Group Discussion is a platform used by recruiters to evaluate aspirant's personality, their ability to communicate with peers and work in a group, to check their subject knowledge and most importantly their social skills.
Whatever be the nature of job or the position, it demands working in a
group and the ability to communicate your views to the group and accept
the inputs from the members of the group.
Here is a 5 Step Process to present yourself effectively in a Group Discussion and also to Stand Out from the rest of the group.
1: GRIP YOUR AUDIENCE
Hold the Group members and the panel’s attention intellectually. The manner in which you present your point, the choice of words, your logical thought flow and the appropriate tone should set the pace. Don’t make light of the tone part as most people tend to lose out even if they have a strong point because they are inaudible. Taking on the role of a facilitator adds to visibility. Don’t be aggressive in your body language and learn to counter the points put forth by your peers intelligently.
Hold the Group members and the panel’s attention intellectually. The manner in which you present your point, the choice of words, your logical thought flow and the appropriate tone should set the pace. Don’t make light of the tone part as most people tend to lose out even if they have a strong point because they are inaudible. Taking on the role of a facilitator adds to visibility. Don’t be aggressive in your body language and learn to counter the points put forth by your peers intelligently.
2: RECIPROCATE TO ENGAGE
Reinforce the meaning of a discussion by reciprocating to your peers
point. It is logical to respond either through positive acknowledgement
or reinforcement. A simple, ‘that’s a valid point’ or if you are
contradicting then, I'm afraid that is not in line with what we were
discussing at hand. Support your peer’s point by adding information or
examples. Some form of response is critical for the discussion to have
vigor and succession. Avoid expressing only points that you have
prepared and ensure there is a link to the previous point mentioned.
3: ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS
Always be clear in your head with what you want to say, learn to think
on your feet, listen carefully to your peers and respond appropriately
and in a timely fashion. Ensure your points are supported by clear and
factual examples. Even better, provide famous examples. Something
familiar registers easy and fast. Use transitional words and phrases
like ‘in other words’ or ‘to rephrase it’ when you want to clarify or t
‘on the other hand’ or ‘on the contrary’ for contradiction. When you
want to compare a point, ‘in the same way’ or ‘likewise’ works and ‘to
illustrate’ or ‘for instance’ for illustration. Avoid incomplete
sentences and don’t be ambiguous jumping from one thought to another.
4: UPHOLD THE GROUP
You can uphold the group by encouraging the shy ones or candidates who
struggle to present their points. Many people find it challenging to
complete a sentence or are inaudible while others may not get an
opportunity to present their points. Step in as a facilitator and give
them a chance to share their opinion. Pay attention and keep track of
time, remind the team of time left and set the group in preparation for
the conclusion. Be assertive but be courteous, do not interrupt another
members point but wait to let them finish and then intervene at the
right time. Watch your body language and at any point of time do not
point fingers or raise hands at a member for the sake of emphasis.
5: PREPARE TO EXCEL
Learn to identify your key skills:
- Are you good at listening and drawing points from peers to enhance discussion?
- Are you good at being a facilitator?
- Are you good at retention and are able to recollect points and present it at the right time, for example, summarization?
