[soumik.ganguly]

Group Discussion has evolved across these years and has become a very complex but Dissected methodology. It is a process wherein people who have been trained can become really stereotypical in terms of performances. This ensures that it becomes easy for the Panel to reject more number of people at this stage itself. For the GD processes under CAT, XAT and other exams (except MAHA-CET), it is the prime objective for the panel to excercise the Rejection formula correctly.

In earlier times, GD used to be topical and main concentration was on the content, attitude, and the body language. Content normally included awareness about the topic and attitude dealt with the tone used during the discussion. Today, things have changed.

GD has become more of an excercise of Group Dynamics rather than a discussion. It is a place wherein people are pushed into unknown territories (TOPICS) and then are expected to find a solution (Discussion). The competencies that are looked into are - Logical thinking, strategy (for solutions), listening skills, reactions and proactiveness, verbal communication, etc.

In this chapter, I will tell you about what the Bschools look into when they make you sit in a GD. It will consist of the Opening including the topic, the body of the GD and the chemistry that they want the students to have.

Opening a GD:
--------------

For many people, being the first person to talk in a GD is imperative. They feel that it will give them brownie points and that they will be perceived as Initiators. Nothing can be more foolish if someone without a solid plan in place attempts to start the GD. He/She will definitely be the first one to be booted out if the content of the Opening sentences is pathetic.

In case you are not too sure about the topic or are not good in opening a GD, WAIT for someone to start.

Normally, opening a GD involves these very important things:
1. Define the topic of the GD if there is a need to define it for others (clarity)
2. Set boundaries/parameters that you may feel will help the GD to be discussed without ambiguity.
3. In case you have a story/ incident/ experience for the topic, then start with that.
4. Creative GD will be started with your interpretation and the supporting thought process for the interpretation.

Now let us take a few examples and understand what is supposed to be done, and what is to be avoided:

Case 1:
TOPIC - "Rank the 10 most Significant things that happened in India in the last century"

Opener's tips -
1. Start by defining the key terms, which in this case are - Significant and Last century. Defining these two things would give a guiding light to the GD else everyone would come out with their own version of significance.
2. Set the tone by telling everyone the thumb rule - "bring on one point at a time and we will freeze it in terms of significance".
3. Remember - YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RANK ALL 10 IN THE STIPULATED TIME.

Many people in the above GD will start of by giving their Top 10. It may be on the basis of Date, seriousness, religion, politics, etc. This will cause chaos and the entire group will be eliminated.

Case 2:
TOPIC - "Pink Pyjamas flying high on the Red-Fort"

Opener's tips -
1. In case you don't get the essence of the topic, break down the topic into parts viz. pink pyjamas / flying high / on the Red fort. Pink pyjamas are worn by Ladies or gays and since the other part of the sentence doesn't suggest Gay prrotest, you can eliminate the second guess. Flying high indicates better status, better recognition, or independance. And lastly, "on the Red Fort" symbolizes something to do with the political perspective of India. So overall, the topic can be summed up as - the status or recognition of women in Indian Politics.
2. This kind of a topic can have different interpretation, and therefore please dont close yourself on someone else's idea.

This will be very rude and you will come across as someone who doesn't bother to listen.
3. As an Opener, get everyone to discuss and freeze on the meaning so that all are aware of what they will talk about.


Now, there are situations wherein you face two distinct problems:
1. You don't know the topic but the group knows it.
2. Neither you nor the group knows about the topic.

In the first scenario, it is okay to be quiet for sometime before entering to say something that will make sense. But what happens in the 2nd scenario? In situations like these, you have to the most daring thing one can do - ASK for a change in the Topic before anyone else does. The ignorance will be visible within 30 seconds of the panel asking you to Start. If you are the one asking for the Change in topic, chances are that you may be the only one selected.


Body of the GD & the Chemistry inside a discussion:
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We all know that a normal GD would have a time-frame of 20-30 minutes. If there are 10 students sitting in the GD, that translates into 2-3 minutes per person. This is one of the biggest truths that GD takers forget. The ideal time for you to talk would be this duration and consider yourself lucky if someone doesn't speak and you get that extra time as a bonus.

A very big fact that many of us tend to overlook is that during the GD process, You will only have to ensure that you do your job perfectly. The other members would be either doing justice to their claims (by performing) or they would be help your cause (by being a Nuisance value).

So the learning is clear - "Concentrate on your role and your job as a team person. Forget the rest".

Most of the time, I have found myself telling the IIM aspirants that in case you are not an aggressive speaker, be the person who would regulate the entire GD within the group. This means that - in a situation wherein everyone (or some people) are giving in their solutions or thoughts, you should be busy noting their points and creating a lateral thinking output that will have a Strategy B or a Plan B ready for the group.

If you can manage to pitch in with this new angle to the GD, you have won the battle!!

Please resist in getting into the normal "my friend", "dear friend", "Sir" etc. Sentences can begin simply by saying - "I disagree with your point" or "I completely agree with him" in which case you use a complete hand movement to show to the group whom you are agreeing/disagreeing with.

Another important observation can be made at this juncture - Remember, the disagreement is with the Point of view or the Data that you might have provided. It is NOT personal. In GD topics that are a little emotional like "India should give away Kashmir to Pakistan", I have seen people getting involved personally which has ensured their rejections. You are there to
discuss and understand the probability to have a Plan of Action or a solution coming in from Matured person. Emotions are best left outside the GD room.

Most Business Schools ensure that they pick up those students who have some data on the topic or related discussions wherein the students can compliment their point of view or the stand they might take. It is like suggesting the changes expected in the New Budget - "Finance Minister should reduce the percentage of cess for young entrepreneurs". I am not happy with only that. Anyone can give me that. What's so special in you?? Always remember, the essence is not "What to do?" but actually "How
to do it?". Only then can the Institute understand your thought process. Only then the Institute can understand if you are creative and also support your creativity with sound logic.



I will wait for you puys to provide your comments/feedback/ discussions on the above, and will share some of the other things that I know by just being a part of the other side (B-Schools) for some years, and also by guiding & interacting with somewhere around 7000 B-School aspirants for the last 6 years.

Let us all share our concerns/ dooubts and also the knowledge on this and get the best possible survival tips for everyone.

:new_bat_angel:

[gyanvikas]

Hey Soumik,

thanks for the wonderful thread. Especially for that one "Pink Pyajamas flying high on Red-Fort". :rockedov:

Could u plz some more abstract topics and analysis like this.

gyan

[soumik.ganguly]

Hi.

Generally the topics that you will encounter in various Institutes would be related to some problem statement or somethiing based on the current and future economic trends.

It is evry seldom we see that b-Schools actually give something creative like the "pink pyjamas..." type. These kind of GDs are not very easy to judge for the juries and therefore the rarity.

I will further provide you with certain situations that you can come across in GDs. If you have any further problems, please put them across and I will try my best to provide suggestions.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by gyanvikas

Hey Soumik,

thanks for the wonderful thread. Especially for that one "Pink Pyajamas flying high on Red-Fort". :rockedov:

Could u plz some more abstract topics and analysis like this.

gyan

[soumik.ganguly]

During a Fish market, you will normally find 4-5 people creating the ruckus and going nowhere. Actually they will be doing your job perfectly - that of your selection and their rejection by creating nuisance.

Remember - make new inroads into the topic from various angles viz Social, Political, parental, financial, etc. Anything that you would be comfortable in handling and you would have conviction while talking to the OTHER members in the group.

[soumik.ganguly]

What is Body Language?
Generally when I have asked this question to students/aspirants, their answers have always been similar – “Something to do with the way one sits or gestures, etc.” Well. That’s correct no doubt. But Body Language goes far beyond that and the whole premise that it holds good only for that one GD or the PI for your selection into the B-School is rubbish. Your Body Language is something like a platform upon which you will base many future-things like summer internship, final placements, deals with clients, executive interviews, and list goes on.


One thing that I have learnt in my life (the hard way of-course) is the fact that the best of deals that I have cracked in my profession and the negotiations that went along with them were won due to my body language which prevailed upon the other side giving them an impression that they could trust me and in turn trust the establishment I was representing. Remember – no skill that you will learn from this book will end up non-usable in your career. Every one of them is true for every possible situation – starting right now from your selection GD and Interviews to client acquisitions.


The Body language (like any other language) has its own set of rules but like a good conversationalist, one can master every response in such a way that you can win in any situation, or against any opponent (hey, aren’t they an opponent?). It has been termed as the non-verbal communication by many masters and therefore counts for maximum marks in your GD-PI and creates maximum impression when you are with clients. Why? Well I believe any Dr. Know-it-all will tell you that non-verbal communication accounts to almost 60% of our total communication to any person. As of now, I will suggest you to go by this “rule” until you figure out something else more scientific.


First up for you – the basics of Body Language for Group Discussions.


What is the best way to sit inside a GD?
This is the starting point. Almost every student will ask this question first up. Actually in India, the formal education does not teach us many things and one of them will be the way to conduct ourselves in different situations. Either we are too serious and mess-up, or we are too casual and mess-up. There is a third wherein we don’t know what to do and mess-up. All these possibilities are avoidable.
When one sits on a chair for discussing a topic, the idea is to relax and also be attentive. Using the chair is something that I have had pains to make many people understand. When you sit on a chair, many a times there is a possibility that you will tend to sit on the edge of the chair. This is a no-no. I will want you to sit back so that the back rest is actually doing its job – supporting your back. Research says that if your backbone is steady and in not much of a stress, then your thinking becomes a little better than usual.(Have you ever wondered how come those Head of the Departments thought correctly at times and not observed them couched into their seats?).
Having said that, the correct posture is to sit back, keep both your legs in-front of you, both hands on your legs, and relax your body by breathing deeply once or twice. Avoid putting one leg on top of the other (as you may be a Zamindaar but out there it is time to prove other things), and folding your hands as you get ready to speak.


What should be my hand movement during discussions?
I will ask you to go and watch some of these news presenters from the English channels. One can actually learn a lot from them in terms of how they use their hands for making various points and suggestions.
Not pointing fingers and things like that are something that I do not want to mention as it is understood you will not do those things that you won’t want others to do to you. So what is it that you will need to create an impression? Normally, people who make an impression are those who speak without folded hands. An open arm gesture while talking always gives others a sub-conscious feeling that you are the one they will want to talk to. Use Karate-Chop movements for making a point that you believe is pertinent and has to be told to everyone. Open-Palm usage to point to someone is also acceptable as that helps you create your own team in the process.


What about my eye-contact?
I just hope that you don’t end up getting Hritik Roshan or Aishwarya Rai in your GD group so that you have an issue with your eye contact as you speak in a GD. Even if they are there, the idea is to ensure that you speak to everyone and not to someone special alone. Most of the time, we tend to look at people and talk to them who are either supporting our thoughts or are opposing our points vehemently. Why should the others be left out? Don’t you have to discuss with every member in the group? Is it not a very democratic discussion wherein they deserve your attention for any point that is discussed? The idea is to (a) speak to all the members and let them feel that you are the one who can be trusted and you will be there to hear when they will make their points, and (b) know and strategize around those people who will be hostile to your ideas and logic. Please avoid a very long eye contact as it may mean otherwise – either intimidating or something else altogether. Figure this out by taking a feedback from your peers if your eye-contact currently is good enough or you need to get the ideal way of doing it.


Should I keep a smiling face or should I be serious?
Normally, common sense prevails upon many who ask me this question. I generally advise anyone to keep a straight face to start with and there is nothing wrong to have a smiling face. People say this and they mean it – “Don’t take anyone on face value”. Why? You will feel that if someone is smiling when you are talking then you have sold him the idea and be shocked when the next disturbing question comes from that very person. Please understand that it is very much situation based and you will have to figure out that if there are situations wherein you will need to have a straight face and it will help in the discussion, who will stop you from doing that? You should be the one who will bring the group and the discussion together (maybe even others will do that which is better still), and therefore if you are approachable, then you should get more discussion threads directed towards you than anyone else. Isn’t it nice when the group will wish to seek your opinion before going in for a conclusion?


Some of the common errors in body-language that I have come across with students who sit for their practice GDs are:

1. They get into a shell when their points are being questioned and discussed animatedly in the group, which shows in their body language that closes up giving a clear communication that they are not comfortable.
2. They use excessive hand movements that at times seem a little hostile.
3. They seem to forget that there are a couple of people sitting right next to them, and avoid eye-contact with them throughout the discussion.
4. They come to the edge of their seats when something they feel is very important to prove or disprove.
5. They start using hand gestures that are un-parliamentary in any forum. This generally happens due to over excitement.

[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.

[soumik.ganguly]

I believe that you would have got some idea of the bare minimum basics of performing successfully in GDs across the various Institutes.

I will give more inputs on this as we go on, but it will be great if you guys get back to me with your questions based on your experiences and on what you have already learnt in these posts from my side.

Waiting for your queries/feedback/ideas....

[Sourajyoti]

thnx Soumik da for your grtt efforts.....plz clarify me about following cases :

1. how should I start a GD? If I start in this way :'good morning /evening ladies and gentleman I would like to talk about the topic....." ........will it be accepted ?
2. should I talk about all of my points in a single attempts and come to conclusion or should I take more than one attempts to talk about them ?
3. what should be ideal duration for which i will have talk at stretch ?
4. can we ask open-ended questions( e.g. "" Can we do anything against it? "")

[soumik.ganguly]

Hey Soura... Thanks for the questions.. my answers are as follows:

1. To begin a GD, you will need to understand the Topic and then the scope of the topic. As I have mentioned, all you need to do when you begin the GD is to provide the boundaries inside which the discussions will take place. You are supposed to define the parameters for everyone's clarification so that later in the GD you dont find that someone has gone haywire. That will be a blow to the discussion.
You can always wish everyone when you begin (good evening/good morning). But rather than saying that " I would like to talk about the topic..." you can directly start talking about the meaning of the topic, any related story, data you know etc. to start the process of deciphering the topic. In case someone else jumps onto it (which may also be a recurring case), and you find that there are still things that have not been told, you can say -adding onto what he had to say, I will make the following observations...

2. I guess you can understand the answer to this question of yours if you can go through the posts once more time. Actually, you are not to give out all your points on a particular thing at one go, because taking cue from your point, someone else can contribute something good, on top of which you can again add something interesting.
The fear that you may not be able to speak/may not get time to give out your points is unfounded. Even in fish-market situations, you can enter the GD and give them different perspectives to re-enter the discussion.

3. Divide 30 minutes by 10 participants = 3 mins on an average. Thats all you should plan for. Now, thankfully, some will not talk and you will get more chances to talk if you are listening properly and figuring out the entry points on offer. You can talk for 5-6 minutes and get your job done. remember, that in the entire equation, the other participants will also be contributing to your selection at times.

4. Open ended questions are always welcome but should follow with what and HOW to do it. It will be important from the Jury's perspective to get to know how logically you an think on a particular problem and come with a step-by-step solution. In case you can have a PLAN B (which is kind of an alternative plan in case the first plan fails) then you would probably score more than anyone else during that discussion.

I hope I have been able to answer your queries... Please write back if you have something more to share..

Cheers

Originally Posted by Sourajyoti

thnx Soumik da for your grtt efforts.....plz clarify me about following cases :

1. how should I start a GD? If I start in this way :'good morning /evening ladies and gentleman I would like to talk about the topic....." ........will it be accepted ?
2. should I talk about all of my points in a single attempts and come to conclusion or should I take more than one attempts to talk about them ?
3. what should be ideal duration for which i will have talk at stretch ?
4. can we ask open-ended questions( e.g. "" Can we do anything against it? "")

[rahulram]

Hi!
Really simple,to the point and very effectively written.thank you for this thread.

My query is:
1.how do i go about summarizing the discussion when asked to? (whose points should i include if in the course of discussion,i realize the group put across some brilliant points?)

2.it would be great if you could give us a few tips on handling the pitch and tone of our voice in a discussion.

thanks again.