1. Group Task-Facilitating Roles (+)
2. Group Task-Hindering Roles (-)
3. Relationship-Building Roles (+)
4. Relationship-Weakening Roles (-)
5. Listening (non-verbal cues you display)
A '+' sign indicates a positive trait and a '-' sign indicates a negative trait.
Let us now talk about the particular behaviours in each category.
1. Group Task-Facilitating Roles (+)
a. Giving Direction: Most of the time GDs go haywire because the discussion goes off in tangents. The panel looks favourably upon people who give direction to the entire group either in the beginning or in the middle of the GD, when everything is chaotic and going on tangents.
b. Seeking Information: Do not be afraid to ask more information from any of the group members if you feel a particular point they mentioned is necessary to make an informed discussion. It is not always about putting your own point forward.
c. Giving Information: If you give information that is relevant to the topic to the entire group. Also, do not hesitate to correct if any wrong information is given out in the group.
d. Monitoring/Enforcing: Keeping track of time, breaking up arguments, basically maintaining the discipline of the discussion earns you brownie points. There are instances where GDs become a fish market and the entire panel gets scrapped except that one person who didn't speak.
e. Summarizing: If you are listening carefully and jotting down the valid points your group is agreeing on then do try to summarize the GD towards the end where you talk about the points the group agreed on.
f. Reality/Feasibility Testing: This talks about the validity of your points and also how well you question propositions put forward by others that may be illogical or untrue.
2. Group Task-Hindering Roles (-)
a. Dominating/Blocking: Do NOT interrupt others or hijack their points. Blocking and disrupting other people is detrimental to the GD.
b. Overanalyzing: This is where you drag on points. If in a GD about nationalism you discuss Modiji's foreign trips for 5 minutes then you have gone too far.
c. Stalling Progress: Some people tend to drag back the discussion to those 1 or 2 points they feel really strongly about, thereby not allowing the GD to move ahead. Do not be that person.
d. Premature Decision Making: DO NOT jump the gun. Do not arrive at conclusions without sufficient proof or support. For e.g. "Aamir Khan said he feels afraid for his children, he is a deshdrohi" - is a complete no-no.
e. Presenting opinions as facts: Pakistan is a Muslim country - fact. Pakistan is a terrorist state - opinion. Keep your opinions limited to evaluation of points. Be as objective as possible when you add points.
3. Relationship-Building Roles (+)
a. Supporting/Encouraging: When someone makes a valid point and you want to build upon it with extra information, acknowledge the person's information and show that you agree with them by saying something like "I agree with candidate number X and would like to offer some more information about the same......"
b. Mediating/Harmonizing: Try acting as a mediator when others start arguing. It gets you brownie points. Go with "I think we should put aside our differences and try to focus on the main discussion at hand"
c. Confronting the Negative: If someone negates your point and you have a counter-argument, grab the opportunity. Do not let it go. It will go against you if the panel notices it.
d. Providing Opportunities: It happens in a lot of GDs that some people do not get a chance to talk. Try bringing that to the notice of your group and give the person an opportunity. "I think candidate number X should be given a chance to put his points forward."
e. Holding the conflict: If you see a division of views among the group and manage to convince everyone to agree to one viewpoint, it will act a lot in your favour.
4. Relationship-Weakening Roles (-)
a. Faultfinding/Rejecting: Do not reject or counter too many times without a base. Too many counters to people's points will not reflect well on you.
b. Digressing/Deflecting: If you cause the group to divert from the primary discussion then you will be marked out. Do not unnecessarily say long-drawn-out sentences just for the sake of speaking. Be crisp, relevant and succinct when you talk.
c. Displaying Defensiveness: If you make the mistake of fighting with someone because they negated your point, then your chances will be adversely affected.
d. Remaining Passive: Do not be passive. Smile a little when you speak. Having a poker face and not saying much will hamper your chances.
5. Listening: Be an active listener. Make it a point to lean slightly towards the person who is speaking. It gives off the feeling that you are paying attention. Nodding at times when you agree and maintaining eye-contact towards the speaker shows you are a good listener and a team player.
Hygiene checks:
1. Make it a point to address the entire group when you speak. Do not talk only in a particular direction.
2. Do not engage in one-on-one conversations even when someone tries to do it to you.
3. Do not slouch during the discussion or look down continuously. Be an active participant.
4. Enter at least 3-4 times in a 20 minute GD.
5. Do not speak for more than 90 seconds unless you have enough content to talk about.
6. Be polite and do not raise your voice. Learn the difference between having a firm tone and sounding angry. Be calm and composed when you try to mediate arguments.
All the best and best of luck to everyone. Cheers! May the 'farce' be with you.
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