Page 134 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Unit 6: Group Discussion

5. Conviction: Whatever is being said should be stated with conviction. It often happens that Notes
the participants communicate their ideas in a group without really believing in them. This
is more than evident at the face level and is easy for the experts to decipher and identify.
It normally happens when the interactants harbour under the misconception that to be
heard in the group is more important than positing of concrete ideas. Here, they are
exposed because they reveal a lack of conviction at the time of making a statement.

6. Flexibility: Conviction while speaking goes hand in hand with flexibility in approach and
ability to appreciate the viewpoint of the other person. Often a participant makes an error
in interpreting the topic which he realises, much to his dismay, some where in the middle
of the interaction. The need then arises to rectify the mistake and proceed along correct
lines. The transition, which must be made, needs to be extremely subtle. Without really
admitting that a mistake has been made, the speaker has to accept the view point of the
other interactant and change sides to be one with those who have a more positive
understanding of the topic. To cite an example, if a glaring blunder has been pointed out
by a co-participant you need to be alert enough to realise that it is a mistake. You can start
by saying, "I understand your point of view/that's really good point…" and proceed by
substantiating the point of the co-interactant. You are new part of the group and are no
longer an alien. But this strategy should be adopted as a last resort. In the first instance,
there should be no errors made. Careful thought should be given to the topic floated,
before any kind of discourse is begun on the same. This strategy has been presented as a
rescue measure for extreme cases in which an error has been made, albeit unwittingly, and
the situation demands a rectification. If unfortunately this be the case, the participant
would not be at a loss to make suitable amends.
6.4 Strategies for Group Discussions: Do's and Don'ts

The first thing which needs to be kept in mind at the time of a GD and interview is that one
should be immaculately dressed. It is the first impression of the interactant which to a great
extent influences the interviewers. Together with this, accessories which as individual carry or
possesses are also important. They speak a language of their own which could be of great
significance in transmitting a positive impression to those monitoring the show. Besides the
dress, for the conduct during the Group Discussion, there are a number of dos and don'ts which
should be kept in mind at the time of participating in the GD.

6.4.1 DO’s

1. KISS( Keep It Short and Simple): The KISS principle which states – Keep It (interaction)
Short and Simple is the most important of all the strategies to be adopted in a GD. The
descriptive mode which could be used in lieu of brief statements should be avoided at all
costs. This could lead the participants into lengthy monologues merely to prove a point.

Example:
A: The harmful effect of Mathura refinery on Taj Mahal cannot be underestimated.
Even the interior of Taj has started looking pale. While almost the whole of it has
been affected from the outside, the interior…and so on and so forth till all the
participants are led astray.

The delivery should be crisp with only one or two points being presented at a particular
time. This strategy is extremely important as it helps the other participants in retaining
the focus. If there are more than two ideas discussed at the same time the participants

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