Group Discussion

YOUR OWN GROUP DISCUSSION HANDBOOK
A RAPID READER
FREE GUIDE
BY KAUSHIK DAS
HR CREST Release 2012, 1st Edition. All Rights Reserved. www.hrcrest.com
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BY KAUSHIK DAS 2012 HR CREST. All rights reserved worldwide.
PERMISSION The author grants full permission to distribute this HR Guide freely, in your ezine, website, blog, forum, RSS feed or print publication and/or distribute it as a free bonus with other products, provided it is left completely intact, unaltered and delivered via this PDF file for FREE and not be sold. You are also permitted to forward this ebook to friends, families and networks. If you would like to re-print or re-purpose any of this content, please use proper attribution (Courtesy of HR CREST Release & The Author, Sudakshina Bhattacharya) and provide a link back to ( www.hrcrest.com ). You must agree to include the FULL Resource box or SIG line provided below in your distribution and to make the link active/linkable with no syntax changes. Resource Box/SIG Line: Kaushik Das, currently associated with an MBA Institute of International Repute as the Associate Vice President - Corporate Relations. He is also one of the distinguished faculty at the Institute. In addition to that, Kaushik is a contributory author for HR Crest and his posts and HRcrest youtube channel videos are highly popular amongst "In Campus" students. He has repeatedly proven his command over subjects related to Group Discussions & Interviews. He is a passionate & optimistic person with an appetite to learn and excel in life. Being a Masters of Commerce and MBA in Marketing & Finance, he is proficient in Corporate Relations and educating both management aspirants & corporates in the areas of Business & Soft skills. He has spent over 6 years in the corporate world with prime focus on Sales & Marketing in the education sector. His competencies are training people in the areas of corporate communication, negotiation skills, aptitude building and career counseling. With a natural flair for Marketing initiatives, Kaushik has been actively involved in organizing & coordinating varied industry interface activities both for management students & corporates. The author also grants full permission to republish excerpts or the full content, provided it remains in the proper context and is accompanied by an attribution link back to http://www.hrcrest.com as the originating source.
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Your Own Group Discussion Handbook By Kaushik Das
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Copyright HR Crest, 2012, All rights reserved.
PREFACE
This handbook is for those who are planning or have been preparing to get themselves into best of the B-schools or companies. In today's era, due to severe competition, every B-school or a company relies upon some screening tests to identify the right attitude, abilities and skills in an individual. And to identify all of them there can't be any better way than conducting GDs (Group Discussions). If you are an aspirant and wish to make it big in life then you are on the right path. As they say, preparation is the key to success. And this handbook will help you to prepare well for group discussions by exposing you to some concepts, principles and real life situations. If you believe- 'Knowledge is power' then the best thing is to start acquiring it. And there is no secret to cracking the GD. Read, learn, share and practice Follow these four words and find yourself one step ahead than others
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
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CONTENTS
1 Introduction- Art of Doing GD 2 Group Discussions for Careers and Jobs 3 Dos & Don'ts of a Group Discussion 4 Group Discussion FAQs 5 Conclusion 6 About the Author 7 About HR Crest
05 07
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Introduction: THE ART OF GROUP DISCUSSION

Group discussions have now become a sine qua non in various selection processes. Whether it is recruitment in a prestigious firm or admission in an MBA institute, aspiring candidates have to go through the rigors of a 'Group Discussion'. Now what exactly is a group discussion? Normally in a group discussion a leaderless group of 8- 10 candidates is formed, and is given a specific situation to analyze and discuss within a given time limit. The number of participants and the time limit given for discussion vary from situation to situation. A panel of moderators observes and evaluates them during the course of the discussion. Broadly, the moderators assess the candidates on the following points/ parameters: Command over language Knowledge Interpersonal skills Problem solving skills Conceptualizing skills Listening Skills Leadership Skills Positive Body Language Creativity Confidence Assertiveness In order to succeed at any group discussion, you must be perceived as having contributed meaningfully to the discussion. Also, you must appear to be a team player and not a self-centered go-getter. The world remembers those who made their presence felt. Same thing is applicable to GDs. One has to make one's present felt all the time.
LISTEN TO OTHERS. EXCHANGE IDEAS.
A meaningful contribution implies that you have a through understanding of the topic and related issues; you are able to structure arguments logically and most importantly-you are a good communicator. Be sure to bring in diverse dimensions to the topic so that your contributions leave an indelible mark upon the moderators/observers. To come across as a team player you have to listen to others' point of view and encourage a healthy exchange of ideas. You must carry people along with you by showing them a proper direction for a meaningful conclusion of the given topic.
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So, don't get emotional, don't shout, nor get into spats. If you have noticed 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. Your understanding of the topic, which in turn is determined by your reading habits, influences what you speak in the group discussion. If you are well-read on diverse areas then coming up with good content will not be a problem. However, if you are not having the habit of reading newspapers than at least be prepared with 'current issues in the press' for the group discussion. You should initiate the group discussion i.e. be the first to speak, only if you have understood the topic clearly. Do not work under the assumption that if you don't initiate- you lose points. On the contrary if you initiate badly you come under the negative focus of the moderator and suffer consequently. One common complaint of many group discussion participants is that they did not get a chance to speak. The fact of the matter is that in no group discussion you will be encouraged by others to speak. If you don't speak then others will capitalized on that. So, you have to create your own chances for your involvement in the group discussion. Also a widespread misconception is that- the 'Leader' gets selected, or the person who has spoken the most will crack the GD. It is absolutely wrong! Even if you speak for two minutes logically, there will be equal chances of cracking the discussion. Sometimes students make mistake of appointing themselves as a 'de facto' leader of the group. A group discussion is meant to be a free discussion. Let it proceed naturally...
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HOW GROUP DISCUSSIONS ARE IMPORTANT FOR CAREERS & JOBS

Assessment of skills, abilities, behavior and knowledge in Group Discussions are used as an assessment centre in Job Interview. There are 4 major competencies that are assessed by companies as a part of the selection process through Group Discussions - Leadership Skills, Communication skills, Group skills, and knowledge about the content. A] Leadership skills Ability to take leadership roles and be able to lead, inspire and carry the team along to help them achieve group's objectives. Includes: Persuasive skills: the ability to analyze and persuade others to see the problem from multiple perspectives without hurting the group members. Problem solving skills: Ability to come out with divergent and offbeat solutions and uses one's own creativity. Closure ability: Ability to make constructive and conclusive efforts leading the group to be within the scopes of the topic System and process skills: Setting out agenda driving the discussions in a particular pattern or process Motivating and inspiring abilities: Ability to motivate and inspire others to take part in discussions Behavioral description Helping the group to structure the discussions/sequencing the discussion Leading the discussions whenever the discussion is off-track/ whenever the discussion drags on for long time due to illogical/leading the discussions without overt domination Influencing the group to discuss logically and sensibly and also stressing on factual correctness
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Does not argue excessively for own judgment Uses logic and analysis Does not agree deliberately to avoid conflict/ to reach agreement fast Does not argue excessively for own judgment Uses logic and analysis Does not agree deliberately to avoid conflict/ to reach agreement fast Does not use conflict reducing techniques such as majority voting/ averaging/trading in Views differences of opinion as a help rather than a hindrance in decision making Making people knowledgeable/ teaching/ training (does not see possessing of knowledge as individually competitive) Encouraging group members to take part in decision making Appreciating others openly if a good point is made Logically criticizing others if points made by them are illogical/non-sensible Listening to others well but becoming impatient (controlled) if points being discussed are illogical and therefore time wasting Keeping a good watch on time and guiding the group to complete the task qualitatively Very diplomatically making other people fall in his line Suave and smart handling of crisis situation Keeping his cool in every situation Overall, it is a treat to watch him discuss. He could be a role model for others.
B] Communication skills Includes: Clarity ability to communicate lucidly with others takes an effort to make sure others understand him well Listening skill: Alertness, ability to assimilate what others are saying Reasoning Ability and logical abilities Assertiveness: Confident in stating a position or claim Creativity / out of the box thinking: ability to speak from varied dimension; backed up with facts and figures. Presence of mind: ability to observe minute things and making others feel comfortable with certain remarks. C] Group skills Includes: Interpersonal skills Team building skill Polite and less aggressive behavior Non-destructive and non-interruptive behavior
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Behavioral description Care to develop rapport with other members of the group. Care to garner maximum support in his favor smartly. Talks to everyone in the group and do not develop any sub-group conversation. Has a positive body language which makes him approachable. Does not talk incessantly without making much inroads into solving the problem and thus blocks other's chances to speak. Listen to other group members effectively. Does not attack members of the group personally. Does not pick up unnecessary arguments with others in the group. If there is a group norm, does stick to the group norm. Not too dominating which might make him formidable.
D] Content Includes: Conceptualizing skills: The ability to grasp the situation, take it from the day to day mundane problem level and apply it to a macro level. Awareness of current affairs: Well- read about the contemporary topics and the ongoing issues,world over. Quality of content adds value reinforce and strengthen points raised by others. Content - logical and meaningful Non repetitive & directional
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DOs AND DONTs OF GROUP DISCUSSION

Some of the important DOs and Don'ts are as follows: Dos of a Group Discussion Listen to others. It is not necessary to initiate the discussion. Initiate the discussion if you are familiar with the topic. Intervene if the discussion is turning out to be hostile. Speak to the point without repeating. Back your points with facts & figures Be gentle with your presentation Be natural, calm & composed. Be participative, receptive and reciprocate. Greet the group members before you start speaking for the first time. Say 'Thank You' before ending your presentation. Think before you speak Be assertive and nor dominating Maintain positive body language all the time, even if you are not speaking. Bring in as many diverse aspects as you can to the discussion Maintain a positive Talk- listen ratio
Donts of a group discussion Don't make any personal comments or remarks Don't be loud and aggressive Don't interrupt other speakers while they are trying to speak their views Don't go overboard with enthusiasm if you are familiar with the topic Don't deprecate other speakers Don't speak first if you are unfamiliar with the topic Don't change your opinion Don't speak all the time Dont ask irrelevant questions Don't stop abruptly Don't exhibit your emotions Don't take name of the participants while addressing them Don't argue with any of your group member
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GROUP DISCUSSION FAQs

Q.1. What are the entry strategies in group discussions that are assessed?
Following are some of the entry strategies: Start or initiate the discussion. Enter to structure the discussion when group members are deviating from the main purpose of discussion and when a point is being dragged on unnecessarily for long time. When this sort of condition occurs, you can remind the group members about the purpose of the discussion and lead the discussion in such a mould so as to reach a conclusion by consensus. Agree with someone/ enter with a supportive statement. Appreciate others' point of view to enter into the discussion. Ask a question / seek a clarification to enter. Look for brief pauses to enter. A pause could even for a second or less. Catch it! Make an impactful entry when the topic requires you to take strong stands or make strong opinions/ when group members are engaged in meaningless discussions/ when the group members are dragging on a point for a long time. Bring over a new perspective to the discussion. Analyze a point / add some value to it to enter. Keep a watch on the time. Towards the end (when 2-3 minutes are left), summarize the GD and end the discussion. All the points mentioned as above can be your strategy to enter into a Group Discussion. However, it completely depends on the situation you are in. Your smartness and presence of mind would play a huge role in a real life situation.
GROUP DISCUSSIONS ARE CONDUCTED TO ELIMINATE A CANDIDATE
Q.2. How to enter into the room for GD and take your seat?
Firstly, understand this very precisely that Group Discussions are conducted to eliminate a candidate. So you should be very careful about every move of yours. A lot of people think that what you speak during the GD would be the deciding factor of your selection. However, in today's competitive world, a lot of other undefined areas are also being taken into consideration. For instance: the way you enter into the venue before the GD, can draw the attention of the moderator/s.
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Hence, instead of ignoring this facet, set a proper approach towards it and you never know, the way you enter, walk and proceed towards you seat/chair might be considered while evaluating your persona or defining your overall personality. Things to consider while entering into the GD venue: 1. Avoid making noise by dragging your feet while walking. Also, avoid wearing a heavy shoe, or else you will have to stomp. And as a result, you will end up making a lot of noise. Your shoe shouldn't have high heels. To walk properly without making much noise, place the heel of your foot down first and roll your foot slowly and gently towards your toes onto the ground. 2. Avoid walking with downcast eyes (I mean looking down). This reflects lack of confidence and focus in you. Hold you head high while entering into the venue/ room. 3. Carry a good smile on your face and maintain proper eye contact by looking at the moderator/s while entering in the room. 4. Don't walk too fast or in a hurried manner. Try to maintain a moderate pace. 5. Once you have entered try to look out for your name or number (if given in advance)on the chair or on the table in a relaxed manner instead of looking tensed. 6. Once you have found your place or your seat, try to settle down by pulling your chair without making any screeching noise. If the chair doesn't have any wheels attached to it then prefer lifting it instead of pulling (such noises are irritating at times). 7. If you are carrying any bag or other belonging with you, avoid keeping it on your lap once you have taken your place. You can place it beside or at the back side of your chair. Or if there is any vacant space in the room, after taking the permission of the moderator, you can place your bag or belongings there. Always ensure that you are carrying a pen and a notebook/ diary/ piece of paper into the GD room. This will make you look very systematic in your approach. So don't ever forget that.
Q.3 What If I don't get an opportunity to start the GD? How do I still score with the observers? Group discussions are all about a group of leaderless individuals coming together to discuss any topic or a point of moot. And there is no such rule or norm that one needs to start the GD to showcase the desired leadership traits. It's a myth. Well, if there are around 8 to 10 people in a group then only one person can start. Right? Leading from the front doesn't mean, initiating the talk. So relax. And don't worry if you miss the opportunity to initiate the group discussion. It's always good to be relaxed, calm and composed. If you are getting an opportunity to start then the only benefit is that you can lay a strong foundation on the topic. However,
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it's always tough to do so. A slight mistake in interpreting the topic may cost you a lot. So it's better not to hurry up and start a discussion without knowing the varied facets of a topic. There could be some situations that you may face in a GD. Let me know share one of the situations with you. Situation 1. I don't know much about the topic and I'm little confused about it. In this case, the question is how I would be able to score with the observers Relax. Don't jump into the discussion. And avoid not speaking much in the beginning. Rather, listen to some people and see what they have to say. Meanwhile, you jot down some points and try to structure your thoughts. Remember- how much you speak is not that important, what you speak is more important! It's better to keep mum in the first few minutes of the discussion if you are little confused with the topic. However, by maintaining a proper non verbal communication like your postures, gestures and eye contact with every member of the group; you can make your presence felt. In this manner, you can still score with the observers.
Q.4 How should be my seating posture?

The way you sit at the time of group discussion can be one of the judging parameters. A proper posture is an effective non verbal communication. Therefore, you should keep the following points in your mind related to the seating posture: 1. Don't sit with a hunchback. 2. Sit straight or you can also rest your back on the backrest. 3. Don't recline much as you may look a bit slouchy and casual in your approach. 4. Don't move your legs too much. Your feet should be well grounded. Avoid, moving your legs or ankle frequently. 5. You can keep your hands on the armrest. However, while speaking, do use proper gestures to express your views. 6. If your chair has no armrest then you can keep your hands on your lap. Avoid folding your hands in a crossed manner. 7. If the sitting arrangement is around a table then, you can rest you hands on the table. But don't lean onto the table much. 8. Don't look down much. You should always move you head while speaking or listening. As there are more than 2 people in a group; therefore, it's quite obvious that you need to look at everyone, every now and then. This will help you to connect well with your group members. While you are noting down any point in a piece of paper or your notebook, you can look down. However, to keep the connectivity going, you can nod you head to support some points.
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9. Avoid being in a posture with one leg over the other. However, if the sitting arrangement is around a table then you can place your legs under it. And it's up to you how do you want to keep it as it's not going to be visible to others. 10. Don't stretch your legs if you want to change your posture. You can adjust your posture by moving a bit in the chair. Q.5 Should I wait for my turn to speak or speak at my will? Well, in a group discussion, there is no predefined time or sequence of speaking. You can always speak at your own will. It completely depends on the situation you are in. For instance: If you experience that all of a sudden your group members have stopped speaking and they are looking for someone to continue the discussion, then you can start speaking by sharing your views. This situation could be a nice way to understand the need to speak and share your valuable thoughts. A lot of group members may try to invite you to share your views, if you have not contributed much. Ideally, in a group discussion, no one will compel you to speak. Others can only encourage you to give your viewpoints to showcase their leadership trait. Furthermore, if you are not at all speaking and the time is running out then the moderator might intervene and ask you to contribute something. But please don't wait for the moderator to insist you to speak. This will create a negative image and you may get eliminated. Try to speak in the stipulated time. Always keep a track of the time. Speaking at your own will doesn't mean playing the waiting game. Ideally, if you have not started the GD then after some people have spoken, don't wait any longer and enter into the GD with your points. Time flies in GD as you don't get more than 20 to 30 minutes to discuss any topic.
Q.6 What is the best way of summarizing the GD?

There is no convention that one who starts the GD needs to conclude or summarize the same. Often in a GD, you will see that a person who keep a track of the time and has contributed some very good insights throughout, takes the opportunity to summarize it. Summarizing any GD requires a lot of skills and structuring of thoughts. If you are summarizing the GD by not being the last speaker then you can speak your final views on the topic on the basis of whatever you have spoken previously. Normally, a rapid fire round happens in the end wherein every candidate is asked to summarize his/ her points. In that case, you can take some 30 odd seconds and can reiterate all the points that you have shared during the GD. Moreover, if you are to summarize the entire GD; you being the last speaker, then you should give your viewpoints first and then need to take all other viewpoints of your other group members so as to reach the consensus. Taking the viewpoints and the valid recommendations of all the group members are of utmost importance before the GD ends. Therefore, if you are keen to summarize the entire GD then you need to think the extra mile by finally telling people that you would like to take the opportunity to summarize on behalf of the group.
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Q.7 How can I ensure everyone has participated?

A job of a leader is to take his team members along. Starting a GD, contributing key insights, sharing good examples etc., are some of the ways to showcase your leadership skills. Apart from the aforementioned points, you can encourage people to speak by making them feel good about themselves and requesting them to share their opinions or insights so as to showcase your leadership skills. By doing this, you can be in the limelight. In group discussions, many people find it difficult to share their thoughts as they are scared or nervous. Moreover, some people find it difficult to enter into the GD as they don't get enough scope or they are being suppressed by others due to their strong rhetoric abilities. In such a scenario, making a person feel good about himself/herself and inviting him/her to participate in the ongoing discussion can be a nice way to define your leadership skills. Doing this, you will ensure that you have got the best from everyone before you reach the consensus. And that's the art of doing GD. Q.8 If I do not agree with the group, what should I do? A proper understanding of the topic is the key to form opinion. So once you have got the topic, ensure that you have noted down some valid points that you reckon can be backed up by logic, facts & figures. Avoid taking diplomatic stand. If you know about the topic well, and you feel that you have adequate knowledge about it then you can stick to your stand. However, if you have any iota of doubt about the topic then you don't rush into the discussion, rather listen to some people what they have to say about it. This will help you form your opinion. If you have proper logic backed up by facts & figures then people wouldn't discard your points. Refrain yourself from making general statements. Or else people may disagree to your points. As a topic has varied dimension so it's quite possible that you look at it from an angle that your other group members don't agree to. Don't be bogged down if people don't accept your points, instead listen to them what they have to say on your views and converse more with them by asking questions and requesting them for explanations.
Q.9 How should I prepare for the GD?

To me, Group Discussions are tougher than interviews. As the centre of focus is never you, it's the 'Group'. The biggest problem people face during GDs is the TOPIC! If you have got a topic of your choice then it can become a cake walk for you, provided you know about the GD norms. However, if the GD topic is unknown to you then it might take ages to get control over it. And that's the challenge! Even if you don't know the topic, how well you can perform by forming your opinion by listening to others. Following are the ways to prepare for GDs: 1. Read, read and read the contemporary issues related to- Politics, Sports, Business, Social Welfare, Management ,Economics, Media and Entertainment and so on...Reading gives repository of ideas and will help you to form your views. Reading should include Newspapers with prime focus on the editorials, magazines, books etc...For instance: for an MBA the must read magazines are- Business world, Business India, Business Today, India Today, Outlook, Business & Economy, 4Ps ,
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Fortune, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, The Economist, The Indian Management, The Pitch etc... 2. Take up any topics and practise with your friends at least once or twice in a week. If you don't practise, you won't ever get it right. The style, mannerism, and momentum can only be built once you practice. So no matter how many lessons you have leant about GDs, nothing will come good to you unless you practice. 3. Start watching TV shows based on Debates, Business Forums and so on...Watching these programmes will build both your soft skills and the power to form opinions.
Q.10 What if I do not have any idea and knowledge about the topic that comes for my GD? How do I participate then?
This situation may arise many a times to you. As you don't know which topic is likely to come. Also, you may not have idea about all the topics. The best thing to do in this scenario is to keep mum for sometime and observe your fellow colleagues what they have to say. Steps to be followed to handle this situation in a GD: 1. Don't start the GD as you don't have any idea about the topic. 2. You remain silent for sometime and see how others handle the topic. 3. Note down some points in your notebook on the basis of what other people have to say. 4. Maintain a positive body language and don't let's anyone realize that you don't have any idea about the topic. Try to act as if you are willing to give the opportunity to others first to speak their views before you start sharing your views.
Q.11 What if I still have points left to discuss but the time gets over?
It's important to stick to the time assigned for the GD. It's a time bound activity. It's quite possible that you might have missed some key points during the discussion and due to the time constraint, you can't share them anymore. In such a situation, you can quickly speak those points by using some good words or expressions and say that due to the shortage of time you couldn't cover them. By doing this, you are making a strong statement that you had lots to share, but as every aspect can't be shared in such a span on time, so you couldn't share them at length.
Q.12 How should I address the fellow participants?

Group Discussions have some set of norms. And many people forget or get confused about the way they should address the fellow participants. Follow a simple rule: My dear friend.... Always address your fellow group members by using the word called Friend. There can't be any better word than that. Avoid calling their names as you may not know all the names.
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Hence, the best practice is to call your fellow participants as ' My dear friend'.
Q.13 How Can I Lead the Group during the GD?

Following are the ways through which you can lead any group discussion: 1. Initiating the discussion by laying a strong foundation 2. Appreciating the points of other fellow colleagues 3. Encouraging people to speak and contribute their ideas and opinions 4. Helping the group to follow the proper path of discussion by focusing on the relevant points 5. Helping an individual to enter into the discussion 6. Understanding what a person wants to say and then requesting him to contribute more towards the discussion. 7. Not snatching the opportunity from others; rather, creating it for them 8. Appreciating the stand and points of others even if they are opposing yours 9. Keeping a track of the time and trying to encourage people all the time to share their viewpoints on any given point. 10. Concluding the topic of discussion by giving an opportunity to everyone to share his/her final viewpoints with recommendation. And then, summarize the discussion by reaching the consensus.
Q.14 How to overcome the fear of speaking in a group?

The fear of speaking in group comes majorly due to three reasons: Lack of Knowledge Lack of Communication skills Lack of confidence in interacting with people Solutions for you: Case 1: Read more to shape up your mind and build knowledge. Try not to read occasionally. It should be a part of your daily routine. Case 2: Improve your communications skills by working on your grammar, vocabulary, diction, articulation etc. Case 3: Participate in public speaking competitions, debates, forum and so on. Also, get yourself involved into some informal conversations on general topics with your friends. This will help you to gain more confidence. However, please ensure that you speak in English as a medium to communicate. Q.15 How should I relax my mind during the discussion and not get nervous? Following things you can do to relax your mind and to come out of your nervousness: 1. Note down some points that you are planning to speak during the GD. Once the topic is given to the group, you will be given a few minutes to think over. This will enable you to be ready with some core points.
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2. Take a deep breadth and try to calm down 3. Try to become a part of the discussion even if you are not speaking. You can maintain eye contact with people who are speaking, nod your head to support their points and so on...this will soothe your nerves and you will feel more confident and a part of the group all the time. 4. You can support someone's points by adding a few lines to it. This will help you to be a part of the discussion all the time. If you are nervous, you may not be able to come up with new ideas. So the best thing is to support your colleagues' points by adding one or two examples. Q.16 What is a proper Group Discussion Etiquette? 1. Don't call your fellow colleagues by their names 2. Don't try to outwit others by showing your supremacy 3. Avoid personal comments 4. Avoid pin pointing fingers at others 5. Always be calm and composed and appreciate the viewpoints of others. 6. Carry a pen/pencil and a notebook with you. 7. Don't scream or shout. It's not a debate competition. You should focus on modulating your voice to emphasize your points. But avoid shouting. 8. Don't disrupt people much when they are speaking. You can do so when someone has deviated from the topic or has given some wrong or contradictory views. *** And there are many that you will come across while reading other questions. Q.17. How to dress appropriately for a GD? Dressing matters a lot at any selection process. It doesn't become the deciding factor of your performance, but surely it can create a lasting image and help you to become the top of the mind recall. S0 don't ignore the importance of dressing well. Here are some dressing tips for you: For MALE candidates: 1. Wear a proper suit which is a good fit to your body. 2. Prefer colors like black, blue or grey colored suit. Wear a light color shirt with a dark suit. 3. Prefer colors with shades of blue and white. 4. Choose a tie which is good in quality and matches the color of your shirt. 5. Tie the collar button of your shirt and don't keep it undone. 6. Be clean shaven and comb or gel your hair properly. Your hair strands shouldn't fall on your forehead. 7. Don't use a strong cologne or perfume. 8. Your shirt, tie and suit should be properly ironed. 9. Wear a belt with a nice buckle. It shouldn't be very fancy. Ideally, the color of your belt should be black. 10. If you wear glasses then ensure that there are no smudges on the glasses. 11. Wear cotton socks matching the color of your pant. If the color of your pant is black then you should wear black socks. 12. Prefer wearing black shoes. Avoid wearing brown shoes or any other color. A formal
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shoe always comes with shoe laces. Shoes are the reflection of your image. So polish it well before going for any selection process. *** Still if you are confused with your dressing on the day of your selection; be it Group Discussion or a Personal Interview, don't be afraid. This is what the best you can do... Wear a black suit, a full sleeve white shirt with proper collar, and a red tie. This is what the US president wears on any formal occasion. For FEMALE candidates: 1. You can wear a, blue, grey, beige or cream colored suit with a proper fitting. The best is is to get it stitched. 2. You can choose a shirt on the basis of the color of your suit. For girls, colors like: white, pink, blue, black will do. But it completely depends on the contrast. 3. Wear a scarf which goes well with the color of your shirt. It's not compulsory though. 4. Manage your hair well. Ensure that the hair strands don't fall on your forehead while speaking. You can either tie your hairs or leave it the way they are. 5. Don't put a lot of make up on your face. 6. Avoid applying dark lipsticks with high intensity. 7. Choose your perfume well with a mild fragrance. 8. If not a trouser, you can wear a nice pencil skirt with stockings. 9. Wear a belt with a nice buckle. It shouldn't be very fancy. 10. Avoid wearing fancy shoes or sandals. The definition of a proper corporate shoe is the one that covers your feet. Also, avoid wearing very high heels. 11. Don't carry a clutch. You can carry a nice leather bag that compliments your dressing. For girls, dressing can vary as there are a lot of options for them. However, dressing depends on which region you belong to and what's the culture there. For instance: In India Saree is considered to be formal attire.
Q.18 How to handle participants who do not allow others to participate?

The best thing to do in this case is to remind the fellow participants who trying to outsmart/ outcast others that they are in a group discussion and they should speak to the point and also invite opinions of others. Otherwise, no discussion can reach the consensus. For instance: You can interrupt the person who is speaking a lot and not giving chance to others by saying- I'm sorry to interrupt you my dear friend. I would like to remind you that it's a group, discussion and we should allow others to participate as well, so that we reach the consensus. So I request you to extend the same opportunity to others who have not got the opportunity to speak as yet." You should be courteous enough to say that. And speak such lines without any personal comments.
Q.19 How to get yourself heard without being loud?
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Speaking aloud is not the solution to making your presence felt. Try to modulate your voice by emphasizing on every word that you speak. Or you can speak some words aloud which are important and then can bring down your voice decibel. In this way, you can sound very different and not at all monotonous. Also, avoid repeating you points by following the power of brevity. Speak to the points and try to use some good examples to support your points. If you make generalized statements then your views may not be appreciated or taken. Remember, GD is not a fish marketan analogy Often, group discussions end up like a fish market. This phrase indicates that in the discussion there was full of commotion and people were not willing to listen to one another and fought for their points. All these are absolutely against the norms of GD. If your group discussion ever turns out to be the one like a fish market then the entire group may get eliminated from the selection process. Thus, follow the norms precisely. And if you ever experience that during a discussion people are trying to snatch opportunities from others, shouting excessively and all are trying to speak at a time then that's where you can make a strong statement by guiding your fellow colleagues by reiterating the norms of GD. This will bring you at the centre of the discussion. Group Discussions are ways of evaluating an individual's abilities and skills. And if discussions end up on a wrong note with a big fight then the consequences may not be in your favor even if were not at fault.
GD IS NOT A FISH MARKETAN ANALOGY
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CONCLUSION
Group discussions are likely to remain one of the best ways to eliminate candidates who are not equipped with some basic skills; prerequisite to perform any job or pursue any professional education. This remains the litmus test for all aspirants as they need to prove their mettle based on varied parameters. A concrete performance in such discussion will open up a lot of opportunities for any candidate as it is one of platforms through which you can showcase your talent and skills to your prospective employers or your dream management school. It's always challenging as it includes so many parameters of selection. Preparation, presentation, presence of mind, leadership qualities, group skills, and knowledge- perhaps every aspect of selection is taken into consideration. So if you prepare and master it then you are just a step away from getting ahead in your career. I hope this handbook has given you some real life exposure towards handling Group Discussions. To learn more about how to effectively handle situations in a Group Discussion, you can visit www.hrcrest.com
TO YOUR SUCCESS.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kaushik Das, currently associated with an MBA Institute of International Repute as the Associate Vice President - Corporate Relations. He is also one of the distinguished faculty at the Institute. In addition to that, Kaushik is a contributory author for HR Crest and his posts and HRCREST youtube channel videos are highly popular amongst "In Campus" students. He has repeatedly proven his command over subjects related to Group Discussions & Interviews. he is a passionate & optimistic person with an appetite to learn and excel in life. Being a Masters of Commerce and MBA in Marketing & Finance, he is proficient in Corporate Relations and educating both management aspirants & corporates in the areas of Business & Soft skills. He has spent over 6 years in the corporate world with prime focus on Sales & Marketing in the education sector. His competencies are training people in the areas of corporate communication, negotiation skills, aptitude building and career counseling. With a natural flair for Marketing initiatives, Kaushik has been actively involved in organizing & coordinating varied industry interface activities both for management students & corporates. Kaushik manages the in Campus and Public Communication sections of the popular site, www.hrcrest.com
Kaushik Das Author of: Your Own Group Discussion Handbook
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ABOUT HR CREST
HR Crest has been founded by Sudakshina, an HR professional and her partner, Krsna. HR Crest is a preferred destination for people who want to gain knowledge. It is a repository of articles and videos on many a topic of your interest, to name a few: Interview Tips HR Manager Tips In - Campus effectiveness Public Speaking Book Reviews Performance Reviews Career Guidance With a healthy subscriber base, increasing traffic and articles, HR Crest is on a growth trajectory. With regular contribution from the readers in the form of comments, articles, views and suggestions, the site promises to be the one -stop - shop for all career and job related advices apart from retaining the niche in Human Resources. Sudakshina has recently launched her new book named Your Career, Build It Your Way. This book has been reviewed as an authentic Career building guide for all professionals starting or building their careers.
Sudakshina Bhattacharya
Director: HR Crest Author of:
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YOUR OWN GROUP DISCUSSION HANDBOOK

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Your Own Group Discussion Handbook By Kaushik Das

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Your Own Group Discussion Handbook By Kaushik Das

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Introduction: THE ART OF GROUP DISCUSSION

LISTEN TO OTHERS. EXCHANGE IDEAS.

Your Own Group Discussion Handbook By Kaushik Das

YOUR OWN GROUP DISCUSSION HANDBOOK

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Your Own Group Discussion Handbook By Kaushik Das

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HOW GROUP DISCUSSIONS ARE IMPORTANT FOR CAREERS & JOBS

Your Own Group Discussion Handbook By Kaushik Das

YOUR OWN GROUP DISCUSSION HANDBOOK

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Your Own Group Discussion Handbook By Kaushik Das

YOUR OWN GROUP DISCUSSION HANDBOOK

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Your Own Group Discussion Handbook By Kaushik Das

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DOs AND DONTs OF GROUP DISCUSSION

Your Own Group Discussion Handbook By Kaushik Das

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