Top 10 Do's and Don'ts of Group Discussion

A group discussion is one of the forms of verbal communication, which involves more than two persons getting together and having a conversation. It is a platform wherein the participants or group members come together to share their thoughts and opinions; however, participants need to follow certain do's and don'ts of group discussion. The members of the group who gather around for discussion always tend to be united with a common objective, interest, activity, or goal, and it do's and don'ts of group discussion.

Group discussions can be done on either an elevated level or an informal level. For example, having a conversation with your friends is an informal group discussion, whereas a discussion you have during an interview can be formal.

Do’s and Don’ts in Group Discussion

Group Discussion plays a vital role in the admission process of top B-Institutes. Apart from knowledge and content which an individual puts while discussing, they also evaluate communication and group skills. Here is a list that must know the key points regarding group discussion given below.

There are specific guidelines when it comes to group discussion, which is the dos and don'ts.

• Top 10 Do's of Group Discussion
• Top 10 Dont's of Group Discussion

Top 10 Do's of Group Discussion

The first impression is very important to establish your credentials, so make sure to start well and put your points strategically rather than random inputs.

Here are the top 10 Do’s of group discussion

1. If you are starting the discussion, you must understand the difference between initiating and starting the discussion. Initiating refers to knowing an overall discussion and schedule of the group, whereas starting is speaking just for the sake of speaking. 
2. Speak in a good tone/ voice with clarity and avoid grammar mistakes; it will give you operational benefits. 
3. Since more than two people are involved in a group discussion, the most effective way to run a group discussion is to listen to what others have to say and understand why they are saying it.
4. Try to make proper eye contact with the participant, and also participate actively and acknowledge more frequently. 
5. The best way to gather your thoughts in an organized manner is to write down your key points before starting a group discussion. In that way, you would never be lost while discussing because you will know what to say.
6. Always make sure that your tone is humble and polite; make the people want to listen. And be sure to include positive messages in whatever information, data, or thoughts you wish to convey.
7. Support your viewpoint with examples and facts; this will add conviction to your point of view. 
8. Always present yourself as a team player with an ability to balance individual excellence and group performance. The group discussion is not just about your perspective; you have to respond to the others’ perspectives as well and enlarge the scope of the discussion.
9. Do try to know the right exit point as an exit strategy crucial as the entry strategy. 
10. When asked to conclude, summarize the main points of discussion. The conclusion is not about what you feel about the topic; it is about what the group felt as a whole. This needs a reference to the main points which emanated in that span and the overall stand of the group.

Top 10 Don'ts of Group Discussion

In a group discussion, never start for the sake of starting, which may show your lack of planning and organizing skills.

Here are the top 10 Don’ts of group discussion

1. Don't put your input randomly, try to put it strategically, and it should be well planned and structured. 
2. Don't be arrogant or overaggressive. This will reflect your poor interpersonal skills and negative attitude. 
3. Don't be inactive in GD; this may show that you are indifferent task at hand and not interested in the discussion. 
4. Don't point out any particular speaker and try to give respect to each participant in the group. 
5. Don't criticize anyone's point of view. Everyone has the right to dictate their points in-group, respect their points, and put yours in a polite manner. 
6. Don't indulge in the cross discussion when the main discussion is going on; try to manage every point. 
7. Don't try to monopolize the discussion; this may look like violating the essence of an open discussion. 
8. Don't get restless or harsh when someone counters your point. Normally, the discussion may get contradicted; try to put your facts and example which illustrate your point. 
9. Don't cross your legs or fold your arms or any informal gesture. 
10. The important thing that one needs to keep in mind while having a group discussion is never judging a member by just hearing their point of view. Opinions and thoughts are going to vary, even if the topic of discussion is the same.

Types of Group Discussions

There are five major types included under the topic of group discussion.

Briefs of different types of group discussion are,

• Topic-based Group Discussion
• Case-based Group Discussion
• Structured Group Discussion
• Unstructured Group Discussion
• Roleplay

Topic-based Group Discussion

In topic-based group discussions, the members of the group are given a particular topic to discuss. The topic is usually in the form of a statement or a fact, sometimes the statement may be incomplete, and the discussion is left open for the members to start the conversation. It is introduced in front of the members as a base for the discussion to start.

Case-based Group Discussion

Under the case-based group discussion, details of the situation will be given to the participants, and they are asked to resolve the situation. In this or any group discussion, there is no perfect or imperfect solution. The main objective of a case-study discussion is to look into the given situation and think about it from various angles.

Structured Group Discussion

There are certain rules or maybe guidelines under which the discussion has to happen in a structured group discussion. Under this type of group discussion, the topic for discussion is given in by the selectors. It is used in schools and colleges to meet certain learning outcomes.

Unstructured Group Discussion

Under the unstructured group discussion, the participants decide the topic for discussion with mutual consent. This type of group discussion is rarely used nowadays.

Roleplay

In this type of group discussion, the members are given different roles to play in a given situation. The problematic situation will be provided, and the members are supposed to find a solution in the form of discussion.

Advantages of a Group Discussion

There are various advantages when it comes to having a group discussion.

Advantages of group discussion are,

• Diversity of opinions: Since there are more than two people involved in a group discussion, we get to hear a wide range of views that we may or may not agree to. It helps us come across various thoughts and opinions, which helps us expand our knowledge.
• Participation and discussion of individuals: Group discussions are an open platform for people to share their thoughts and opinions. It gives people a chance to express themselves in an environment where others have the same interest as ours. And this makes people voice their opinions and get involved in discussions.
• The collective contribution of ideas: With a group of people to a debate on topics, many ideas will result in discussing a topic. These discussions may even result in the development of an innovation or invention of a great idea.
• Team building: One of the main and most important advantages of a group discussion is building a team wherein every idea is respected and given importance. All the team members have a sense of understanding regarding the fact that they all are one, that they all are a team.
• Expert opinions: One may even come across people doing great in their field or some who have a ton of experience. When we meet such people, we tend to get inspired as they have a lot to tell and have some strong and justified opinions through which we tend to expand our horizon of thinking.

Disadvantages of a Group Discussion

Everything has a positive and a negative to it. That is the same case when it comes to group discussions.

The disadvantages of group discussions are,

• Consumption of time: When it comes to discussing with a group of people, it sure takes up a lot of our time as with more people involved, there will be more opinions, and more thoughts and each of the members expressing their thoughts will result in the consumption of time.
• Different ideas and opinions: Even though the topic of interest or the goal may be the same, different individuals think differently. Hence, while having a group discussion, there would be a flood of ideas, thoughts, and opinions that are different from each other, some of which may not be mutually agreed upon.
• Social pressures: When certain ideas tend to come along because most people in a group agree to it, it results in the few minorities of people, who might have something different opinion, accepting it anyways. That results in them accepting the idea under the pressure of the social group they are a part of, in this case, the group discussion.
• Priorities on certain ideas: When we make up unique opinions about a topic, we rarely tend to change it unless strongly convinced. Thus, while having group discussions, we tend to prioritize our ideas, with which we may feel impossible to disagree. It proves to be a disadvantage in a platform such as a group discussion.