Do’s and Don’t s of a Group Discussion

Do’s and Don’t s of a Group Discussion

Do’s

·         Prepare well from atleast 15 days prior to the actual date. (How to prepare – has been discussed in another topic over here only)

·         You get around 3 to 4 minutes after your team members are finalized, you know who is going to be with you in your GD, try to interact with few of them in those 3 or 4 minutes till the observer enters the room.

·         When the choices of the topics are offered by the observer, please support your claim to chose a particular topic with a brief stand in favour of the topic.

·         Before the start of the discussion, you get another 2 minutes to think on the topic and you are supplied with a blank paper, write a few lines you can recall, which are relevant to the topic chosen by your group. Try to accommodate around 4 to 5 points in favour or against the topic as per your choice.

·         Please start with the discussion if you are fully familiar with the topic chosen by the group.

·         As everyone is supposed to speak within 10 or 15 minutes of timeframe, your conversation should be to the point and must include any examples if you can recall.

·         Before starting the discussion, please do wish all the fellow team members and  after you are over, do say thanks to all, for listening to you.

·         If any member has said something you agree with, you can surely show the same.

·         Be involved in the discussion for whole 15 minutes, doesn’t matters whoever is speaking, Observer must get a feeling that you are not only interested in speaking yourself but in listening too. So, do remember to be a good listener.

Don’t’s

·         Don’t start the discussion if your knowledge about the topic is having some loopholes. Wait; listen to one or two persons and then after being clear about the topic, you can share your views.

·         Don’t repeat what other persons have already said, If the repetition is needed then please quote the name of the participant who has pointed out those points. (If you don’t know the name simply address him as ‘my friend’.

·         Don’t interfere anyone while he or she is speaking, In case of an urgency, you can interrupt in between but before proceeding, do apologize to him to her for the interruption, give your clarification and again, ask him or her to continue.

·         Don’t try to dominate the group by deciding who should be next to be speaking.

·         Don’t make your presentation too lengthy.

·         Don’t let any of the participants get a feeling that you are not interested in listening whatever is being said.

·         Don’t become a complete listener only. Give a nod when needed and oppose when needed. But never ever forget that politeness is a must.

·         Don’t start without drawing the attention of all the participants. (It can be said –Hello, friends, I would like to share my views on the topic, as you are aware that Mr. XYZ has said that…………..

·         Don’t get dominated and don’t try to dominate the group, I repeat.

·         In case before you got to speak, all of your points have already been covered by the other participants, still don’t sit by just saying that  -“As whatever I had to say has already been covered, I have nothing more to say”. Never do that. Repeat the points and do mention the person who has said that point and add something to it or give reasons to substantiate the same.

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