Page 135 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Advanced Communication Skills

Notes might get confused. There are even chances that the participant who is trying to make a
mark in the GD would get lost in the labyrinth of jumbled ideas and issues.

2. Follow Principles of oral communication: While presenting ideas, all essentials of oral
communication need to be observed. Like being polite, audible, pleasant and effective,
besides being courteous, concise and correct.

3. Make Even Contributions: In a GD it is important that the contributions made by the
participants should be evenly spaced. Often it is noticed that the participants are in a rush
to start speaking. In case you are not familiar with the topic you can easily shelve the idea
of trying to be the first speaker. What is important in a GD is that you should make even
contributions if you, as a participant, want to create a long -lasting impression in the
minds of the people monitoring the discussion.
4. Make Periodical Conclusions: It should be noted that periodical conclusions are also
important. They help in retaining focus of the group. This strategy could also be adopted
if the interactant is not familiar with the topic but still needs to be listened to and to make
a mark in the GD. This however, should be the best resort. Prior to participating in a GD
you should be rather well-versed and updated on all the current topic of national and
international concern. This also helps you to get the group into focus and prevents it from
digressing from the main topic. Here, you show leadership qualities and give the impression
on one hand, that you are a strong individual with the capacity of controlling the GD.
5. Be Deliberate and Slow in Delivering the Points: Every time you speak, try to be deliberate
and slow in delivering your points. If you start speaking too fast the rest of the interactants
would keep probing ideas and issues and wondering as to what is the true import of the
concepts. A number of factors come into play when there is a situation of this sort. Does
your speed of speaking fit in with the other individual's speed of listening and assimilation?
As stated in the earlier unit on listening, there is a difference in the speed of speaking and
comprehension. Rarely does it happen that there is a perfect match between the two.
6. Adhere to Principles of Politeness: Once you start speaking, there would be, at the same
time, many interactant who would like to have their voice heard over and above yours.
You have the floor but it may not be yours for long if, and when, others make some
"uncommunicative" attempts. You need to finish stating your own point but there are
others who would not let you complete your statement. In this kind of situation, what you
need to do is to tackle the situation in firm and decisive manner. All principles of politeness
need to be adhered to in the process. Your "please", "Excuse me, I have a point to make" and
"I still have not finished speaking" should be in place. You should abide by the basics
norms of etiquette.

7. Substantiate your Point with examples: Substantiating point with examples is also a very
good strategy to be observed at the time of the GD and should be adhered to in an orderly
manner. The individual should, at no cost, start by narrating an incident or cite an example
and than round it off with a point. While this could be an effective strategy in informal
interaction or discourse of any kind in GDs, one needs to observe a different code for
communication.

Example: In a GD on "Baneful Effects of Pollution", the discourse could take the following
turn:
A: Nature too be subjected to pollution. The impact of smog on natural forests is evidenced
in the form of withering trees and natural deforestation. This could jolly well harm
the balance in nature.

128 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY