Group
Discussion
Objectives:
>To train
students to discuss freely in a group without inhibition.
> To train
students to learn and speak assertively while being polite.
> To train
students to arrive at a solution collectively as a team
>To train
students to participate and contribute in a right way.
>To train
students to think about a subject from various angles.
>To train
students to interact one another.
>To provide
opportunities for student to express their views without taking any stance as
in a debate.
>To serve
the purpose of improving the communication skills, confidence intellect,
creativity, approach to solving problem, qualities of leadership, tolerance and
group behavior.
Introduction:
This chapter aims at boosting the
confidence in an individual while driving out his/her inhibition. This also
aims at bringing out the hidden skills of individuals as far as learning and
speaking are concerned.
Course Study:
During the class room session the
students will be engaging themselves in a discussion process, group wise on a
given topic. This session helps them a lot in improving their verbal talents
and etiquette. This is also adds to their thinking and creative awareness on
the subject manner.
The students can exchange their views with the members of
their group and elaborate the discussion. This topic enables the students on
the lines of improving their learning, thinking and speaking manners by
presenting the contents in a polite manner by presenting the contents in a
polite manner.
The students can on one hand acquire the skills related to
thinking and speaking and on the other, they can also know and enrich their
skills of representation of the topic given for group discussion.
Group Discussion:
Now-a-days, Group Discussion, GD is
a popular selection tool in business schools and for entry level positions in corporate When number of applicants is more, GD as a selection elimination
tool is very convenient.
Some Colleges have also used group
discussion for some of the entry level management selections.
What Is Group Discussion?
The term
group discussion is used to refer to a situation in which a small number of
persons to come face to face and to involve themselves in a discussion to free
verbal interaction among themselves, exchange information or attempt to reach
at a decision on shared problems.
We may find a group of 5-15 participants
seated to take part in the group discussion. Generally a topic is given and the
group is asked to discuss that topic. Each candidate is assessed on the basis
of his/her performance during the group discussion.
There is no fixed time limit.
Generally group discussions are conducted for a period of 10 to 45 minutes.
Purpose of Group Discussion in Education:
The ability of the participants in
term of communication skills, analytical skills, assertiveness, confidence, intellect,
creativity approach to solving problems, qualities of leadership tolerance and
group behavior is brought out.
Responsibility of the Members as a Group:
1) If any
member is keeping quiet, it is the duty of the others to draw his/her opinion.
2) If a member
is aggressive or dominating or speaking continuously, it is the duty of the
others to curb him politely.
3) One of the
members should summarize the points made till that time & then present his
view point.
There are broadly two types of
group discussions, one where the discussion is topic based or secondly, a case
study may be given to group. Here are some do’s and don’ts of group
discussions.
Speaking
first is a high risk high return strategy. It can make the GD performance dependency
on how on handles it. In most GDs the opening speaker is the person who gets
maximum uninterrupted airtime.
The reason is simple at the start most other
participants in the GD are still trying to understand the basic issues in the
topic or are too nervous to speak and are waiting for someone else to start.
Therefore the evaluators get the best chance to observe the opening speaker.
Now this is a double edged sword.
If the opening speaker talks
sense naturally he will get credit because he opened and took the group in the
right direction. If on the other hand the first speaker doesn’t make too much
sense while talking, he will attract the undivided attention of the evaluation
to his shortcomings.
He will be marked as a person who speaks without thinking
merely for the sake of speaking. So, remember speak first only if you have
something sensible to say otherwise, keep quiet and let someone else start.
Body Language is at play in its
best form in a group discussion and evaluators can easily make out as to who is
nervous etc. This is something you cannot correct in a short time but if you
leave practiced properly then the chances of displaying positive body language
is more.
Proper eye contact and a
quick movement of eyes is required if size of the group is large. GD as a tool
has a got its own limitation as some people may have to shout to make
themselves heard, especially if you have a soft voice. That’s okay and
desirable, as you have your point.
The group is given a chance to
decide upon topic you should think of general topic on which people can speak.
When the time is short then you should give points, which are beyond the
obvious, and thus perfect your knowledge base. Common tendency is for
candidates to start with the most obvious points/quotes/definitions, which
should be avoided.
It
is best to be neutral on the controversial topic such as reservation or gender
bias.
Mannerism
plays an important role especially at a point when you have to display self-restraint.
The
quality of what you say is more important than quantity. Try to think of the
various arguments of yours and others as parts of a jigsaw puzzle or as
building blocks of a large argument of or against the topic.
“Fill the brain with high Thoughts, Highest
Ideals, place them day and night before you, And out of that will come GREAT
WORK” by Swami Vivekanada
Accept
the joint responsibilities and take decision as a group. You must demonstrate the
fact that you are capable of and inclined to work as part of a team.
When
you asked to summarize, about points
from all the participants. It should prove that you are a good listener. While
summarizing, you should not only repeat your opinion but give a proper summary
of what has actually happened.
DON’Ts:
>Don’t
adopt a negative stance
>
Don’t give a casual look
>
Don’t flay hands
>Don’t
talk too fast
>Don’t
interrupt someone while he/she is speaking.
>Don’t
use slang and improper language
>Don’t
speak loudly
>Don’t
talk too fast round
>Don’t
be emotional
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