Group discussion

V. Manickam
 Group discussion
• Definition
– Group Discussion is an informal discussion (talking sense!!) in which
participants of the same educational standard discuss a topic of current interest.

• Objectives
– To evaluate group worthiness
– To choose socially suitable candidate among the academically superior
achievers
– To assess the ability to exchange ideas among the individuals of a group on a
specific topic.
– leaderless discussion. to find out the natural leadership level of the candidates.
 Topic analysis
• Pros and cons of a topic
• Recollect all the relevant information and use
others information also wisely
• Honest display of extent of knowledge
• Avoid repetition of ideas
• One must contribute to the rise in intellectual
level of discussion
 Avoid
• Constantly objecting others and speaking
pessimistically will block the smooth flow of
discussion.
• Equally unsuitable are those who insult and
criticize others betraying jealousy
• The aggressive attitude is usually disapproved
• Another avoidable attitude is telling irrelevant
stories and personal experiences.
• Attention seeking discussion
 Be mindful
• In an effective group discussion, there are no
absolute followers but different levels and kinds of
leaderships and these leaderships keep fluctuating.
• You also get an opportunity of noticing and
comparing the verbal ability, depth of knowledge,
extent of ideas, logical reasoning and the
convincing capacity of others and this should
enable you to prepare yourself to match with
them.
 positives
• actively seek and accept responsibility.
• open-mindedness -the willingness of the
candidate to consider a broad range of ideas
and suggestions from others.
• soler
• No1 (Comments at two stages of one's participation)
• Beginning: No1 has displayed excellent leadership ability and handled an
explosive situation with tact and understanding. He has found an acceptable
and workable solution by displaying excellent resourcefulness. He avoided an
open split and confrontation by voluntarily surrendering the privilege of being
got elected as chairman by majority vote. Thus he has given greater
importance to group needs than for his own selfish requirements. He also
won 7 by persuasion and by personal example.
• Ending: A brilliant and outstanding exposition presented by No1 in admirable
and extremely convincing manner. His approach is objective and balanced.
This candidate, who had displayed consistently remarkable leadership
qualities and coordinating ability earlier, now reveals intellectual maturity,
balanced judgement and excellent power of persuasion. Socially he is well
adjusted and has the resourcefulness to cope with difficult individuals and
situations. To sum up, he is an outstanding candidate with high level of
leadership qualities. He is specially commended and selected with top rating.
• No3 is an intelligent, imaginative and dynamic leader. His approach has
throughout been positive and constructive He is also able to get along well
and harmoniously with all. He can judge and assess others correctly and
wins over everyone with tact and understanding. His enterprising attitude,
keenness to shoulder responsibility and capacity to compromise
successfully with crisis and obstacles enable him to establish himself as the
natural leader. In this group he is the outstanding coordinator and leader.
He is selected with top grading No3 has grasped the subject very well and
explained its scope very lucidly.He hs gone about his task with a purpose,
plan and system, revealing organization and method. He spoke to the point
and made a strong impact on the group. He is decisive, enterprising and
takes reasonable risks. We saw that he took a prominent part during the
early stages and made useful contribution. He has good material and
selected with high grading.
• No 4 has readily and cheerfully accepted the responsibility and made good use of the
opportunity given to him. He has consistently been displaying initiative, drive, enterprise
and imagination. Now he has known excellent grasp of the subject and explained facts of
a sensitive nature in an easy and effortless manner. He has created a very strong and
favorable impact on the group with his conduct, ideas and example. As was shown by
No3,the group is eager to hear him further. But as a disciplined organiser and planner,No4
wants the discussion to proceed as decided earlier. He is more team oriented and keen to
promote group activity. His approach is positive and contribution constructive. He has
displayed high degree of leadership throughout. Selected with high rank rating.

• No 7 displayed initiative, urge and drive and shouldered full responsibility to launch the
group on its objective. He is gifted in all spheres-intellectual, organisational, dynamic and
social. He has extensive knowledge. He has pressed his case from a new angle and
succeeded fully in carrying the audience with him. He is bold and faces the challenge with
courage and determination, intelligence and imagination. Selected and accorded top
rating.