GD tips

Sorry about these long posts....but there is a navigation index to the left of ur screen which will help you to go to the article u desire!

A very rich friend of mine asked me to give him some GD tips....An engineering student that I am (having no work...sitting lukka...waiting for someone to give me a few assignments to copy!) got to the job of writing about my "expert" ideas on GDs....Yeah tried to make it a little professional...Hope it helps someone in their pursuit...But read the disclaimer before proceeding....but honestly have tried to cover in what i feel is essential in GDs and the fact that this comes after a lot of GD sessions practice increases its credibility.(In Short take the pain to read please)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer: This is a totally partisan opinion only based on my perception of how a person should perform in a GD

GD Tips:
The essence of the GD is to contribute in a group with your own points or by complimenting or adding value to other’s views

So let’s understand the 4 most essential things that need to be displayed as far as a GD is concerned (copyrights to IMS)
Speaking ability
Thinking ability
Listening ability
Content (Knowledge)

So throughout the GD you need to be displaying these skills and if you are able to do so then your job is done!

So lets get into the type of GD s that can be put before us (IMS taught me 4 but I take the liberty of making it 3!)

Factual (normal & controversial): These are the topics that are more to do with current affairs or things that actually mean something in today’s scenario. So being updated on the current happenings is a big plus as far as such topics are concerned. The content of what you speak is looked more into in such GD s. e.g. Situation of Women in Contemporary India
Abstract: Here your innovativeness is checked. You are given a topic such as ‘Red’ and you have to make various interpretations of the topic. Every point that you make should have a structure of introduction, body and conclusion. The good aspect of Abstract topics is that no one can be wrong as it is purely based on interpretations. The only factor hence is the relevance! Now when we are given the topic of Red we can link it to communism, bloodshed in Kargil, bird culling to prevent bird flu, even maybe to my pretty drawing teacher for all you know
Case Study: This is considered as the leveler among all GD experts because it brings all the participants of the group on the same page as no one would have read any article that might help them sail past this one smoothly. You are given a pseudo case and you are asked to discuss from the point of view of someone in the case about how will you proceed in such a scenario. Structure becomes of utmost importance in such a scenario. Will get to the structure a tag bit later!

So these were the types of GD topics in brief!

Now that we have a brief idea about what to expect generally in a GD, lets get into some individual basics.
Dressing: For guys: Formal Shirts and trousers, a tie would be preferred, blazer according to comfort
For gals: Anything that looks formal. Please do a google on formal for girls and you may get sufficient combinations.

Body Language:
Erect posture always. “Show that you have a spine” as quoted by one of my profs. Use Hand gestures while making a point (don’t be conscious about it, it does come naturally). And maintain eye contact with everyone while making a point as also while listening to someone.

Voice Modulation: Be clear and loud (Really helps a lot (personal experience))

Now lets take a scenario:

You have a GD call and this is possibly the first time you are participating in a competitive GD (let alone the ones we did in college for the PCM thing).
You go in and you are given this position to sit or you are let randomly in (seldom happens) and you are asked to occupy a seat. In the latter case, if possible, always select the one in the center, where the accessibility to the group is very strong. But in most cases you have to adjust to wherever you are asked to sit!
You may have to take your own chit of paper or they might provide you with one (you have to confirm on that front as it varies from GD to GD again). Then when everybody settles down, the topic is read out to you and depending on the topic you are given time to note down your points. Time here is immaterial as the time for you is exactly the time for your group members.
Some Tips while noting down the points:

Only note down the essential point and how it leads to another point and so on, do not try and write the entire line as in an essay

Try and think of points which might not strike others as such points wont be exhausted so quickly by the group for this a method taught to us by IMS can be used called as perspective thinking. List down all the stakeholders like government, people, terrorists etc and think how can you tilt the GD to these perspectives

Always try and relate the topic to your favourite topic and mention it in a way that seems very relevant e.g. My favourite topic is Manchester United (the football club). If the topic is about Brand Marketing or something, I had say the way Beckham became a brand in those days and generated income to both himself and the brand name for the club for which he played or something to that effect.


Now the GD begins:
As they say starting a GD is a high risk, high gain situation! If you start a GD then you should be able to generally define all the terms involved and suggest a possible course that the GD should take. Failing at that would be considered as a major setback as it sets a bad impression about yourself in the group as well as in the judging panel.
Okay someone started, you may see that your point was spoken about but you feel that you could improve on the content then wait for the time he gradually mellows down and hit on the opportunity to make the desired point.

Usually all the GD ’s have their crests (loud periods) and their troughs (comparatively quieter times). It’s advisable to make a point in the troughs and be part of the controlling an inflammatory condition team in case of a loud situation.

Points are given to your leadership abilities too. At this point I had like to mention that leadership is not traffic regulating that we usually find in most of our college GD ’s when a smart guy regulates who should be speaking and who should not. Leadership is displayed by your courage to bring out new points and also to encourage nice points raised by people in the group.

Now as I said before, every GD varies from the other and so does individuals in the GD.
Lets consider a case where a smart guy plays the role of a moderator and says it would be best to speak one at a time in a single defined order like a queue. You have two options now 1. To follow it 2. To find a better method to one proposed. But these things do come naturally and with practice.

Some Tips for making your points:
As I said before, wait for those troughs.
Be courteous when you are cutting someone.
Be loud to get into the GD but then slow down and think every word you speak (if you can do that)
*Make complete points (think of the reason why you are bringing in this point and speak till you make the group clear about the emphasis of the point)
Make friends in the group by approving of someone’s point so that they might return the favour and approve yours.

I might have missed on a few points, which I will update later.

After the GD you may be asked to conclude summarize or add your own point. Note the stark contrast between the three. Conclusion is what the group inclined to! Summarize is what the group discussed whereas add your own point is the opportunity given to you to add your own point in an otherwise noisy GD.

This was just the theoretical side to the story, in practice however it purely depends on your group and your performance.

Wish you the very Best
Take Care

Cheers,Rajiv Nair