CS & PD Kalibur Solutions

COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

Topic : Group Discussion skills

Benefits of Group Discussion
• Stimulation of thinking in a new way.
• Expansion of knowledge.
• Understanding of your strength and weaknesses.
• Your true personality is revealed and the qualities of leadership crystallize.
• Provides chance to expose.
• Language skills.
• Academic knowledge.
• People handling skills – Being assertive.
Do’s and Dont’s of GD
• Be as natural as possible. Do not try to be someone you are not.
• Be yourself. In an attempt to be someone else, your opinions will not be portrayed.
• Sit with a straight and confident posture.
• Be assertive yet humble. You need to stick to your values and beliefs, but learn to respect the
values and opinions of others too.
• Grab the opportunity to speak first, i.e. to start the group discussion with your opinion. It
generally leaves a good impression on the evaluator, but take the move only if you have
complete knowledge of the subject.
• Facilitate contribution from others. Do not just go on and on and on with only your opinionated
view. Remember, it is a group discussion. Allow others to speak too.
• Make an eye contact with all the participants. It creates more room for conversation. Also keep
nodding, when others speak, it shows receptivity.
• Be an active and dynamic participant. The examiner wants to hear you speak. So do put forth
your views.
• Be positive and prepare your thoughts well but do not be over-confident.
• Think well before you speak. You are being heard and judged upon.

• When raising an objection to a point kept by another speaker, back it up with a solid reason to
get the point across.
• Use quotes, facts and figures, statements, everyday life examples to express a clear chain of
thoughts. Also it might leave a good impression on the examiner and help you score well.
• These are some basic yet very vital tips that will help you feel a bit more confident about
yourself and make you ready to appear for that group discussion trend.
• Do not repeat a point, or be lengthy or irrelevant. Also intervene, if someone else is going on an
irrelevant track.

What is Assertiveness?
• Assertiveness means standing up for your personal rights - expressing thoughts, feelings and
beliefs in direct, honest and appropriate ways.
• By being assertive we should always respect the thoughts, feelings and beliefs of other people.
• Saying yes when you want to and saying no when you mean no.
• Not agreeing to do something, just to please someone.
• Deciding on and sticking to clear boundaries

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Assertive Behaviour Includes…

• Being open in expressing wishes, thoughts and feelings and encouraging others to do likewise.
• Listening to the views of others and responding appropriately, whether in agreement with those
views or not.
• Accepting responsibilities and being able to delegate to others.
• Regularly expressing appreciation of others for what they have done or are doing.
• Being able to admit to mistakes and apologise.
• Maintaining self-control.
• Behaving as an equal to others.

General techniques of Assertiveness

Fogging
• Fogging is a useful technique if people are behaving in an aggressive way.
• Fogging is so termed because the individual acts like a 'wall of fog' into which arguments are
thrown, but not returned.
• Rather than arguing back, fogging aims to give a minimal, calm response using terms that are
placating but not defensive, while at the same time not agreeing to meet demands.
Example Situation
“What time do you call this? You're nearly half an hour late, I'm fed up with you letting me down all the
time.”

The Stuck Record Technique

• The Stuck Record technique employs the key assertive skill of 'calm persistence‘.
• It involves repeating what you want, time and time again, without raising the tone of your voice,
becoming angry, irritated, or involved in side issues.
• The key is to stay calm, be very clear in what you want, stick to the point and not give up.
Example Situation
Imagine that you are returning something that is faulty to a store.

The Negative Enquiry Technique

• You invite extra criticism and / or examples, so that you have the benefit of additional feedback.
Sample Situation :

• You are lazy .

• Oh really, in what way?
• You are always late?
• Always? How do you know that for a fact?
• You are selfish.
• Can you explain what made you brand me?
• You are stupid.
• My understanding of ‘stupid’ may be different from yours. What exactly do you mean by saying
so?

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CS & PD Kalibur Solutions

The Negative Assertion Technique

• Nobody is perfect. So in negative assertion, all you do is to accept the fact that is
true……….gracefully.
Sample Situation :
If you think that, you must be stupid.
I admit I am not the brightest person around.
You are always making mistakes.
Yes I do make mistakes occasionally.

Assertiveness Test
Take the assertiveness test and check for yourself how assertive you are
• Are you able to exercise and express your strengths?
• Can you express negative feelings about other people and their behaviour without using abusive
language?
• Can you easily recognize and compliment other people’s achievements?
• Do you have the confidence to ask for what is rightfully yours?

• Can you comfortably start and carry on a conversation with others?

• Do you ask for assistance when you need it?
• Can you accept criticism without being defensive?
• Do you feel comfortable accepting compliments?
• Are you able to deny unreasonable requests from friends family and co-workers?
• Are you able to stand up for your rights?

Personality traits that a GD is trying to gauge...

• Ability to work in a team.
• Reasoning ability.
• Initiative.
• Flexibility.
• Ability to think on ones feet.
• Communication skills.
• Leadership skills.
• Assertiveness.
• Creativity.

Types of topics.
• Topic based GD’s can be of three types :
• Factual topics. ( awareness, current affairs....)
• The educational policy in India, Tourism in India, State of the aged in the nation.
• Controversial topics. ( maturity, temper control...)
• Reservations should be removed, women make better managers.
• Abstract topics.( creativity, lateral thinking)
• Twinkle twinkle little star, The number 10.

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Initiation techniques...
• Quotes .
• Definitions.
• Questions.
• Shock statements.
• Facts, figures and statistics.
• Short story.
• General statement..

GD Mistakes..
• Emotional outburst.
• No eye contact.
• Quality vs Quantity.
• Bad communication skills.
• Adressing 1 or 2 persons.
• Interrupting when the session is on.
• Bad initiation.

Accept Criticism
• It is unwise to react sharply.
• In case the criticism is filmsy, it can be pointed out in a polite manner.
• Maximize participation :One must try to contribute fully, vigorously and steadily throughout the
discussion.
• Accept others point of view.
• Praise the arguement.
• Provide constructive criticism.