GROUP DISCUSSION &

DEBATE
Adithya Satheesh
GROUP DISCUSSION
 GD ,a methodology used by an organization to measure
candidate’s personality traits/skills
 Candidates are given a topic or a situation, given a few minutes to
think about the same ,and then asked to discuss the it among
themselves for 15-20 minutes.
WHAT IS TESTED?

 Creativity
 Assertiveness
 Communication skills
 Reasoning ability
 Flexibility
 Ability to work in a team
 Leadership skills
 Initiative
HOW TO PREPARE A GD
 Enhance vocabulary to enhance fluency
 Practice tone modulation
 Practice in front of mirror
 Choose current affairs topics(social, political, cultural etc)
 Participate in discussions as an active observer and try to evolve in one’s thought process
BENEFITS
 Increases confidence
 Improves listening skills
 Improves leadership skills
 Helps to identify strength and weaknesses
 Stimulates critical thinking
 Have a better understanding of the subjects
 Do’s Don’t

 Take initiative  Argue

 Think before you speak  Be nervous
 Stay with the topic  Interrupt
 Make original points and support them with  Change opinions
substantial reasoning
 Insult others
 Regulate your voice through tone modulation
 Say no to pessimistic approach
 Be polite
 No irrelevant experiences
 Listen to others actively
 Deviate from the topic
 Accept criticism
DEBATE

 Debate is a process of putting froward his/her perspective in

analyzing a situation of social cause whether be it in favor
or against
 Formal way of communicating
 Interactive and representational argument
 A contest where two teams present their arguments intent
on persuading one another
CHARACTERISTICS

 It is informative: info is served which makes people aware of the details they need to know
about the topic
 Based on firm arguments: Arguments are all those reasons that together explain, justify or
refute an idea
 Tidy: Governed by a series of rules
 Competitive
 It is limited: there is an established time limit for intervention
PREPARING A DEBATE

 Brainstorm ideas
 Organise ideas
 Evaluate your arguments
 Prepare your counter arguments
 Ready your refutation
 Master the rules
 Time yourself
 Practice before a mirror
 Be confident
BENEFITS

 Cultivates leadership skills

 Builds self confidence
 Enrich open-mindedness
 Develop critical thinking skills
 Overcome fear of public speaking
 Encouraging teamwork
 Improved articulation
 Resolution of the conflict
 Concluding thoughts
GD VERSUS DEBATE
GD
 Aims for clearer understanding
 Less formal with less rules
 Does not always need audience
 Less complex
 May not have specific conclusion
 More cooperation is manifested
 Does not need two opposing sides
DEBATE
 Aims to determine which side has credible standpoint
 More formal with more guidelines
 Needs an audience
 More complex
 End with a specific conclusion
 Aggression may be manifested
 Essential to have two opposing views