Group Discussions - Part II
Page - 2
If I strongly feel about an
issue, should I raise my feelings?
There are many topics that you
may feel deeply about. However, it is important to be cool, emotionally stable
during a GD. If you let yourself get involved at a personal
level with the topic, or react emotionally to statements of other participants,
you are likely to lose control over yourself during the GD. Remember that while
it is important to say what you feel, it is equally important to be able to
speak in a calm and logical manner.
Do I begin my participation by
requesting the group's permission to do so?
At times, when the group is very
orderly, you could start off by asking permission to present your case. But when
the GD is noisy (which is usually the case), do not waste time in formalities.
First, nobody will be willing to give you a chance, and secondly, it could also
go against you (as lack of initiative on your part).
Which is the right time to
enter a GD to ensure that I am heard properly?
In any GD, there are crests and
troughs during the discussion. At a crest, the noise level is the maximum and at
a trough there is almost total silence. Ideally, you should enter the GD during
the trough period. But normally in competitive GDs, the crests occur more often
and for more prolonged periods. Troughs, if they do come, last for very little
time. In such cases, you could identify those stages in the GD where ideas
dear/familiar to you are being discussed and enter the GD irrespective of the
noise level. The logic here is that you might never be able to identify a
trough, and even after identifying, might never be able to enter effectively
then. Since being silent is not of much help, perhaps by participating at a
noisy stage, you might gain some points at least.
How do I participate when the
noise level is too high?
As explained above, if the noise
level is high, you have two options - remain silent, or join in by raising your
voice to be heard above the din. At times, it is not possible to speak loudly
because of the nature of your voice. At such times, identify the most powerful
speaker in the group and note down the point he/she is making. The moment the
noise level lessens even a little, enter by supporting the most powerful
speaker. You will have made a strong ally who will aid you and pull you through
noisy situations.
Is it beneficial to be the
first speaker in a group discussion?
If you can make a positive and
confident start by speaking for at least 20-30 seconds at a stretch, then it
would be advantageous. This is because the first speaker is normally expected to
provide direction to the GD. If the job is properly done, then the first speaker
automatically becomes the leader of the group, and his/her opening idea remains
alive throughout the GD.
