The Group Discussion popularly referred to as GD is an essential part of your team or in an interview. According to Merriam Webster, Group Discussion is a discussion involving a number of people who are connected by some shared activity, interest, or quality.
The participants can learn from one another, defend their views, and improve their communication and teamwork skills through group discussions.
When taking part in group discussions, there are specific guidelines in place. You may show confidence and professionalism at a meeting by knowing how to act in this situation.
In this article, we try to reveal the dos and don'ts of group discussions for your team to understand before your next team group discussion. Let's review it below.
Do these things in a group discussion
1. Understand the discussion topic
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You should nonetheless have a thorough awareness of the discussion topic, even though it is impossible to stay on top of every topic sometimes. You must be knowledgeable about some typical group discussion themes that relate to the latest issues or your team's goals in addition to having a fair understanding of the fundamental concepts in your field.
The themes of group discussion can range widely, from the ongoing pandemic to well-known case studies, controversial to general topics. You can approach the group discussion round with confidence if you research some typical GD themes, in addition to preparing for topics that are relevant to your field.
Remember that while having a fundamental understanding of the topic under discussion is essential, how you communicate that understanding to the other participants in the group discussion is even more important. Therefore, practice your communication skills before showing up for your GD.
2. Listen carefully
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Group discussions allow you to know from the insights and experiences of others while developing a conversation from similar perspectives. You can learn more about a topic or improve your understanding by focusing your attention on others' insights. Because people can see that you value what they say, it also shows respect to the other group members.
Remember that all good speakers are excellent listeners, so if you want to succeed in group discussion, you must develop your listening skills.
3. Allow others to speak
In a discussion, it's important to allow others to speak. It enables them to express their thoughts, including any points on which they agree or disagree. Also, if you see someone who hasn't spoken yet, you can encourage them by asking what they think about the topic.
Allowing others to speak can make the members feel appreciated and accepted in the group discussion.
4. Make an eye contact
Make eye contact with the other members when you speak during a group discussion. Before moving on to the next person, try to make each person feel significant by giving them a few seconds of your attention. Your discussion may feel closer as a result.
Keeping eye contact while speaking also communicates your desire for people's attention. More so, make eye contact with the others as you listen to show your interest.
5. Be confident
Your group members may give attention to you if you choose to be confident during the discussion. One method to convey confidence is to speak with a firm, steady tone. To show that you're open to other people speaking, you can also sit straight and stand with your feet apart. When your team holds a virtual group discussion, you can turn on your camera and give attention straight to others who speak.
Don't do these things in a group discussion
1. Get off-topic
Make sure anything you're delivering is relevant to the topic on the table. Before you speak, consider that it is relevant to the overall discussion. If a group member is out of the topic, try to help bring the discussion back on track by seeing if you have any relevant ideas to unite.
Furthermore, keep your points brief in order to avoid talking too much. Ask a group member for their opinion on the discussion topic when you feel you are talking too much. You can make your points in this way while permitting another member to speak. If you want to give more suggestions, you may also speak again later.
2. Interrupt others
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Before giving your opinions, give everyone a chance to finish speaking. Having group discussions where everyone may offer their opinions requires active listening and consideration of others' ideas. It's also possible to respect your group members by waiting for your chance to speak. Don't interrupt when other people are talking.
3. Share false information that isn't valuable
Verify the information before stating them to avoid presenting false or irrelevant data. If you’re not sure that your information is accurate, it's better not to deliver it. Before presenting the data, consider whether it will help the discussion or not.
Furthermore, the moderator of a group discussion can ask everyone to contribute something. When it's your turn, think about whether what you're going to say will be helpful to the discussion. If it doesn't, you can wait until another chance presents itself, so you can join in the discussion when you have something more important to say.
4. Focus only on one person
Try to look at every member in the room or even if you're in a virtual group discussion rather than focus only on one person. It helps you to interact fully with everyone in the discussion. So no one in the group will think that you're speaking only to one specific person.
Moreover, there's a possibility that you will learn something in a group discussion from members who know more or less than you. Remember that everyone works at a different pace and has a varied educational background, so avoid judgement on others. Try to focus on sharing your knowledge with others instead.
5. Show negative body language
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Insecurity can be shown by failing to maintain eye contact or appearing uninterested in your group discussion. Keep your arms uncrossed and your head up to avoid looking insecure.
Moreover, negative body language can indicate unwillingness in a discussion. Use positive facial expressions and reflect the other group members' body language instead. This way can help you prove that you're listening and interested in the discussion. Appearing positive body language indicates that you are prepared to participate in the group discussion.
Important key points
- A group discussion is a way to learn from one another, and defend their views to the participants.
- Make an effort to improve your communication, presentation, and listening skills.
- Before making your point, consider the topic.
- Stay calm through the process.
- Remember to be polite and avoid unimportant debates.
- To prepare for the discussion, know the topic and prepare your ideas.
