Dos and Don’ts of participating in Group Discussion

[Iswarya D]

As you have to participate in a Group Discussion. several questions spring across your mind. You want to know what actions and gestures can get you positive points and what can cost you the selection. Here’s a list of Dos and Don’ts of participating in the GD.

Dos of participating in a GD:

• Listen to the subject carefully
• Put down your thoughts on a paper
• Initiate the discussion if you know the subject well
• Listen to others if you don’t know the subject
• Support you point with some facts and figures
• Make short contribution of 25-30 seconds 3-4 times
• Give others a chance to speak
• Speak politely and pleasantly. Respect contribution from other members. 
• Disagree politely and agree with what is right. 
• Summarize the discussion if the group has not reached a conclusion. 

Don’ts of participating in a Group Discussion 

• Initiate the discussion if you do not have sufficient knowledge about the given topic.
• Over speak, intervene and snatch other’s chance to speak.
• Argue and shout during the GD
• Look at the evaluators or a particular group member
• Talk irrelevant things and distract the discussion
• Pose negative body gestures like touching the nose, leaning back on the chair, knocking the table with a pen etc.
• Mention erratic statistics.
• Display low self confidence with shaky voice and trembling hands.
• Try to dominate the discussion
• Put others in an embarrassing situation by asking them to speak if they don’t want.