GD (Group Discussion)

Nowadays Group Discussion is being extensively used along with personal interviews for the final selection of candidates. It plays a main role in selecting the best among the best. Having scored high marks, students who get selected for a higher/another course or employment are placed on a par - on equal footing - based on their age, qualification and experience. It becomes necessary to conduct further screening for choosing a few among many. It is here, the Group Discussion plays an important part. It helps in choosing the socially suitable candidate among the academically superior achievers. It is one of the best tools to study the behavioral and attitudinal responses of the participants. Rightly speaking, Group Discussion is more a technique than a conventional test. In fact it is one of the most important and popular techniques being used in a number of personality tests. It is a technique or a method used for screening candidates as well as testing their potential. It is also designed as a situation test wherein a sample of a candidate's group worthiness and potential as a worker comes out quite explicitly Features Of Group Discussion 1.Group Discussion, as the name itself indicates, is a group activity carried out by participating individuals. It is an exchange of ideas among the individuals of a group on a specific topic. 2 It is used as reliable, testing device - mainly as a tool to assess all the candidates in a group at one go -in order to select the best in comparative perspective. 3.Group Discussion is an informal discussion in which participants of the same educational standard discuss a topic of current interest. 4.It is also known as leaderless discussion. It means its aim is to find out the natural leadership level of the candidates. Strictly speaking, no one from the group or outside will be officially designated as leader or president or chairman or anything of the sort. Even the examiner or supervisor who launches the discussion will retire to the background. No one will participate or intervene in the deliberations of the group.

What to Do for Selection ?

No1 (Comments at two stages of one's participation)

Beginning: No1 has displayed excellent leadership ability and handled an explosive situation with tact and understanding. He has found an acceptable and workable solution by displaying excellent resourcefulness. He avoided an open split and confrontation by voluntarily surrendering the privilege of being got elected as chairman by majority vote. Thus he has given greater importance to group needs than for his own selfish requirements. He also won 7 by persuasion and by personal example. Ending: A brilliant and outstanding exposition presented by No1 in admirable and extremely convincing manner. His approach is objective and balanced. This candidate, who had displayed consistently remarkable leadership qualities and coordinating ability earlier, now reveals intellectual maturity, balanced judgement and excellent power of persuasion. Socially he is well adjusted and has the resourcefulness to cope with difficult individuals and situations. To sum up, he is an outstanding candidate with high level of leadership qualities. He is specially commended and selected with top rating. No3 is an intelligent, imaginative and dynamic leader. His approach has throughout been positive and constructive He is also able to get along well and harmoniously with all. He can judge and assess others correctly and wins over everyone with tact and understanding. His enterprising attitude, keenness to shoulder responsibility and capacity to compromise successfully with crisis and obstacles enable him to establish himself as the natural leader. In this group he is the outstanding coordinator and leader. He is selected with top grading No3 has grasped the subject very well and explained its scope very lucidly.He hs gone about his task with a purpose, plan and system, revealing organization and method. He spoke to the point and made a strong impact on the group. He is decisive, enterprising and takes reasonable risks. We saw that he took a prominent part during the early stages and made useful contribution. He has good material and selected with high grading. No 4 has readily and cheerfully accepted the responsibility and made good use of the opportunity given to him. He has consistently been displaying initiative, drive, enterprise and imagination. Now he has known excellent grasp of the subject and explained facts of a sensitive nature in an easy and effortless manner. He has created a very strong and favorable impact on the group with his conduct, ideas and example. As was shown by No3,the group is eager to hear him further. But as a disciplined organiser and planner,No4 wants the discussion to proceed as decided earlier. He is more team oriented and keen to promote group activity. His approach is positive and contribution constructive. He has displayed high degree of leadership throughout. Selected with high rank rating. No 7 displayed initiative, urge and drive and shouldered full responsibility to launch the group on its objective. He is gifted in all spheres-intellectual, organisational, dynamic and social. He has extensive knowledge. He has pressed his case from a new angle and succeeded fully in carrying the audience with

him. He is bold and faces the challenge with courage and determination, intelligence and imagination. Selected and accorded top rating.

GD (Group Discussion) FAQ For Freshers

What is the normal duration of a GD? A GD is generally of 15-20 minutes duration. How many panel members are there to evaluate? There are usually 3-4 panel members to evaluate. Is there time given for preparation after the topic is given and before starting the GD? Usually some time (2-5 minutes) is given to collect one's thoughts, but there could be instances when this does not happen, so it is best not to bank on this. Should I address the panel or the group members? Don't ever make the mistake of addressing the panel members. The GD is between you and the other members, not the panel members. You must avoid even looking at the panel members while the GD is in progress. Just ignore their existence. What is the seating arrangement like? It could be semi-circular, or circular, or seating along side a rectangular table, depending upon the venue. It is best not to bother about trivial issues like this, which you have no control over. How should I address the other group members? If you are initiating the discussion, you could do so by collectively addressing the group as "Friends". Subsequently, you could use names (if the group has had a round of self-introduction prior to starting the discussion and you remember the names) or simply use pronouns like "he" or "she". Suppose I have a lot to say on the topic, should I say all of it? You would not be looked upon favourably if you kept speaking all the time and did not listen to anyone else. Contrary to the misconception, the person who talks the most is not necessarily the one who is judged the best. The quality and not the quantity of your contribution is the success factor. Should I encourage others to speak up? Do not directly put someone who is consistently silent on the spot by asking him/her to speak up. If someone

has been trying to speak and has a good point but is cut off constantly, you may encourage him/her to continue with her point as you would like to hear her out. Are the group members supposed to keep track of the time or will the panel keep track? It would be good if you are conscious of the time, but not to the point of getting so distracted looking at your watch that you do not contribute to the discussion. Are we allowed to carry a piece of paper during the GD for noting down important points? Normally you are, but there may be instances when it is specifically forbidden to carry paper. Is there any particular seating arrangement, which is favourable to the participants? If participants are asked to sit in a circle or a semi circle, one position is as good as another. But if you are asked to sit on either side of a rectangular table, then choose a position as close to the centre as possible. Should we begin the GD by appointing a leader amongst ourselves? No. You should not. Leadership in a GD is established implicitly through one's performance in a GD. Should we distribute the total time available to all the participants to ensure that everybody gets a chance to speak? Since a GD is not a debate or elocution, the participants should not resort to the strategy of distributing time amongst themselves. Can we take a definite stand in the GD and then later on during the GD, switch over to another stand? Yes, provided you do it the right way. In a GD it is quite likely that some other participant's counter-argument convinces you to your point. If this happens, then it is best if you accept his argument and explain to the group how your previous argument was true within a narrow range, and how the new argument is applicable to a broader range. Naturally, it is safer not to make any rash statements for or against a topic before you learn the facts of the argument. Blindly taking a stand will definitely lead you to trouble. This does not mean you should sit on the fence. You may participate actively by pointing out both sides of the issue in a reasonable and logical manner. If we do not understand the meaning of the topic, should we ask the moderator to explain it to us? No. You cannot. Instead of displaying your ignorance in this manner, it is better to wait for some other participant to explain the meaning of the topic. So listen to the discussion carefully for the first few minutes and when you have figured out what the topic is about, start participating in the discussion.

Should we address the other participants by their names or their assigned numbers? As far as possible, you should try and avoid names or numbers. It is better to use pronouns such as "he", "she", "you" etc. while referring to the members of the group. Are we expected to stick to the normally accepted line of thought or can we come up with something radical? By all means you can. It would demonstrate your creativity and originality. Just make sure it is relevant to the topic. If I feel strongly about an issue, should I voice my feelings? It is important to be cool and emotionally objective in a GD. If you react emotionally you are likely to lose control over yourself during the group discussion. You have to be calm and logical, not emotional in a GD. Can I use technical terms or jargon, which is clear to me, but not to the group? If you have to use technical terms, please do not use abbreviations. After mentioning the term in full take time out to explain to the group what it means. It is quite likely that other participants of the group have a different academic background from you, and you should make sure you are all on a level playing field. Do I begin my participation by requesting the group's permission to do so? It is not likely that you will get a chance to ask for such permission. It may also go against you (as appearing weak on your part). What is the right time to enter a GD to ensure that I am heard properly? In any GD, there are crests and troughs during the discussion. The crest is when the noise level is at its peak. The trough is when there is almost total silence. Ideally, you should enter the GD during the trough period. But in competitive GDs, the crests occur more often and troughs may not occur at all. In such cases, you could identify the stages in the GD, where ideas dear to you are being discussed and enter the GD irrespective of the noise level. How do I participate when the noise level is too high? You could try the following strategy - Identify the most powerful speaker in the group, and note down the points that he/she is making. The moment the noise level reduces a little, enter supporting the powerful speaker. You will have made a strong ally who will carry you through the noise. Do I have to be cautious about other participants' feelings (on sensitive issues like religion, caste etc)?

You certainly do. Insensitivity to others displays a lack of maturity and viciousness. It will act against your favour. Is it beneficial to be the first speaker in a group discussion? Being the first speaker is a high risk, high return strategy. If you can make a good opening statement, which is relevant and sets the tone for the GD, it will go in your favour. If you do this well, you may automatically become the group leader. However if you bungle it up (by speaking for the sake of speaking, not really having anything pertinent to say), it will be remembered and will go against your favour. How critical is my fluency in English to my performance? Command over English is certainly advantageous but will not compensate for lack of good content. If your content is good, then even if your English might not be great, you must speak it out, rather than be inhibited by lack of good English. You will get credit for soundness of ideas. How necessary is it to use examples for illustrating an idea? Use of examples is helpful in elaborating your point, and helping others understand your idea better. But please remember to keep it short and simple because in a competitive GD nobody has the patience to listen to long, drawn out examples. How much or for how long should I participate? In a 20 minute GD with 10-12 participants, you should try and participate at least 4 times with each entry lasting at least 25-30 seconds. You could participate more depending on your comfort level and the need for participation. Is it good to be humorous in a GD? Depends on the situation. In a GD that is fairly relaxed, it may be acceptable. But in a competitive situation, where the participants are tensed up, your attempts at humour may fall flat. Should we make an interim summary? An interim summary is a way of directing the group mid-way through the GD. It helps the group to pick out and focus on the most important points and thus use the remaining time more effectively. However it is not necessary to make an interim summary, if the discussion is already well focused. What do I do if someone else has already said what I wanted to say? You have two choices:

1.

Agree with the point made by that person and add on to it by displaying the applicability of the argument to different situations. By doing this you will have broadened the scope of the argument.

2.

Drop the point and think of fresh points. To avoid getting into a situation where someone else has already spoken your points, do speak up in the first 4-5 minutes of the GD. If you wait longer, it is almost inevitable that someone would have spoken your points.

Is the use of slang/colloquialism permitted? It is best to avoid using slang. Can I use a language other than English to drive home my point? No. You will have to stick to English. How is aggression taken and measured in a GD? The moment you notice people reacting to you negatively or strongly, you may take it that you are being too aggressive. The degree of the reaction is the measure of your aggression. What level of aggression is seen acceptable? There is a very thin line between aggression and assertiveness. You should always aim to sound assertive and not stubborn. Is it true that the person who speaks the most in a GD is the one who is most successful? This is a myth. Generally the person who has a sound knowledge of the topic and is a clear thinker speaks more. This leads the students into believing that whoever speaks most is successful. But just speaking for the sake of speaking will not take you far. Will I be quizzed about my (or others) participation in the GD? You may be. Therefore it helps to be alert all through the GD. Is it true that the GD is used more as an elimination technique rather than as a selection tool? Depends on the institute. In most premier institutes it is used as a selection tool, not as an elimination technique. What is the level of accuracy desired in the facts and figures you quote during the GD? An error margin of 5% is acceptable. Is motivating other people in the group to speak looked upon favourably? Depends on how it is done. If you openly request someone to speak, you may be putting the other person in

a difficult spot, and the evaluators will not look that upon favourably. It is therefore better to use other means of motivation, such as agreeing with a halting speaker, adding on to their points, implicitly supporting and giving them direction. Does the moderator have any biases or preconceived notions about the topic? Ideally the moderator is supposed to be unbiased and neutral. But being a human being, the moderator cannot be totally free from bias. Since this is not a factor within your control, there isn't much point losing sleep over it. Can we expect the moderator to stop or cut short the GD much before the stipulated time is over? This may happen if the GD becomes too noisy and if the level of discussion deteriorates abysmally. Can I be aggressive with a lady participant? A GD is not the place to demonstrate chivalry. Being rude to any participant (male or female) is downright unacceptable. You need not extend any special privileges to a lady. Is it all right to ask pointed questions to other participants during a GD? It is alright to ask questions for the purpose of clarification but not for the purpose of playing the devil's advocate and proving them wrong. By playing the devil's advocate you hamper the flow of the GD. The pointed questions unsettle the other participant and the quality of the GD deteriorates. This would reflect badly on you and will go against your favour. Is it necessary that a group should arrive at a conclusion in the stipulated time? Ideally a group is supposed to reach a conclusion. Normally the time constraints do not allow the group to do so. Is an end-summary absolutely essential? No. If the group has not reached a conclusion, then it would be good if someone puts the whole discussion into perspective by summarizing. But if there isn't sufficient time, a summary may be avoided. Do we have to write a synopsis of the GD once it is over? Some institutes insist on this, but it is not universal. Is voting an acceptable method of reaching a consensus? Certainly not. A GD is not a debate. How should a group select a topic if asked to? The group should brainstorm for about two minutes and narrow down the list of topics to 3-4. After this the

group should prioritize them based on the comfort level and ease of discussion of the topics. This could be done by asking each participant to rank the 4 topics and the most popular choice should be taken. Are the topics decided on the basis of the academic background of the participant? No. Topics are usually general in nature to give a level playing field to everyone. What do I do if one member is very stubborn and aggressive? You could use any of the following methods.

Ignore him and address the other members of the group. Be assertive and tell him that his argument is faulty. Point out to him that his point is well taken and that the group must progress further by discussing the ideas presented by others.

What are the acceptable ways of interrupting somebody else, so that I may make my point? You can interrupt in any of the following ways:

"Excuse me, but I feel that what you are saying isn't universally true ..." "Yes, I agree with your idea, and I would like to add on to it " "Yes, I think you are right when you say that, but could you clarify what if "

How to Prepare For GD(Group Discussion)?

Group discussion is an important dimension of the job selection process. In todays context, the organizations are interested in team players rather than individual contributors even if they are excellent performers by themselves. Employers during group discussion evaluate the candidates potential to be a leader and also his/her ability to work in teams. Normally group discussions are used in the selection process for management trainees and executive positions. Employers are looking for candidates who have potential to be executives and to lead teams of people. What the panel looks for? All that one observes in a GD can be categorized into two broad areas: the Content and the Process.

 The content is all about the matter (or the what) spoken in the GD. Whereas, the process refers to the how, when and why of the GD. Both are equally important and need adequate attention at all stages. A high quality contribution with no regard to the process is as suicidal as one which is high on packaging with little content. Critical success factors in a GD.. Cognitive skills or knowledge: The most important aspect of your contribution to a GD is the quality of content (QOC), which is reflected in the points you make, knowledge of the relevant subject, and the supportive examples you give. Comprehension of the core idea: It is essential to deliver high quality content. But to do that, you should speak on the topic and not deviate. The panel basically wants to see whether you have identified the crux of the problem and whether you are offering relevant solutions. Logical reasoning: It includes understanding the topic, generating quality arguments, analysis and a progressive approach to a justifiable conclusion. This is one of the necessary attributes to be seen in an influential participant. Such people convey an impression of being open minded and logic driven rather than opinionated. Behavioral and personality skills: This includes certain attributes like rapport-building, team membership, participation, patience, assertion and accommodation, amenability, leadership, etc. Communication skills: You should be able to articulate your thoughts properly and you should also be able to understand what others are trying to say. Clarity of thoughts: In whatever you say, follow a logical sequence/order rather then presenting the points in some bits and pieces. Body language and eye contact: These are some tools which check your level of confidence and whether you can work together effectively in a group or not. So, be sure to maintain eye contact with everyone in the group.

Most Important Workout For GD Prepration 1. Preparing for a Group Discussion: While GD reflects the inherent qualities of an individual, appearing for it unprepared may not augur well for you. These tips would help you prepare for GDs: Reading: This is the first and the most crucial step in preparation. This is a never ending process and the more you read, the better you are in your thoughts. While you may read anything to everything, you must ensure that you are in good touch with current affairs, the debates and hot topics of discussion and also with the latest in the IT and ITES industry. Chances are the topics would be around these. Read both for the thoughts as well as for data. Also read multiple view points on the same topic and then create your point of view with rationale. Also create answers for counter arguments for your point of view. The electronic media also will be of good use here. Mocks: Create an informal GD group and meet regularly to discuss and exchange feedback. This is the best way to prepare. This would give you a good idea about your thoughts and how well can you convince. Remember, it is important that you are able to express your thoughts well. The better you perform in these mocks the better would be you chances to perform on the final day. Also try to interact and participate in other GD groups. This will develop in you a skill to discuss with unknown people as well. 2. During the Group Discussion: What do the panelists assess:Some of the qualities assessed in a GD are: Leadership Skills - Ability to take leadership roles and be able to lead, inspire and carry the team along to help them achieve the group's objectives. Communication Skills - Candidates will be assessed in terms of clarity of thought, expression and aptness of language. One key aspect is listening. It indicates a willingness to accommodate others views. Interpersonal Skills - People skills are an important aspect of any job. They are reflected in the ability to interact with other members of the group in a brief situation. Emotional maturity and balance promotes good interpersonal relationships. The person has to be more people centric and less self-centered. Persuasive Skills - The ability to analyze and persuade others to see the problem from multiple perspectives. GD is a test of your ability to think, your analytical capabilities and your ability to make your point in a teambased environment.

These are some of the sub-skills that also get assessed with the skills mentioned above:

Clarity of thought Group working skills (especially during a group task of case study discussion) Conflict handling Listening and probing skills Knowledge about the subject and individual point of view Ability to create a consensus Openess and flexibility towards new ideas Data based approach to decision making

While, it is not possible to reflect all these qualities in a short time, you would do well if you are able to show a couple or more qualities and avoid giving negative evidence on others.

What are Common Mistakes in the GD(Group Discussion)?

Who Learn's from mistake's is the won who has the wisdom, and who repeats mistake is the one who does not.

Here's a list of the most common mistakes made at group discussions

Emotional outburst

Neha was offended when one of the male participants in a group discussion made a statement on women generally being submissive while explaining his point of view. When Neha finally got an opportunity to speak, instead of focussing on the topic, she vented her anger by accusing the other candidate for being a male chauvinist and went on to defend women in general.

What Neha essentially did was to

Deviate from the subject. Treat the discussion as a forum to air her own views. Lose objectivity and make personal attacks.

Her behaviour would have been perceived as immature and demotivating to the rest of the team.

Quality Vs Quantity

Gautam believed that the more he talked, the more likely he was to get through the GD. So, he interrupted other people at every opportunity. He did this so often that the other candidates got together to prevent him from participating in the rest of the discussion.

Assessment is not only on your communication skills but also on your ability to be a team player. Evaluation is based on quality, and not on quantity. Your contribution must be relevant. The mantra is "Contributing meaningfully to the team's success." Domination is frowned upon.

Egotism Showing off

Krishna was happy to have got a group discussion topic he had prepared for. So, he took pains to project his vast knowledge of the topic. Every other sentence of his contained statistical data - "20% of companies; 24.27% of parliamentarians felt that; I recently read in a Jupiter Report that..." and so on so forth. Soon, the rest of the team either laughed at him or ignored his attempts to enlighten them as they perceived that he was cooking up the data.

Exercise restraint in anything. You will end up being frowned upon if you attempt showing-off your knowledge. Facts and figures need not validate all your statements. Its your analysis and interpretation that are equally important - not just facts and figures. You might be appreciated for your in-depth knowledge. But you will fail miserably in your people skills.

Such a behavior indicates how self-centered you are and highlights your inability to work in an atmosphere where different opinions are expressed.

Get noticed - But for the right reasons

Srikumar knew that everyone would compete to initiate the discussion. So as soon as the topic - "Discuss the negative effects of India joining the WTO" - was read out, he began talking. In his anxiety to be the first to start speaking, he did not hear the word "negative" in the topic. He began discussing the ways in which the country had benefited by joining WTO, only to be stopped by the evaluator, who then corrected his mistake.

False starts are extremely expensive. They cost you your admission. It is very important to listen and understand the topic before you air your opinions.

Spending a little time analyzing the topic may provide you with insights which others may not have thought about. Use a pen and paper to jot down your ideas. Listen! It gives you the time to conceptualize and present the information in a better manner.

Some mistakes are irreparable. Starting off the group discussion with a mistake is one such mistake, unless you have a great sense of humor.

Managing one's insecurities

Sumati was very nervous. She thought that some of the other candidates were exceptionally good. Thanks to her insecurity, she contributed little to the discussion. Even when she was asked to comment on a particular point, she preferred to remain silent.

Your personality is also being evaluated. Your verbal and non verbal cues are being read. Remember, you are the participant in the GD; not the evaluator. So, rather than evaluating others and your performance, participate in the discussion. Your confidence level is being evaluated. Decent communication skills with good confidence is a must to crack the GDs.

Focus on your strengths and do not spend too much time thinking about how others are superior or inferior to you. It is easy to pick up these cues from your body language.

How to generate ideas in the GD(Group Discussion)?

Some of the approaches that will help you generate points in a GD are: Key Word Approach In any GD topic, there will be keywords that are loaded with meaning and open to interpretation. You should use these words to derive points to discuss. Viewpoints of Affected Parties

The group should look at the pros and cons of the topic, and try to bring forth their views on the parties which would probably be affected by any decision (adverse or otherwise) taken.

Socio-cultural, Political, Economic, Legal, and Technological angles to the given topic Students should analyze a given topic using multiple angles. Students should bear in mind that it may not be possible to use each of the above mentioned approaches in isolation for every topic. They should try using a combination of approaches in order to generate the maximum number of points that they can use effectively in a Group Discussion. How to prepare Taking it as it comes is certainly not the right approach towards something as critical as a GD. If you wait till you get a call, you will not be left with any time to prepare at all. You need to understand that most students would have started their GD preparation already. By clearing the written test, you have cleared just one hurdle. From now on, the competition becomes stiffer, as each student who receives a call is as motivated as you to get into a top B-School. To improve your knowledge, read a general newspaper and a business newspaper everyday to keep abreast of current events and business- related news. You should also make it a point to read one general magazine and one business magazine to supplement newspaper reading. In the different articles that you read, concentrate on the core part of the issue rather than dwelling on its superficial aspects. Make regular notes on each article you read and try to convert them into points. This will help you remember them better. Always make it a point to read articles that cover a range of issues to increase your knowledge on a wide variety of topics. Avoid sticking to articles whose core issues you are already comfortable with. If you are not doing this already, get cracking immediately!

How to Analyze a GD Topic ?

While speaking on given topic it is necessary to analyze the topic considering its salient aspects and finding out a well reasoned solution. One must think of sound arguments in support of one's point of view and a logical presentation of them. It is necessary to consider the pros and cons of the given problem. Use of available information including those of others is important. Synthesizing different points of view and answering them in such a way as supportive of one's case is talent which must be cultivated. Considering an issue or a problem in a broader angle putting the immediate concerns in broader issues, thereby displaying the extent of knowledge is a successful technique. But one ought to be careful without becoming irrelevant or boastful.

Avoiding any repetition of ideas or arguments is important. Keeping within the scope of the given subject one must contribute towards rising the intellectual level of the discussion

Reasons For Rejection in GD(Group Discussion) ?

The keenness and eagerness of No3,his readiness to shoulder responsibility, his confidence to face the group and his initiative are no doubt his plus points. But his approach is selfish, authoritarian and annoying to others. He is too assertive and very dominating. His brazen attempt to buldoze others will provoke them and result in quarrels and clashes. These, in turn, will hinder group activity and realisation of the common goal objective, which is successful completion of the discussion within the time allotted. A leader or manager must carry his teammates with them and not antagonize them. No3, unfortunately, appears to be lacking in this very important aspect. REJECTED No2 does not know much about the subject He has the gift of the gab and hence waffles aimlessly. There is no logic or rationale in what he said he lacks organisation, system and order. He talks at random, jumping from one topic to another in fits and starts. Earlier we saw him acting rigidly and selfishly .He will cause friction and quarrels in the team, behaving like a bull in china shop. REJECTED No5 had remained aloof and silent throughout. He is dull and devoid of ideas.He admits his limitations but does not show any interest or determination to overcome them. He wastes opportunities and shies away from responsibility. Being weak and docile and unenterprising, he will not be able to come up as a leader. REJECTED No8 This candidate is a mere camp follower without any initiative, urge, drive or originality. He finds excuses to avoid and shirk responsibility. He has throughout been disinterested, distant and aloof and has not made any contribution to group activity. An extremely dull and insipid individual who will prove to be a great burden to the organization.REJECTED No.1 wastes the opportunity offered to him on a platter. On his own also he did not display and initiative and drive. He pleads ignorance and confirms that he lacks ideas. This is a general knowledge topic and anyone familiar with current events should be able to make some interesting contribution to the discussion. He offers excuses and prefers to be the last speaker. If he does not know, he can at least ask a knowledgeable colleague in the group to explain the nature and scope of the topic first. On the other hand, he straightway shirks responsibility. He is a dull and insipid candidate who lacks self-confidence and leadership potential. REJECTED

Sulks and refuses to cooperate. He also wastes the good opportunity offered to him. He is rigid and fails to adapt himself to the situation. He has good expressive faculty but his ideas are confused and overlapping. He waffles unnecessarily instead of going directly to the point. His ego and pride prevent him from extending cooperation and establishing rapport. Because of his personal quarrel with No.6, he refuses to the half of the group. With this marked negative qualities. No.2 will be a serious hindrance to the team. REJECTED. This candidate has understood the subject and has the self-confidence to the challenge No.5 and produce quite a few original and convincing arguments to support his stand. But he still continues his collision path. He prefers to attack those who disagree with him in a brutal and direct manner. He quarreled with No.2violently earlier. Now he repeats the same behaviour pattern. It is doubtful whether he could improve by training REJECTED This candidate lacks initiative and originality. His ideas are limited he has nothing useful to contribute. He is afraid to take any firm decision and commit himself. He has wasted the opportunity afforded to him. With such marked negative qualities he cannot make the grade as a strong leader. REJECTED A fairly active and well- motivated group in which Nos.7 and 5 display natural leadership qualities and prove successful in launching the group on its task. They overcome the obstacles which they encounter with imagination, speed and tact. This GD being a team work, it cannot be executed without someone assuming the responsibilities of a leader and coordinator. Nos1,2 and 3, though spoke among themselves, did not come toward to shoulder this responsibility on there own initiative. On the other hand No.7 displayed natural leadership abilities and assumed the responsibility to launch the group on its task, on his own No.5 who gave excellent support to No.7, also displays good leadership qualities. We find No2 to be hesitant, diffident and overcautious. No.1 appears to be lacking in ideas and he is unable to half No.2 actively. Without admitting his limitations No.1 tries to evade the issues or pass the buck on the others. No3has acted in light vein which indicates certain amount of irresponsibility Nevertheless he offers to be the opening speaker. Hence, he has to be watched further, Nos.4, 6and 8 have so far remained as silent spectators. In this group Nos.3 and 7 initially wanted to assume leadership and made their debuts. But they bitterly quarreled between themselves as to who should be the leader. Unfortunately, both lacked tact and social cohesiveness. They were also rigid and selfish. Team spirit and cooperation on the part of both were sadly lacking and they were obstructing the progress of group activity. On the other hand, No.1 emerged as the natural and highly gifted leader. He was able to motivate his team mates and move the group towards its goal with remarkable success. He could handle Nos .3and 7 with competence and else displaying appropriate techniques. Nos.5 and 4 came forward to lend good support to No.1 and also showed adequate

leadership traits themselves No.6,8 and 2 were ineffective camp followers and did not make any contribution to promote group activity. Thus, the only successful candidates of this group are Nos.1,5 and 4 in that order.