Group Discussion(GD) is one of the key components in final admission round 2015 in top rated B schools. Although a few of the IIMs are not going to conduct Group Discussion at the final stage of admission 2015, a number of highly ranked B schools like FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, IIM Lucknow and many others will be going through the process of Group discussion before offering admission for MA/PGDM batch 2015-17.
What constitutes GD
• Healthy debate among 8-12 candidates in a specified time period of 12-15 minutes
• The exchange of opinions on a given topic is to determine your leadership qualities, judgement of knowledge domain and communication skill.
• Out of the group, not more than 1 or 2 are selected.
• Reason of elimination is either inadvertent mistakes or ignorance about the rules of the game.
How to avoid the mistakes
Prof S.K. Agarwal, expert on management entrance tests shares below the common mistakes that the shortlisted candidates make during GD round and how they can be avoided to emerge as a winner in the GD round.
Don’t take the lead to begin, if unaware
Ignorance is a big problem in GD. Armed with pieces of advice, candidates begin to speak without giving any logical thought to the topic. If you know the topic and can express well on it, you may take the lead else may speak later. It is not important to be the first speaker but more important is what you know and how you speak. You may wait to be the second or third speaker after getting certain clues and outlining them before you speak.
Don’t hesitate, if you know
This is very crucial aspect. Despite knowing the topic well, you hesitate to speak. It’s all due to the lack of practice. Sometimes, you think that let others speak and only then you should speak. You go on waiting and time is over but you never find the time to speak.
Don’t copy
Express your own ideas at length. If you simply follow the other speaker or his ideas, remember your elimination is imminent. Be yourself, when you speak. Your evaluator is sharp enough to judge your knowledge and skill.
Don’t beat about the bush
A future manager will require to communicate with number of people in all walks of life- like their colleagues, customers, higher ups. Verbal and written effective communication will be required in making policy decisions. If you are not able to express yourself coherently and go on beating about the bush, you are wasting your time. When you speak you should speak to the point without any ambiguity of thought.
Don’t contradict your points
The topics given in Group Discussion are debatable, you might like to speak for or against the topic and while speaking you forget that you are countering your own arguments. It gives a bad impact and you are judged a person who has no stand for his own thought.
For example if you are given the topic ‘Indian politics needs new generation’ or ‘Older politicians should give way to younger ones’ and you find yourself comfortable to speak for the topic. While you are of the opinion that young ones will be full of energy, will be more active, will do the things enthusiastically, will bring innovative ideas, you begin to say that older politicians are needed to infuse energy and provide guidance to younger generation. Now despite being correct on that point, you are crisscrossing your own point. So be careful about that.
Don`t avoid eye contact
While speaking candidates are afraid of looking into eyes of their fellow participants for one or other reason. You are not a news reader but an aspirant who wants to leave a good impact of his expression. If you are speaking and looking towards the evaluator or in blank space, you are not expressing yourself. The strategy is to give a consistent look scanning all the participants in your group. Don’t look to a particular one but around entire group. It gives the impression that you are keen enough to make your point clear to everyone present there.
Avoid interruption
Apart from being a good speaker you are supposed to be a good listener too. It will help you to form more points to speak on and express yourself more effectively. So do not unnecessary interrupt or bully other speakers. Listen to others, and outline your next expression points, present them when you speak.
Don’t be content with only one round
Don’t be content with one round of one minute or half a minute speaking in the group. Focus on key points, form the ideas and opinions to enter again. Grab at least 2- 3 opportunities to enter with effective speech of one to two minutes.
Don`t lose confidence
Number of aspirants find themselves got down when one or other of their points go wrong. In fact, you have to make the same good and recover during the given time. Do not therefore think like a loser, on the contrary prepare and outline some effective points and present yourself confidently. It is not necessary that everything you speak will be acceptable but how you speak and what impression it leaves, is more important.
Avoid the fish market: be audible
The scene during the group discussion sometimes becomes a fish market where everyone is speaking but nothing is heard. If you continue speaking in the din, you are wasting time. It is not possible to win with a weak, low or timid voice. But if you have a strong voice clearly audible over the scene, this is the right time to speak in a slightly higher volume. This will bring silence and you will be able to convey your message well.
Please remember during the process of Group Discussion time is short and you have to find the right opportunity to speak and put forward your views effectively. If you can provide some fact based information, it will be an added advantage for you to get through the GD round.
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Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on Group Discussion round 2015
