arguments of the participants and provide
opportunity to every candidate to air his views. Besides, he should also be able to
demonstrate his intellectual excellence and leadership quality and utilize it to steer the
discussion away from the murky waters. To top it all, one must be able to express his/ her
views logically and cogently within the allotted time i.e, two to three minutes.
and the GD.
Learn the answers to the questions that frequently arise in your mind !!
1.What is a GD?
GD is a discussion by a group of people which involves an exchange of thoughts and
ideas. Group Discussions are largely used by institutes where there is a high level of
competition.
2. What is Evaluated?
GD is a means to assess one’s overall personality.
The qualities judged are:
Mental Agility
Spontaneity of Decision
Interpersonal Skills
Alertness
Power of Assimilation
Clear & Logical Exposition
Leadership
Intellect
Moral Integrity
An Examiner can easily make an assessment of candidates on above parameters in a GD.
All that one observes in a GD can be categorised into two broad areas: the Content and
the Process. The content is all about the ‘matter’ (or the ‘what’) spoken in the GD.
Whereas, the process refers to the ‘how’, ‘when’ and ‘why’ of the GD. Both are equally
important and need adequate attention at all stages. A high quality contribution with no
regard to the ‘process’ is as suicidal as one which is high on packaging with little content.
3. How does a GD Take Place?
A Group of 6-15 candidates are made to sit in a circular or a semi-circular (U Shaped)
fashion so that they can see each other and take part in the discussion easily
Roll Numbers may be allotted to participants for easy recognition. Before the GD, the
examiner (observer) announces the topic for discussion and informs candidates about the
time-limit. He may also draw attention towards the etiquette, rules and regulation,
procedure to be followed. He also clears any doubts/queries. The individuals of the group
might be given some initial time to put down their thoughts on the topic. The examiner
observes the proceedings of the discussion from a distance without directly interfering
into it. He examines the performance of each candidate without any prejudice or favour.
4. Are the topics decided on the basis of the academic background of the
participants?
No, The grouping of members and the topics is done by the institute’s admission team.
Topics basis academic background are rarely asked
5. Can a definite stand be taken?
If you have complete conviction on your stand TAKE IT (esp. in case of ethical topics) –
Its important to be true and fair first to yourself and then to others.
But, at the same time appreciate others point of view and evaluate their judgment without
bias. Taking one side of the topic initially and then moving to another or oscillating
between the two sides during the GD shows signs of indecisiveness. Remember,
Managers are Effective Decision Makers.
In most groups, you would find close to a 50:50 situation for and against a topic. Even if
you are a minority take the stand. Even, in the MBA selection process, you are a minority –
‘one out of 200’!
6. What is the right time to enter to ensure I am heard?
If the order is preset by the examiner then you will have your chance as per your turn

The opportunities to enter are:

First Members
Last Members
Middle Members
The best time to enter is in the first so that you maintain uniqueness of your points, but
at the risk of losing out on others points which you could build on. If you find it
uncomfortable to be the first to take the plunge listen out others and then enter along with
the middle/last members. Frankly, there is no right or wrong time to enter or not. Just
make sure that you speak out your points in the initial round of discussion
7. How necessary is it to use examples for illustrating an idea?
Using an example simplifies the understanding of your point to the group. Substantiation
is like putting a seal of authenticity to your statement. Try and use relevant facts/figures
wherever possible. Use an example or two for a point that you wish to project
8. What is summarization?
Converting the entire discussion into 4 or 5 points without any bias to fully represent the
thoughts of the group. In some cases, everyone might be asked to summarize so you must
form a habit of summarizing.
9. What should you do if one member is very stubborn and aggressive?
Don’t get into a argument with the member – “Don’t let his virus INFECT you”.
Objectively and calmly present your point of view vis-à-vis his. You could ask other
group members to comment (to break the deadlock) and take the discussion forward
10.How do you participate when the noise level is high?
Every group has a High – when most people are talking – This is when you should listen
and your mind should think and evaluate the plethora of others thoughts
You can interject when the group is on a low (you will be able to observe it if you are
alert) – Then present your evaluation of others thoughts and perhaps take the discussion
on to a more positive platform, This would show a clear structure in your thinking.
Sometimes you can bring the group to a refocus, when the group digresses from the
topics.
These are all positive traits of a manager and naturally gives you plus points.
Learn the answers to the questions that frequently arise in your mind !!

What is the normal duration of a GD?

A GD is generally of 15-20 minutes duration.
How many panel members are there to evaluate?
There are usually 3-4 panel members to evaluate.
Is there time given for preparation after the topic is given and before starting the
GD?
Usually some time (2-5 minutes) is given to collect one’s thoughts, but there could be
instances when this does not happen, so it is best not to bank on this.
Should I address the panel or the group members?
Don’t ever make the mistake of addressing the panel members. The GD is between you
and the other members, not the panel members. You must avoid even looking at the panel
members while the GD is in progress. Just ignore their existence.
What is the seating arrangement like?
It could be semi-circular, or circular, or seating along side a rectangular table, depending
upon the venue. It is best not to bother about trivial issues like this, which you have no
control over.
How should I address the other group members?
If you are initiating the discussion, you could do so by collectively addressing the group
as “Friends”. Subsequently, you could use names (if the group has had a round of self-
introduction prior to starting the discussion and you remember the names) or simply use
pronouns like “he” or “she”.
Suppose I have a lot to say on the topic, should I say all of it?
You would not be looked upon favourably if you kept speaking all the time and did not
listen to anyone else. Contrary to the misconception, the person who talks the most is not
necessarily the one who is judged the best. The quality and not the quantity of your
contribution is the success factor.
Should I encourage others to speak up?
Do not directly put someone who is consistently silent on the spot by asking him/her to
speak up. If someone has been trying to speak and has a good point but is cut off
constantly, you may encourage him/her to continue with her point as you would like to
hear her out.
Are the group members supposed to keep track of the time or will the panel keep
track?
It would be good if you are conscious of the time, but not to the point of getting so
distracted looking at your watch that you do not contribute to the discussion.
In order to succeed at any unstructured group discussion, you must define what your
objective in the group is.
A good definition of your objective is - to be seen to have contributed meaningfully in an
attempt to achieve the right consensus.
The key words in this definition are ’seen’, ‘meaningfully’, and ‘attempt’. Let us
understand what each of these implies in terms of action points:
The first implication is that merely making a meaningful contribution in an attempt to
achieve consensus is not enough. You have to be seen by the evaluator to have made a
meaningful contribution in an attempt to build the right consensus.
In other words you must ensure that you are heard by the group. If the group hears you
so will the evaluator. You must get at least some airtime. If you are not a very assertive
person you will have to simply learn to be assertive for those 15 minutes. If you get
cowed down easily in an aggressive group, you can say goodbye to the business school
admission.

Many group discussion participants often complain that they did not get a chance to
speak. The fact of the matter is that in no group discussion do you get a chance to speak.
You have to make your chances.
The second important implication is that making just any sort of contribution is not
enough. Your contribution has to be meaningful.
A meaningful contribution suggests that you have a good knowledge base, are able to
structure arguments logically and are a good communicator. These are qualities that are
desired by all evaluators.
Many group discussion participants feel that the way to succeed in a group discussion is
by speaking frequently, for a long time and loudly. This is not true. The quality of what
you say is more important than the quantity. Don’t be demoralized if you feel you have
not spoken enough. If you have spoken sense and have been heard, even if only for a
short time, it is usually good enough. You must have substance in your arguments.
Therefore, think things through carefully.
Always enter the room with a piece of paper and a pen. In the first two minutes jot
down as many ideas as you can. It pays to think laterally. Everybody else will state the
obvious. Can you state something different? Can you take the group ahead if it is stuck at
one point? Can you take it in a fresh and more relevant direction? You may like to dissect
the topic and go into the underlying causes or into the results.
One way of deciding what sort of contribution is meaningful at what point of time is to
follow two simple rules. First, in times of chaos a person who restores order to the group
is appreciated. Your level of participation in a fish market kind of scenario can be low, but
your degree of influence must never be low. In other words you must make positive
contributions every time you speak and not speak for the sake of speaking. The second
rule is applicable when the group is floundering. In this situation a person who provides a
fresh direction to the group is given credit.
The third implication is that you must be clearly seen to be attempting to build a
consensus. Nobody expects a group of ten people, all with different points of view on a
controversial subject to actually achieve a consensus. But did you make the attempt to
build a consensus?
Try and lay down the boundaries or the area of the discussion at the beginning.
Discuss what the group should discuss before actually beginning your discussion. This
will at least ensure that everyone is talking about the same thing.
Try and summarize the discussion at the end. In the summary do not merely restate your
point of view; also accommodate dissenting viewpoints. If the group did not reach a
consensus, say so in your summary.
You must carry people with you. So do not get emotional, shout, invade other people’s
private space. Do not bang your fist on the table except in extreme circumstances.
If you have spoken and you notice that someone else has tried to enter the discussion on a
number of occasions and has not had the chance to do so maybe you could give him a
chance the next time he tries. But do not offer a chance to anyone who is not trying to
speak. He may not have anything to say at that point and you will just end up looking
foolish.
The surest way of antagonizing others in the group discussion as well as the examiner is
to appoint yourself as a de facto chairperson of the group. Do not try to impose a system
whereby everyone gets a chance to speak in turn. A group discussion is meant to be a free
flowing discussion. Let it proceed naturally. Do not ever try to take a vote on the topic. A
vote is no substitute for discussion.
Do not address only one or two persons when speaking. Maintain eye contact with as
many members of the group as possible. This will involve others in what you are saying
and increase your chances of carrying them with you. Do this even if you are answering a
specific point raised by one person.
One last point. You must not agree with another participant in the group merely for the
sake of achieving consensus. If you disagree, say so. You are not there to attempt to
build just any consensus. You have to attempt to build the right consensus.
Everytime we have a GD, participants play some or the other familiar role in it.
1. Mr. Brain/Plant :
• He brings in a lot of substance and comes up with wide interpretations of the topic.
Downside: It is difficult to stop him, as he is preoccupied with topic discussion as
opposed to group discussion. He is happily obvious to simple things like who is sitting
next to him. At the end of the GD if you happen to ask him whether the person sitting
next to him was a boy or a girl, the answer would likely be ‘I do not know’.
2. Shopkeeper :
• He is the sales man who can sell anything, has the gift of the gab, a very strong ability to
relate to people and be at the centre of things.
Downside: He does not usually come up with original thoughts himself. Needs Mr.
Brains to feed him with readymade ideas that he can sell.
3. Watchman :
• His role is to maintain order in the group, usually content is low.
• Pre-occupied with directing the group process such as controlling entry and exit of
participants.
• He is crucial for meeting time commitments made to the panel. Especially, in ensuring
consensus.
4. Critic :
• He criticises everybody’s points without contributing anything new.
5. The Butcher :
• Does great service to the group by enhancing the quality of content by not letting
participants get away with just about anything.
• Is most welcome in a group which has one or two aggressive elements in it.
6. The Spectator or The Passenger :
• Is involved in the proceedings but plays a limited role.
• Contribution is very limited and does not affect the out come of the group task.
So What Role Should You Specialise In?
Each role has several benefits. However, strong attachment to any single role throughout
the GD could limit your chances of success.
What is more important is that you demonstrate leadership at every moment. You must be
able to move across these roles as the situation demands. Anyone seen to be Performing
more than three of these roles will definitely make a strong impact on the on the panel.
Mobility is the keyword in becoming effective in GDs.
The key to success in GDs is to be able to effortlessly move from one role to the other
depending on what the situation demands.
A role-play type of GD is one where a situation is described and each person in the group
is asked to assume a specific role in the same.
You must completely step into the role and your reasoning will have to be consistent with
role you have assumed.
The participant, in this specific case, needs to appreciate the gravity of the situation and
generate appropriate reasoning to facilitate decision making for the group.
Always keep your eyes open to learn everything that happens around you !!
Discussion Programmes on News Channels E.g. The Big Fight on NDTV 24×7
India Business Hour. A Great package of Business and General News.CNBC - TV18
Mon to Fri @ 9:00 PM.
The Apprenticeits. A reality show to recruit apprentice for Donald trump US real estate
moghul.
Friday 9PM repeat on Sunday 3PM
The Challenge Quiz show based on biz CNBC-TV 18 Sunday 1200 noon, Saturday
1230 pm.
Trial by fire. A competition between brilliant minds of best B schools judged by eminent
business personalities on CNBCTV 18.
Hard Talks. A Talk Show on International Current Affairs on BBC every Sunday
Evening
YOUNG TURKS. YOUNG ACHIEVERS on CNBC-TV 18 on Sunday-11-30 am,10.30
pm.
We the people. Its a debating show NDTV 24×7sunday 8pm.
Make a “GD Notebook”
Read up thoroughly one topic per day. Sources could be any Magazine - Outlook, India
today, The daily newspaper etc. Make a summary of the topic in the form of 10 points
and put it down in your notebook. You would have knowledge of 60 topics in 2 months.
On the day before the GD refer to your treasure of points on various current topics and
crack the GD/PI
Foreign Correspondent. Its a show about what the world thinks about India. On NDTV
every Saturday and Sunday evenings.
A good level of general awareness will come in handy so that you aren’t at a loss of
words on certain issues. Understand the topic and analyze it mentally before speaking.
Be clear about the purpose and content of your viewpoint. One should be able to
communicate his views in an effective manner to everyone. Be clear in speech, audible
but not too loud and above all remain confident.
Remember the six C’s of effective communication - Clarity, Completeness, Conciseness,
Confidence, Correctness and Courtesy.
You should maintain eye contact with all others in the group and not focus on a
particular person for he may benefit from that. Be responsive to ideas from other people
and seem to be very receptive and open-minded but don’t allow others to change your
own viewpoint…
Starting the discussion is considered to be good however it isn’t that important; what is
important is that you speak for a period long enough for you to be able to communicate
your viewpoint.
Always maintain your calm and never get aggressive. If you haven’t been able to talk
then one can cut in saying “Excuse me, but what I think is ……….” or something of that
sort. Never lose your temper and never attack anyone on a personal front. Your attitude
should be one of cooperation and not one of conflict. Don’t lose sight of the goal of the
discussion. Listen to any criticisms and give them a thought before trying to defend your
views.
There are always two ways to look at any topic: for or against.
Take the example of economic liberalization. It can be argued that it was a very good
thing since a number of foreign companies came into the country, bringing technology
and efficiency. Employment and growth rate improved. The people could buy all the
world class products which earlier had to be smuggled.
On the other hand, it can also be argued that all kinds of non-essential goods came into
the country, like hamburgers, fried chicken and soda water. The infrastructure remained
poor. There was no fresh growth as the MNCs simply bought the Indian companies. he
technology they imported was outdated and most of the goods were so expensive that
most people could not buy them. Liberalization was trumpeted to be a good thing since
politicians were using it to rake in personal wealth.
Whatever personal views one may have, it is important to know both sides of the
argument. If the discussion is heading towards a particular direction, a candidate can take
a totally opposite view and consequently will become the centre of the discussion. Of
course one must be able to defend one’s viewpoints and therefore the need to have read
widely. In the case of liberalization, many people will defend it, since that is the
viewpoint most often published in newspapers. If a student can bring in an opposing
viewpoint and mention some convincing reasons, there is no reason why he will not be
selected.
What matters the most in a GD is whether any meaningful contribution was made by
the person. A candidate will score well if he shows leadership qualities, that is, of guiding
the group towards a consensus. It is clear that one should have read a lot if he is to exhibit
any depth of knowledge. If you have kept up with the newspapers and magazines, it will
certainly be of help. Look at the last 12 issues of the current affair magazines and you
will find all the likely current topics discussed. Read carefully the debates and
argumentative questions and chances are that you will get one of these topics for
discussion. Read also items of economic importance and learn the figures of growth rates,
GDP, deficits and so on.
The trouble is that most students have not faced anything like the GD before. How is one
to speak in a group of 15 strangers in a language we do not usually speak? One way is to
read about a topic and then debate with parents, uncles or elder cousins. Tell them to
ask you questions and try to trap you. The more you do this, the more clear will your own
thoughts become. Of course practice in a larger group can be obtained only by joining a
professional institute.
Another way to practice is to tape your speech. Try to speak about a topic for one full
minute into the tape recorder. When you listen to the tape, you will be able to spot your
mistakes, the points on which you falter and the words which you cannot easily speak.
You will also be able to know whether you make any sense or not. Ask your friends to
listen to the tape critically. Often, people can discover their weaknesses and speech
impairments by this method.
You can also use mirror therapy. Stand before a mirror and speak extempore on any
topic. Practice sounding assertive and firm. If you think your voice is soft or shrill,
especially for girls, speak loudly in front of the mirror as if you are speaking to a stranger.
Have a conversation with yourself. The mirror will tell you whether you have a habit of
looking away while speaking. It will tell you about your body language also. These will
be invaluable insights for participating in groups. You must look at all the members when
addressing them. Looking away will cause you to lose your chance and the other
person will carry on without letting you complete. The mirror will also stop you from
fidgeting, as many people are prone to do when they are speaking or are nervous. The
therapy will be greatly enhanced if you can get your family members or friends to
practice with you.
Some of the approaches that will help you generate points in a GD are:
~ Key Word Approach
In any GD topic, there will be keywords that are loaded with meaning and open to
interpretation. You should use these words to derive points to discuss.
~ Viewpoints of Affected Parties

The group should look at the pros and cons of the topic, and try to bring forth their views
on the parties which would probably be affected by any decision (adverse or otherwise)
taken.
~ Socio-cultural, Political, Economic, Legal, and Technological angles to the given
topic
Students should analyze a given topic using multiple angles.
Students should bear in mind that it may not be possible to use each of the above
mentioned approaches in isolation for every topic. They should try using a combination
of approaches in order to generate the maximum number of points that they can use
effectively in a Group Discussion.
“How to prepare”
‘Taking it as it comes’ is certainly not the right approach towards something as critical as
a GD. If you wait till you get a call, you will not be left with any time to prepare at all.
You need to understand that most students would have started their GD preparation
already. By clearing the written test, you have cleared just one hurdle. From now on, the
competition becomes stiffer, as each student who receives a call is as motivated as you to
get into a top B-School.
To improve your knowledge, read a general newspaper and a business newspaper
everyday to keep abreast of current events and business- related news. You should also
make it a point to read one general magazine and one business magazine to supplement
newspaper reading. In the different articles that you read, concentrate on the core part of
the issue rather than dwelling on its superficial aspects. Make regular notes on each
article you read and try to convert them into points. This will help you remember them
better. Always make it a point to read articles that cover a range of issues to increase your
knowledge on a wide variety of topics. Avoid sticking to articles whose core issues you
are already comfortable with.
If you are not doing this already, get cracking immediately!