10 Points to remember while preparing for a Group Discussion

Whether it is for MBA entrance exams like CAT or Bank PO exams or UPSC exams, Group Discussions are an important part of the selection process. Check out our tips for preparing for group discussions:

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1. Read at least one newspaper and 1 weekly on a regular basis for at least a month before your GD. You need to be aware of a broad range of topics if you want to contribute meaningfully in a GD.
2. Speak in a clear voice – loud enough to be heard clearly around the room but not so loud that you seem to be shouting.
3. Address everyone while speaking – when making a point, avoid keeping eye contact stuck on one person. Instead, have brief eye contact with everyone around the room while speaking. This achieves 2 important objectives: it shows everyone that you are talking to the group, not to one person and it also lessens the chance that someone will interrupt you while you are speaking.
4. Be an active listener. Ways to show you are listening actively include: nodding while someone is speaking, keeping your sight on the speaker, leaning towards the speaker, referencing a past point while making your own, etc. A group discussion is as much about listening as it is about speaking. It is a big plus if you meaningfully relate your own point to past point made.
5. Don’t interrupt when others are speaking. Wait for appropriate pauses or “troughs” in the discussion to enter and make a point.
6. Do not get personal. Remain objective, and feel free to contradict others on the basis of facts, not opinions. Make sure your phrasing is respectful. For example, instead of saying “You are completely wrong!” say “Actually, a recent study by CII has shown that the proportion is 85%, not 20%.”
7. Do not argue. You are not in the room to pick fights, even if others are being aggressive towards you. Do not get caught in an argument with individuals.
8. Use the first few minutes that the panelists have given you to make notes. After that, however, only refer to your notes and avoid making more notes as others are speaking – once a GD has started, you should be focusing on the discussion at hand.
9. If you are a very shy or introverted person, you need to make an extra effort in order to not be lost in the room. In such cases, set yourself a target to at least make 2 meaningful contributions to the GD – one within the first 2-3 minutes of the GD and the second within the last 2-3 minutes of the GD. This ensures that your points are at least heard, and your visibility spans the length of the GD.
10. Practice, practice, practice!

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