|
Master
Key |
Strategies for an effective
Group Discussion - How to polish your speech and pit your
wit |
|
A GD is a tactic used by an institute to judge whether the candidate
has certain personality traits and skills that it desires in
its students. This activity is conducted for a group of selected
candidates. At the beginning they are given a topic or a situation,
given a few minutes to think about the same, and then asked
to discuss it among themselves for 15-20 minutes.
The GD tries to determine the student’s persona in the
following areas
 capacity
to work in a team
communication skills
interpretation skills
management and leadership skills
ingenuity
assertive nature
flexible stance
visual skills
independent thinking
Warming up for the
Group Discussion
“One important key to success is self-confidence.
An important key to self-confidence is preparation.”
Self-confidence is a key to survive in this world. It is the
only key tool to win the rat race in every walk of life. Confidence
is an outcome of effective preparation combined with sincere
effort. The end results wherein the sense of achievement scales
unmistakable heights.
When this basic element of confidence is missing in us we perform
well below our caliber. This underperformance is synonymous
to being an inactive participant, in a group discussion.
Creating a First Impression
Another very significant aspect of group discussions
is the first impression that you create.
A first impression can either ‘make you or break you’.
It is very important to make a great ‘First Impression’.
The ‘First Impression’ takes into account your appearance,
your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how
you are dressed. With every new encounter you are assessed and
another person’s impression of you is formed. These first
impressions cannot be reversed or undone making those first
impressions extremely important for they set a pace for all
the relationships that follow.
Effective First Impression Tools
Speech plays an important role in our ability to communicate
as humans. This is especially important when we
get together in groups. During group discussions, the speech
you use can have a powerful impact on the
way your message is received by those who are listening to you.
First, it is important to make sure you speak clearly. Those
who listen to you will need to understand what you
are saying. You should not have to repeat yourself.
If you are the head of the discussion group, it is very crucial
for you to speak properly. If you cannot speak
in a proper manner, your leadership abilities may be questioned.
Even though the group should be responsible
for making the final decision, the members will look to you
to lead them.
It is also important to speak audibly. If someone makes a statement
that you do not understand, ask them to clarify
in a polite manner. The tone of your voice and the way you speak
will say a lot about how you feel about a
certain topic, and it will also show how well you can speak.
If you disagree with a statement that has been made, do it in
a manner that is tactful. Always talk in a manner
that is courteous to others. You should not ridicule or attack
someone personally because you don't like
their idea. .
If you don't speak in an intelligent manner, the other members
may assume that you are unintelligent, even
if that is not the case. If you need to interrupt someone who
is speaking, it is always important to interject
their conversation in a nice way. Some groups may require you
to raise your hand and be called upon before
you can comment on a statement or idea.
While it is important to speak eloquently, you will want to
avoid using technical terms that are not understood
by the group. Being able to explain complicated concepts in
a simple manner will allow the group to quickly
grasp what you are trying to tell them, it may be helpful to
use analogies that can help the members grasp
the concept.
The cultural background of an individual will also play a role
in how one speaks. So when group discussions are
held, there are a number of things you will want to remember
about your speech.
Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind,
to create first impressions. But a word of caution,
sometimes by saying too much, attempts to communicate effectively
are nullified.
A successful and satisfying end to a group discussion is when
on concluding it puts forth a few strategies to counter the
given situation while leaving the appraising board debating
on the same.
|
