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Group Discussion Tips Group Discussion Tips
The GD is an excellent platform for you to showcase your communication skills & ability to be a team player.Never assume that the GD has not begun because a topic has not been selected. Every word you speak in the GD room is on the record.
Pretend like it's real
Pretending like it's a real meeting will automatically make you more alert and less prone to making mistakes during the GD.
Treat everyone with respect
An important attribute you will be judged on is whether you are a team player or not. Be polite when dealing with opposing points of view.Try to explain with logical reasons why a person is incorrect, no matter how outrageous his line of reasoning is. Also, never ever tell someone that he is wrong. Use softer phrases like 'That's interesting but another point of view would be...' or 'That's true in some cases but I would also like to point out that...'
Don't panic
The point you were just trying to make was just stolen. The person next to you is shouting down everything you're saying. Relax. The panel judging you looks at how well you can deal with people and situations.
Take a deep breath, compose yourself, think of another point and jump back into the discussion like nothing happened.
Get plenty of practice
The more GDs you practice, the better you get.You can refine your style of speaking as well as your thought process with the aid of practice GDs. Practicing GDs also makes you adept at handling different types of situations and ensures that you're on top of your game when it counts.
Body language is important
While it is important to look alert during a GD, concentrating on how you look rather than on how you talk will only hamper your chances.
Ensure that you do the basics of sitting up straight, looking everyone in the eye while speaking and not being too animated (e.g. waving your arms wildly about).
Apart from that, make a genuine effort to listen to people. This will wipe that bored expression off your face, and also stop you from twiddling your pen and staring at your shoes.
Don't be scared to start
Do not hesitate to be the first one to speak, if you feel that everyone has taken sufficient time to think during the GD.
The panel appreciates leadership skills. At the same time, don't just say any old thing. Be prepared with a coherent opening statement, don't ramble, and never, ever summarize the topic given to you or start off with sentences like "Dear Friends, we are gathered here at the GD..."
Practice role-play
For case GDs, practice writing down the names of the concerned parties and writing points from their points of view.
This will help you gain a clearer understanding of the problem and help you channel your thoughts better.
Think before you speak
Needless to say, there is no sense in shouting down someone only to blurt out half a sentence. This creates a bad impression.
Mentally prepare at least a couple of sentences that you want to say. If someone cuts you off and prevents you from saying everything you wanted to, hey, at least you tried.
The panel will appreciate the effort. Also, concentrate on only one point at a time. Don't try and touch on multiple points during a single foray into the GD, as chances are that not only will the second point not be heard, it will also be stolen by someone else.
Conclution
You can open your mouth just twice during a GD and end up looking like the best candidate in the room, or make 15 points and still find yourself on the list of rejects. There are no set rules that can be framed about the number of times you should speak.
Go with the flow, and do what you feel comfortable doing.
Quality and not quantity is what the panel is looking for. (Applicable to IBF also...)
Remember though, that to get some points you need to speak at least a couple of times.
Sister thread: Interview Tips
My next thread in this trilogy will on "Tips for preparing the Resume".
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Originally Posted by saurav_kataruka 
