Group Discussion


1.Group Discussion

Definition: When several people sit together and try to arrive at a decision regarding a policy matter or find a solution to a problem after sharing their views/opinions, the exercise is called a group decision. It is an effort to use collective wisdom in the best interests of the organisation so as to increase its productivity, improve the quality of its products or overcome the problems that come its way in order to maximise its profit.
Rationale or Logic behind Group Discussion: Group discussion can sometimes delay a decision and may result in missing an important opportunity. Then why do business organisations opt for the group discussion route for taking important decisions? The reason is very clear. Everybody is familiar with the proverb, “Two heads are better than one.” It means that collective wisdom is always superior to individual wisdom, that a decision arrived at after a thorough discussion is always a better one than a decision taken by an individual, howsoever wise and intelligent he/she may be. The following arguments will justify this view.
1.     None in the world can lay claim to all the knowledge in the world even when we restrict it to a particular issue. Even the most informed person possesses only a fraction of the knowledge available having a bearing on the issue.  Group discussion is a way to benefit from the knowledge of several rather than depend on the knowledge of a single person.
2.     Business issues these days have become very complex as a result of the growth in the size of business and the ever increasing competition. It is not possible for any one person to visualise all the aspects of an issue or problem. Every individual has his/her limitations. And different individuals can see the different aspects of an issue. When the issue is discussed in a group, all the aspects of the issue come before the group. So a decision is arrived at after considering all the aspects of the issue. Hence the decision is bound to be the best one.
3.     Different people have different ways of looking at the world. Every person sees an issue from his/her own angle. Group discussion enables us to see the issue in its totality. No angle of the issue can remain ignored.
So group discussion is a way to pool the wisdom, intelligence and experience of a number of people which is bound to be greater than the wisdom, intelligence and experience of one. 

Objectives of Group Discussion: Group discussion is generally used for achieving one of the three following objectives:-

1.     For decision making and problem solving: Business houses generally use group discussion for decision making and problem solving. Whenever an important policy decision is to be made or an issue has to be sorted out, a meeting of the concerned officials is held and a decision is arrived at after due consultations.
2.     For assessing the merit of candidates for a job: Some organisation use group discussion as a tool for assessing the merit of candidates for a job. Group discussion helps them to assess communication skills, leadership qualities, patience, general awareness, field knowledge, listening to others etc. It is one of the important tools used by the Indian Armed forces for selecting candidates for commissioned posts.
3.     For training students in the art of group discussion: Educational and training institute use group discussion to train students in this art and thus to prepare them for competing for a job and for successful professional career.
Participating in a group therefore is an important skill for the students to acquire. It helps them not only to compete successfully for a job but also to give a good account of themselves after joining a job and thus earn respect and promotions.

Important Guidelines for participation in a Group Discussion

It is important to know the things you should do and the things you should avoid while participating in a group discussion. The following guidelines will help you become a valued participant in a group discussion:-

1.     Participate actively and make a positive contribution. Do not be a silent spectator. Let the group benefit by your views.

2.     Speak loudly enough to be heard and clearly enough to be understood. But do not shout.

3.     Keep an even pace. Neither speak too fast nor too slowly. If you speak too fast, others may not be able to understand all that you say. If you speak too slowly, people may get bored and lose interest.

4.     Try to speak as early as possible. Try to be the first to speak and open the discussion if you can. But even if you cannot, do not wait till all the others have spoken. If you do, another member may say what you have got to say and then you may be left with nothing to say.

5.     Be relevant. Do not waste the time of the group by talking irrelevant things which do not have any bearing on the issue being discussed.

6.     Say something original. Show deep knowledge of the topic. Do not just repeat what another member has already said.

7.     Speak confidently. Do not think or feel that anybody is superior to you or knows more than you.

8.     Be brief. Try to give your opinion in as few words as possible so that others may also get enough time to express their views. Remember, a group discussion is not a lecture by one member. All the members must get time to speak so that the group may be able to benefit by their views.

9.     Do not do or say anything that discourages another member from expressing his views. Do not laugh at his views or make any adverse comments which offend him or make him feel insulted.

10.                        Do not interrupt while another member is speaking. If you have something important to say, wait till he has finished and then say what you want to say.

11.                        Never try to provoke anybody. Try to maintain a conducive environment so that the discussion may continue in a healthy manner and be fruitful.

12.                        Do not make any personal comments. Do not say anything against the dignity of any member. Speak only on the topic in hand. You may not agree with a member’s views but you have no right to make a personal attack on him.

13.                        Use simple and easy language that all may understand. Do not use high sounding difficult words and complex structures which may be too difficult for some in the group to understand.

14.                        Avoid using jargon if all the members do not belong to your own field of specialisation. Those who do not may not be able to understand it.

15.                        Do not lose your temper at any cost. Keep your calm even in the face of provocation.

16.                        Do not be aggressive. Express your views politely but firmly. Even if you do not agree with an argument, voice your disagreement in a civilised manner.

17.                        Use body language to the best effect. Let your eye contact, facial expressions and gestures do the talking as well as your mouth. They help to clarify and reinforce your ideas.

18.                        Do not try to impose your views on others. Try rather to convince and persuade with the force of your arguments.

19.                        Listen carefully while others are speaking. You cannot appreciate their views unless you pay full attention to what they say. Remember, they have a right to be heard.

20.                        Do not be adamant. Be flexible. Be ready to change your views and agree with others if your argument is proved to be wrong.

21.                        Try to establish yourself as a leader if you are participating in a competition or in a discussion for the assessment of your qualities. To establish yourself as a leader, you have to do the following things:-

                               I.            If there is any member who is not contributing to the discussion, invite and encourage him to speak and give his views.

                            II.            If anybody tries to discourage another member from expressing his views, try to dissuade him from doing so.

                         III.            If a member is taking too much time, tell him to be brief so that there may be enough time left for the others.

                        IV.            If anybody is wasting the time of the group by talking irrelevant things, politely tell him not to do so.

                           V.            Tempers often run high in a group discussion. If anybody loses temper, request him to calm down so that the discussion may proceed smoothly.

                        VI.            Sometimes, the discussion gets derailed. People leave the topic being discussed aside and start talking about other things. If this happens, try to put the discussion back on the rails by pointing out the fact to the members.

22.                        Use the right posture. Do not fall back in the chair and appear to be relaxing. Nor should you adopt an aggressive posture by bending forward too much. Sit straight and look attentive.


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