[aditya27]

Originally Posted by soumik.ganguly

I will tell you the secrets of getting the other things in place (like clarity of thought, poise, manners, group think and group shift) in my following posts. Right now we will focus on how to get these body-language errors out of your system.


It is imperative to mention out here that every person has two distinct communication styles for any situation. I will like to distinguish them as – Primary communication style and the Backup Communication style. Most of you who are familiar with the MS Windows Operating system, will know that there is a normal mode and then there is a Safe mode as well.


When you are in situations that are rewarding all that you are doing or saying, or maybe you are feeling very confident and getting things done by yourself, you will showcase your Primary communication style. This is a style that we hone and practice to get ourselves. This is the style that most GD practitioners give you feedback upon and you feel you have prepared enough.


The problem comes when you are in situations that put you under a lot of stress and demand that you will have to support every logic of yours and win over those opponents. It is here that you Backup communication style becomes active and you communicate in a way that is probably alien to even yourself at that point of time.


How many times have you come out of a GD and told yourself that you just did not know what happened but you lost it out there? That you could not just make any logic out of what you were saying? That you wish you could have handled it in some other way?


This is the problem of not knowing your backup style.


Let me give you an example. Harsh takes up a GD wherein he is the person who starts the discussion – this is where he is performing at Primary Communication style. This style of his can be related to a direct communicator, who will be open to discussing points and ideas and will analyze everything that will be discussed. After 2 minutes, Harsh’s points are beaten down by someone else on the basis of logic and the others now see that Harsh is not forthcoming with his ideas, and is catching up with others giving himself a lot of pauses to come back into the discussion. This is actually where his backup style comes into play. This style is related to a dormant communication style wherein the person just reacts rather than being proactive and it is visible in the way the participation in the discussion in done by him/her.


I will provide some tools to help you figure out your own communication style and be aware of that backup style that can resurface anytime wherein you are pushed to the wall.


But why take the pain in understanding the backup style at all? Can we do something about it?


Being aware of the backup style helps you to consciously avoid getting into that style of communication and maintain your primary communication style throughout the discussion. Your Best chance to get brownie points in the GD depends upon your usage of the primary style. This has a direct effect on the Body language that is generally more open when you are performing at your primary style and closed when you are in your backup mode. I will suggest all students to ensure that after you have identified that backup style, ensure that you can replicate your primary style into your backup style as well.


How will you do this? Very simple. You will have to tell yourself that you are feeling very confident about the topic, the place and the group. Then start with a very positive frame of mind and obviously with your primary communication style. Then look out for possible pitfalls or situations wherein you are pushed into corners or your points are massacred. This is where you will have to remain calm and as positive as when you started and your primary style will still be there with you to ensure that the performance graph does not dip under these circumstances.


Understanding the backup style not only help you in a GD but also in any of your real-life situation wherein a quarrel that you got involved into can be amicably brought to an end by the way you will conduct yourself with your primary communication style. People talk about maturity. I say it is all a combination of some factors and the communication style is the most important of them all.

Absolutly super!!!

[sachinsingh21]

thnks shoumik bhai ....................

[Abel.1]

Hi,

First thing, seeing the excitement and the level of passions people at PG show, every time I get amazed and am driven to far excel my expectations.
Good going team,

Issue:
I had secured 93.4% in cat'07 and then was unable to convert ne calls that i got.
Reason: Though have acceptable scores of 85% and 80% in 10th n 12th, have flunked one year in engg and secured arround 55% aggregate in the same.
I was quiet overconfident and disillusioned in that part of life and thought that studies in engg. are not going to affect my career.
Later got over my complacency, Got a decent job later, currently working with a World renowned mobile gaming company.
But again I want to attempt CAT, I am sure if I put decent efforts, I will be able to get call from One IIM at the least.
But the same question comes to haunt me again, Why are ur engg. scores so low,how you lost a year?

Hence, can you pls. guide me on:
1: Why past acads. are so important to IIM profs?
2:How can I convince them that despite poor engg. aggregate, I am still very much suitable for their course?
3: If something I can do to cover up for that gray area?Like make some good popular website etc.?

[abhi.npti1984]

Shoumik da THANKS A LOT for your exellent posts on GD thechniques........its helping me a lot for my solo GD prep!! actually am facing some problems regarding my CAT preparation I am an engg. and working in a power plant in chhattisgarh...the place is very remote...no coaching inst. for CAT at all. i took CAT in 2008 without any prep(just to have the feel of it) and scored 92%tile. This year my preparing seriously..taking mock CATs of CL through internet(luckily we have this facility). Now problem is regarding GD & PI...no one is giving CAT in my company except me...so i cant even form a group to practise gd...what i am doing now is:
1. keeping abreast myself with current affaires through TV, net and news paper, magazines

2. practising debates with my wife(who is well conversant in english..am not ..am from bengali medium ).....

ernestly need ur suggetions and guidance

THANKS in advance

[bhawik]

Originally Posted by Abel.1

Hi,

First thing, seeing the excitement and the level of passions people at PG show, every time I get amazed and am driven to far excel my expectations.
Good going team,

Issue:
I had secured 93.4% in cat'07 and then was unable to convert ne calls that i got.
Reason: Though have acceptable scores of 85% and 80% in 10th n 12th, have flunked one year in engg and secured arround 55% aggregate in the same.
I was quiet overconfident and disillusioned in that part of life and thought that studies in engg. are not going to affect my career.
Later got over my complacency, Got a decent job later, currently working with a World renowned mobile gaming company.
But again I want to attempt CAT, I am sure if I put decent efforts, I will be able to get call from One IIM at the least.
But the same question comes to haunt me again, Why are ur engg. scores so low,how you lost a year?

Hence, can you pls. guide me on:
1: Why past acads. are so important to IIM profs?
2:How can I convince them that despite poor engg. aggregate, I am still very much suitable for their course?
3: If something I can do to cover up for that gray area?Like make some good popular website etc.?

Past acads are important not only to IIM profs, but to most of the profs you may run into. It is generally taken as an indicator of the candidate's consistency. A very high percentile in CAT will no doubt earn you the GD/PI invite, but that is where the whole fight starts. You can definitely come up with a covering story but it must be convincing. The profs are quite open about ideas and they will surely give you a hearing. Most people come up with an excuse of health or a mental disorder. Some come up with some theory about some 'higher calling' and some just say they wanted to experiment with stuff outside studies. All are prefectly acceptable but you must be passionate in your reply. Else, your profile should stand out from the rest of the crowd (like worked for 3 years abroad or won something for the country etc). I am sure that with pure conviction and preseverence, you can make it. Good wishes.