Objectives of Conducting a Group Discussion
Why is a Group Discussion Organized?
We all know that recruitment process nowadays is not a cake
walk process. It is complex than it used to be in earlier times. Gone are those
days, when only basis mark sheets and degree one used to grab a job. Now
selection in a company or even in a management college depends on how you
perform during your Group Discussion and Personal Interview. While watching
many reality shows, singing or dancing contests on television, we get to see
that the judges evaluate the candidates’ skills, not only basis their singing
or dancing skill, but an ‘x’ factor is also important. Now, what is this ‘X’
factor? This X factor is determined through the group discussions. Hence GD
plays an important part in letting the recruiters know, identify and
acknowledge your skills other than your educational degrees.
Group Discussion
serves several purposes:
1. Collecting data
2. Breeding fresh ideas and taking inputs from a particular
group
3. Perception of common people on a particular topic
4. Identify a solution to a specific problem or issue
5. Selecting candidates after their written test for hiring
in a company
6. Selecting candidates for admission in an educational
institute
The group discussion is a two-way helpful process. A
candidate who goes through the process gains clarity of his/her own thoughts,
views and opinion. He/She learns how to
evolve thinking and come to a solution or conclusion for a certain topic. And
on recruiter’s part, it is helpful as they evaluate a candidate’s soft skills
through Group discussion.
This also allows people to walk around a concept in greater
detail and learn the topic in depth. This practice is also being applied during
campus interviews and selection process. A group discussion among students is
being organized to see and evaluate their thinking skills, listening abilities
and how they are communicating their thoughts. One should learn to control the
conversation through listening attentively and then having the perseverance to mold
it towards his/her own direction.
Benefits of Group
Discussions
1. It is a good way to engage the participants in a fruitful
discussion
2. Group discussion generates a creative thinking in all
participants, something beyond the obvious answers and solution to a specific
problem
3. Generate more ideas and a structured presentation of a
topic
4. Improves analytical abilities to think on a particular
given topic
5. Enables profound and in-depth understanding of the
subject
6. Provides different approaches to a topic
7. Helps to come to a concluding point or at least near
solution to a problem
8. Gives a chance to listen, know and understand diverse
opinions on a particular matter
9. Improves confidence in public speaking platform
10. Can alter our perspectives as well
Areas of
Evaluation in a Selection GD
Though a group discussion, many things for a particular
candidate can be assessed, such as his/her mental capacity to think, his
creative bent of mind, Analytical abilities, comprehending a subject and then
speaking on it, awareness, attitude, and energy levels. Some of them are
detailed below:
1. Understanding of the Subject: During a group discussion,
it is being constantly assessed how deep your knowledge is about the chosen
topic and how well you are aware of each aspect of that topic.
2. Assertiveness: You confidence shows up in a group
discussion. It is assessed that how confident you are while putting up your
opinion in front of other. Others may certainly vary or disagree to the point
but how well and how confidently you bring your thoughts forward is what matters
the most.
3. Team Work: While working in an organization or even
during management studies, it is very important to work as a part of the team
in a given project or any assignment. This skill is really important and it is
evaluated through GD as well. You not only put your own points but also listen
to others and then come to a concluding point. This shows how ready you are to
listen to other’s opinion, give value to that and also at the same time stand
by your own convictions.
4. Willingness to Take the Initiative: This skill plays a
very important part in professional and personal life. Employers highly regard
it. They want that you just do not stick to your own work but also should be
able to take extra initiative whenever it is required. When you start a topic, you
have to be very cautious so as to put the right point forward and give the
entire discussion a right direction.
5. Listening Skills: This is again an important skill which
gets evaluated during a group discussion. So, you should learn to listen not to
reply back, but pay full attention to what the other person is trying to say.
Generally, people get biased to their own thoughts and ideas and do not want to
look beyond that. So listening to other person is also essential.
6. Adaptability: In today’s dynamic and ever-changing
environment, it is essential to keep yourself flexible and adaptable toward the
situation. During a group discussion, sometimes you need to agree to some point
and also it happens that in due course some views change your mind as well. So
being rigid and stubborn is not going to be very helpful
7. Leadership Qualities: Group discussion demonstrates
clearly who amongst them is taking the lead and who is a passive contestant. A
good leader gives the entire discussion a good direction and takes it forward
whenever it is deviating from the main topic. But while taking the lead, one
has to be double sure whether his / her points are valid or not, else it will
give the other person a golden opportunity to snatch the lead away and negate
his/her points.
8. Communication Skills: As communication is a medium of
expressing your thought, it is more important in today’s interactive world.
Hence communication skills are yet again important skills which are evaluated
through a structured group discussion.