Correct Approach for GD-  Group discussion is a systematic and purposeful communication process characterized by the formal and structured exchange of views on a particular topic, issue, problem or a situation for developing the information and understanding, which is essential for a proper decision making or problem solving purpose. Group Discussion is not essentially, the test of expert knowledge or technical expertise of the candidates, but it is the test of the suitability of the candidate to work as a team member towards attaining the common organisational goals.

To score maximum in Group Discussion test, a candidate has to leave an impact on the panel about his relevance to the group and should try to emerge as an effective team member. To leave an impact on the panel members, the candidate should concentrate on five major areas. Firstly, the candidate must try to emerge as a leader of the group by taking an initiative in the discussion and putting the discussion of the group on right track. As soon as the time for Group Discussion starts, the candidate should initiate the discussion by a proper salutation to other participants of the group by saying-‘Good morning friends, as the topic for Group Discussion is xyz, I think we should discuss the topic in terms of following points.’ The candidate should start the Group Discussion by introducing the topic in a simplified manner but in the right context, to other members of the group and should set the direction of the Group Discussion. By taking an initiative in the discussion and by introducing the topic in correct context, the candidate would gain an advantage to emerge as a leader of the group. Throughout the discussion, the candidate should make it sure that the discussion of the group remains relevant to the topic and other members are also being given an opportunity to put their views in the ongoing discussion. This quality of initiative, coordination and accommodating others’ views in the discussion would help him to emerge as a leader in the Group Discussion.

Even if the candidate doesn’t get a chance to initiate the discussion because of chaotic set up or any other reason, he can still emerge as the leader of the group by putting right point at right time during the discussion and helping to keep the discussion in right direction. Secondly, the candidate should always try to be the part of discussion either by contributing relevant points to the discussion or by being a good and enthusiastic listener. The relevance to the discussion is very much important as the discussion could lose the focus from original topic and the candidate must utilise this opportunity to bring back the discussion to the original topic. Thirdly, the candidate must be accommodative to other candidates’ views in the Group Discussion. It is not desirable that all the points in the discussion are being discussed by only few of the members of the group and the candidate must have the magnanimity to listen to others’ views also and should try to motivate others to be the part of the discussion. Fourthly, the candidate must focus on developing effective communication skills in terms of command over English language, improving on body language aspects and focusing on interpersonal communication. Lastly, the most important thing which matters in Group Discussion is the ultimate impact left over by the candidate on the group, by way of his contribution towards Group Discussion. The ultimate impact of candidate on the Group Discussion is based on the overall personality of the candidate, his confidence, effective communication skills and his usefulness to the group for coming to the final conclusion of the issue given for the Group Discussion.

The candidate would feel comfortable, if the topic of the Group Discussion is in the comfortable zone of his understanding. However, even if he doesn’t get the clarity of the topic and lacks the quality content on the topic to start with, he can still outshine other candidates by being receptive in initial stages of the discussion to various comments made by other participants and putting the right responses to other candidates’ views at right time of the discussion phase at an appropriate juncture of the discussion. The positive attitude of the candidate and overall confidence would prove to be the ultimate characteristics needed by a candidate to conquer the Group Discussion test.

(The author of this article ,Lt Col (Dr) Satish Dhage, is an ex Army officer and has been qualified for IPS (Indian Police Services) through IPS LCE 2012. Presently, he is Director, MGM Institute of Competitive Exams Aurangabad. For any queries or feedback, he can be contacted on email id : drsatishdhage@gmail.com)