Group Discussion- I

Summary

This video script focuses on the importance and dynamics of group discussions (GD) in various settings, including recruitment and problem-solving. It emphasizes the need for respect, cooperation, and effective communication within a group. The script outlines behaviors that facilitate or hinder group success, such as arrogance and humility, and provides guidance on language use and body language to promote a positive group dynamic. It concludes with the benefits of GDs, including team building and consensus reaching, and encourages practice to improve one's skills in this area.

Takeaways

• 😀 Group discussions (GD) are an important part of formal presentations and are used by many institutions for recruitment and problem-solving.
• 👥 Conducting oneself well in a GD is crucial as it reflects on one's character and personality, which can be different in a group setting.
• 🔍 GDs are used to assess candidates' behavior, communication skills, and ability to work with others, making them a popular tool for selection processes.
• 🤝 Good group behavior in a GD includes mutual respect, cooperation, and the exchange of ideas, which can lead to the formation of strong teams.
• 💡 GDs promote learning and the optimal use of resources, as they allow individuals to contribute their unique strengths and perspectives.
• 🚫 In a GD, it's important to avoid arrogance and instead focus on collaboration and inclusive language that respects all participants.
• 🗣️ Effective communication in a GD involves using inclusive language, asking for opinions, and expressing ideas in a way that encourages group consensus.
• 👂 Listening attentively and allowing others to finish speaking is a key aspect of good group behavior, as is avoiding interrupting or talking out of turn.
• 👗 Proper attire and body language are important in conveying respect and professionalism in a formal GD setting.
• 🙅‍♂️ Avoiding disrespectful language and focusing on inclusive phrases that embrace diversity and equal opportunity is essential for a successful GD.
• 📝 Practicing GDs with peers, observing, and reflecting on the process can significantly improve one's ability to participate effectively in group discussions.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the session in the provided script?

The main focus of the session is to discuss the importance and dynamics of participating in a Group Discussion (GD), particularly in the context of English language communication and professional settings such as job interviews and team building.

Why are group discussions considered important in professional settings?

Group discussions are considered important in professional settings because they are used as a method of recruitment, problem-solving, and reaching consensus on complex issues. They also help in assessing candidates' performance, behavior, and ability to work with others.

What are some of the issues that can arise during a group discussion?

Some issues that can arise during a group discussion include one person dominating the conversation, some participants not getting a fair chance to express themselves, and the presence of negative behaviors such as irritability, arrogance, or impatience.

How can a group discussion help in forming a team?

A group discussion helps in forming a team by promoting mutual respect, cooperation, and the exchange of ideas among members. It encourages participants to consider different perspectives and work towards a common goal, thereby fostering a strong team spirit.

What are some good practices to follow during a group discussion?

Good practices during a group discussion include allowing each person to express their views, making new and relevant points, respecting others' opinions, and being attentive to the conversation. It also involves using inclusive language and avoiding interruptions.

What are some examples of bad practices to avoid in a group discussion?

Examples of bad practices to avoid include speaking rapidly without allowing others to understand, interrupting others, showing impatience, using informal or disrespectful language, and focusing too much on oneself rather than the group as a whole.

Why is it important to respect others' opinions in a group discussion?

Respecting others' opinions in a group discussion is important because it fosters an environment of open communication and mutual learning. It also helps in building trust and rapport among group members, which is essential for effective teamwork.

How can one identify an arrogant person in a group discussion?

An arrogant person in a group discussion can be identified by their I-centered language, lack of patience for others' opinions, tendency to interrupt, and a general air of superiority. They may also be dismissive of others' ideas and overly assertive with their own.

What is the significance of using inclusive language in a group discussion?

Using inclusive language in a group discussion is significant as it promotes a sense of unity and equality among participants. It ensures that all members feel valued and heard, which is crucial for a healthy and productive group dynamic.

What are some tips for effective body language during a group discussion?

Effective body language during a group discussion includes maintaining eye contact, having an open posture, and using gestures that convey confidence and engagement. It also involves being aware of one's facial expressions to ensure they reflect attentiveness and respect.

How can one improve their skills in group discussions?

One can improve their skills in group discussions by practicing with friends or colleagues, observing and reflecting on their performance, learning from both good and bad practices, and seeking feedback from others. Continuous learning and self-improvement are key to becoming proficient in group discussions.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Group Discussion in English: Importance and Application

This paragraph introduces the topic of group discussions (GD) in English, emphasizing its significance in various settings such as job interviews, scholarships, and academic institutions. It highlights the role of GD in recruitment and problem-solving, as well as its popularity as a tool for consensus building. The speaker outlines the challenges of participating in a GD and hints at strategies for overcoming these challenges, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the subject.

05:01

👥 Dynamics of Group Behavior and Personality Changes

The second paragraph delves into the behavioral changes individuals undergo when they are part of a group. It discusses how people may exhibit different traits in a group setting compared to when they are alone, ranging from cooperative and congenial to irritable and jealous. The paragraph also addresses the issue of group members dominating the conversation or remaining silent, stressing the need to manage oneself and others effectively within a group.

10:06

🤝 The Power of Group Discussion for Team Building

This paragraph outlines the advantages of group discussions (GD) in fostering team spirit and good behavior. It emphasizes respect for one another as the foundation of good group behavior and discusses the importance of cooperation and the exchange of ideas. The speaker uses a metaphor of a house to illustrate the concept of a team, where individual strengths come together to create an unbreakable whole, and highlights the benefits of learning from one another within a group.

15:14

🚫 Recognizing and Avoiding Arrogance in Group Discussions

The fourth paragraph focuses on identifying and dealing with arrogance in group discussions. It contrasts the self-centered language of arrogant individuals with the collaborative language of team players. The speaker advises against using informal language and suggests using pronouns that promote group identity. The paragraph also touches on the importance of body language and respectful communication in fostering a positive group dynamic.

20:15

📚 Etiquette and Effective Communication in Group Settings

This paragraph discusses the importance of etiquette in group discussions, including how to stand, sit, and talk effectively. It stresses the need for clear and audible communication, as well as the importance of being attentive and remembering names and points. The speaker also advises against using imperative sentences and suggests using more inclusive language to promote respect and inclusivity within the group.

25:18

🌟 Becoming a Star in Group Discussions Through Practice and Observation

The final paragraph encourages participants to practice group discussions with friends and colleagues, to observe and note both good and bad practices, and to reflect on the language used. It suggests sharing these observations with teachers and reviewers to improve one's skills. The speaker concludes by wishing participants success in becoming proficient in group discussions.

Keywords

💡Formal Presentations

Formal presentations refer to the act of formally conveying information to an audience in a structured manner. In the context of the video, it's about various occasions where one might need to present information formally, such as in reports, interviews, or group discussions. The script mentions formal presentations to set the stage for discussing group discussions (GDs) as a specific type of formal presentation.

💡Group Discussion (GD)

A Group Discussion (GD) is a structured conversation where a group of individuals exchange ideas or debate on a particular topic. The video emphasizes the importance of GDs in various settings like recruitment, academia, and problem-solving. It is highlighted as a method to observe candidates' performance and behavior in a social setting, as in the example of companies evaluating potential employees through GDs.

💡Recruitment

Recruitment is the process of seeking, hiring, and onboarding new staff. The script discusses how group discussions have become a popular method of recruitment, where employers observe candidates' interactions and behaviors to determine the best prospective employee, beyond just their individual qualifications.

💡Consensus

Consensus refers to a general agreement or concurrence among a group of people. The video explains that GDs are used to reach consensus on issues that may not be straightforward, by allowing for the exchange of diverse viewpoints and collaborative decision-making.

💡Behavior

Behavior in the script refers to the way individuals conduct themselves, especially in a group setting. It is noted that behavior is crucial in a GD as it can influence how one is perceived by others, including potential employers or colleagues.

💡Team

A team in this context is a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. The video script discusses how GDs help in forming effective teams by promoting good behavior, cooperation, and the exchange of ideas among members.

💡Cooperation

Cooperation is the act of working together to achieve a goal. The script mentions that a good GD encourages cooperation among members, which is essential for reaching a consensus and making collective decisions.

💡Communication

Communication is the process of exchanging information, ideas, or feelings. The video emphasizes the importance of effective communication in GDs, including listening to others, expressing one's own thoughts clearly, and respecting the contributions of all participants.

💡Etiquette

Etiquette refers to the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group. The script discusses the importance of observing proper etiquette in a GD, such as how to stand, sit, talk, and dress appropriately to show respect and professionalism.

💡Respect

Respect in the context of the video means showing consideration and appreciation for others' opinions and contributions. It is highlighted as a fundamental aspect of good group behavior in a GD, where mutual respect fosters a positive and productive environment.

💡Language

Language in the script refers not only to the words used but also to the way they are used in a GD. It discusses the importance of using respectful and inclusive language, avoiding slang or informal terms, and ensuring clarity and effectiveness in communication.

Highlights

Importance of group discussions (GDs) in various settings like job interviews, scholarships, and problem-solving.

GDs as a popular recruitment tool in industries, academia, universities, and schools.

The role of an observer in GDs to assess candidates' performance and behavior.

Challenges faced in GDs and strategies to overcome them.

The transformation of individuals' behavior in group settings.

Characteristics of good group behavior, including mutual respect and cooperation.

The impact of GDs on team building and consensus reaching.

Learning opportunities provided by GDs to understand diverse perspectives.

The metaphor of a team as four walls supporting a structure to illustrate unity and strength.

Advantages of GDs in promoting functional group formation and optimal resource utilization.

Identifying arrogance in GDs through language and behavior.

Guidelines for respectful communication in GDs, avoiding dominance and promoting inclusivity.

The importance of using inclusive language to avoid disrespecting any group members.

Etiquette in GDs, including proper standing, sitting, talking, and dressing.

The value of self-observation and feedback in improving GD performance.

Strategies for effective participation in GDs, such as using questions and promoting group identity.

The significance of body language and the pace of speech in GDs for clear communication.

Encouragement to practice GDs with peers for skill enhancement and self-improvement.

Transcripts

Hello and welcome to another session of the  speaking module of this course in English.  

We have been talking about various  occasions when we make formal presentations.  

We spoke about reports, numbers, describing  things, appearing at interviews, conducting  

interviews, etc. Today we are going to talk  about another equally important or perhaps  

more important occasion when many of  us are called to speak in English. 

This is a group discussion or as the  acronym by which it goes, sorry the  

abbreviation by which it goes it is a GD, how  to participate in a GD, how to conduct a GD.  

Many companies, many institutions today call a  lot of candidates for a job, for a scholarship  

for a particular position and ask them  to talk about things among themselves,  

and then they decide an observer from  among the group of employers, observes you  

and they decide who among these candidates on  the basis of your performance, your behaviour,  

the way you conduct yourself and the  way you get along with others they  

check and conclude who among,  they observed participants  

may be their best prospective employee. Group discussion, therefore, has become, group  

discussion, therefore, has become very popular  as a method of recruitment, as a method of work,  

as a method of finding solutions to problems  as a way of reaching consensus on otherwise not  

such a straightforward issue in  many places, including industry,  

academia, universities, schools and  colleges, etc., etc. So, let us see  

what problems we can expect an encounter  while appearing at or conducting  

a group discussion and how we can  overcome these problems, next.

As I said, it is a very popular tool to reach  consensus, it is a very popular tool also to  

judge people, no matter how wonderful you are by  yourself, you hardly ever work only by yourself,  

I mean unless you are in a very different  and extraordinarily different situation where  

you do not require colleagues, friends, family  that is another matter but ordinarily speaking  

a good number of ordinary people  work with other ordinary people. 

But together these ordinary people make great  groups, and that happens because of methods like  

group discussion. It helps you reach consensus  on straightforward issues where there is no  

contention, where there is no divergence  of opinions, where there is no differences,  

disagreements. But also, on those issues where  you have more than one opinion, whether you have  

divergences of opinions, where  you have to take many different  

kinds of groups along. How do you do that? Should we continue learning and teaching  

online? Many people would say yes, there are  points in favour, and many people would say no,  

there are points against. But in the  end, as a manager, as the head of a team,  

somebody has to decide and that decision happens  to come out best when it is the group's decision,  

when as a group we decide that doing  so, doing not so maybe the best way.  

But these things are easier said than done. In a group, none of us remains the same person;  

we change. Somebody has defined character  as something which shows when you are  

all by yourself, your character  reveals itself when you are alone and  

or but your personality reveals itself when you  are in a group, you may be excellent individually,  

or you may be a villain, but in a group,  none of us remains the same person,  

we change, we become either very cooperative,  very helpful, very congenial, amiable,  

name those wonderful adjectives or the other  way around. We become irritable, irritating,  

irritated, quarrelsome, over grabbing, hungry  for attention, jealous, envious, cross-talking,  

arrogant, get distracted easily, a lot of  variety of things happen. But, go to the next.

You see here, maybe this is imaginary, perhaps it  is not from real life, but as I have been asking,  

is it so unreal, does it not happen in  many groups where one person goes on  

regardless of how others feel, pardon me I have  also been going on. But in a group of equals  

where everyone should get a fair  chance to express themselves  

to share their opinion to ask and answer  questions, it can be very bad having someone like  

my friend over there who seems to have been  talking for all the time since the group met. 

But this happens, all groups or many groups at  least have people who speak longer than they  

ought to, have people who speak much less than  they ought to and who also have people who speak  

only for about as long as their turn permits  them to do. This diversity makes a group,  

and we have to learn how to manage ourselves  and our colleagues in a group, next.

This was a group discussion, four people observed  by a teacher or a proctor engaged in deciding if  

conventional method of learning, sitting  in a classroom is good or the new ways  

of learning online is good, which of these is good  or which of these is better what we should do,  

and they have arguments for and against. But  

you may have noted that there are some good  things like they allow each other to say  

things, they make new points, there also are  a couple of bad things like someone speaking  

rapidly yeah I wonder if we would have understood  that gentleman sitting in on the second chair from  

the observer's right, from the viewer's  right, if we would have understood him without  

subtitle the lady is not too slow either,  actually the lady appeared to be impatient  

and she had to be reminded to let the other  speaker complete before she could join in. 

So, this is a typical group where you  may have seen some good practices,  

some not so good practices and we can  learn from them, there are lots of stuff  

both audio and visual and in terms of other  kinds of sites, just bullet points mentioning  

good practices and not so good practices in group  discussion, you can look at some of them as well  

of course as attending these sessions, and then  you can have some of your own practice, and you  

will be very comfortable, you will see that group  discussion is no longer a problem with you or for  

your friends because you may be in a position  to help them. So, let us go forward, next.

What are the advantages of a  GD? We must understand that.  

A GD or a group discussion makes a team; we are  all as a noted public speaker in India said,  

we are all marvellous people individually, but do  we make a great team. So, a GD, a group discussion  

helps you evolve, emerge or form yourselves  as a team, a good team, a good GD  

promotes good behaviour. What is good  behaviour, what is good group behaviour? 

Good group behaviour number one, the first trait  of good group behavior is respect for one another,  

a strong sense of mutual respect I would go to the  extent of saying a strong sense of respect for all  

colleagues without expecting anything, these are  my colleagues I cannot do well unless they do well  

and therefore, I must do my best to respect them  and to motivate them, they should feel happy  

having me with them that is the kind  of attitude that one ought to have. 

So, a good GD, therefore, encourages good group  behaviour and what is good group behaviour?  

It draws forth cooperation among members, it  facilitates, it promotes the exchange of ideas,  

it leads to; otherwise, you are different  individuals, somebody from computer applications,  

some another person from computer science,  yet another person from electronics,  

a fourth person from logistics management and  yet another person from communications division.  

How do you make a good team? But you may, because you are all specialists  

in your domain and if you come together and see  points of view of others as well as your own  

then that makes a great group, then you understand  and you do what is missing what the group would  

need, it is four walls, one wall no matter how  strong, does not make a house, but four walls  

very strong themselves and becoming stronger  when they touch each other, when they meet at  

the corner and support a superstructure, then  they themselves become unbreakable and the  

roof they support also becomes unbreakable. So, that is the metaphor of a team; a team  

becomes a team when all its group members keep the  team goal, the team is spirit above themselves.  

So, it encourages it promotes the formation of  functional groups; it also promotes learning;  

you learn about yourselves, you learn from  others, you learn from your colleagues,  

your colleague might not be an expert  in your area of interest or might be. 

But there are things your colleagues know,  your friends; your family do that you do not.  

And finally, individually we only have so much,  maybe 100 rupees, 200 rupees, 200000 rupees  

none of us has an unlimited amount of money or  unlimited amount of energy or ideas or knowledge  

but when we become 1 plus 1, when  we become 11 plus 1, when we become  

a thousand million plus one, then we become  a still stronger team, and we utilize our  

resources best in an optimal manner, getting best  returns from available resources. That is why  

GD is a very popular way of learning, teaching,  behaviour, language and performance, next.

Some people are arrogant; how would you  know? Nobody writes on the breastplate here,  

look I am arrogant, I am arrogant, nobody  does that. But just as some people are humble,  

humble people will never tell you they are humble,  arrogant might even tell you they are arrogant,  

they are proud, but humble people  will never tell you they are humble.  

So, how do who is humble, who is arrogant? Their language is typically I-centred  

when I was your age; I used to work 26 hours  a day. Well, you might have been great. Do you  

expect everyone to be a mirror image of yourself?  Your team is what it is; tell them something they  

can do. But this an arrogant person would always  tell you, in my opinion we must do it now,  

we must not wait or such a person would not wait  for others to finish, they may talk out of turn,  

no matter who is speaking, if this person feels  like saying something, he or she they would. 

Taking long time, you have been given  only so much why do you take so long  

and then insensitive, always preaching  to others, no, no you should do this,  

you should not speak that way, you should speak  that way, you should have seen this, you did not,  

always finding fault with others, none  of us is perfect, none of us is perfect. 

God created us all, and god created us not without  some flaws in our perception, in our constitution.  

But god also gave us some strengths, so we should  bring our strengths into play, and we should  

recognize the strengths of others, and it is with  their strengths we can overcome our weaknesses  

just as with our strengths they  would overcome their weaknesses,  

it is not that one is only weak and another  person is only strong, it does not happen that. 

So, an arrogant person always presents oneself  as a superior, or he did nothing for me,  

I could have done it, I could have taken 100  kilograms in a hanky and could have thrown it  

two kilometres away, something as ridiculous  as that, they can be very rude in speech,  

they will say I see it, keep quiet they  can immediately tell others no, no, shut  

up allow me to finish, not even allow me, I will  speak first, very, very clearly visible traits.

All of these points, please look at them;  these are the examples you will often see them,  

you will say no, no your points are invalid, your  argument does not make any sense do not say that.  

If you really mean that argument does not make  sense, there are ways of saying that. Can you  

say it differently, can you come again? Sorry, we do not understand you,  

can we say it this way, rather than say no,  no, your argument does not make any sense  

and do not use informal words like gonna, wanna or  the slangs, all colleges and all groups of young  

people have slangs, they are wonderful within your  group or not when you are in a formal situation. 

And never use pronoun before you have used noun,  I told her, who is her? She is bringing it,  

who is she? You should better say Aishwarya  is bringing it, Ramakant is bringing it,  

put it that way and then you can say. Well,  he, oh he has already started, I know,  

he called me before leaving for office, go on.

Similarly, body language, your dress, go on.

This is the language of team spirit, the language  of cooperation, collaboration, shall we, can we,  

shall we try this idea, shall we find out,  can we wait, should we try in this direction,  

please permit me or may I suggest something.  

No, no, you first please, I can wait or  speaking small sentences, conversation,  

slow enough so that everyone understands you,  speaking within the available and allotted time,  

remembering names and points so that you really  do not have to ask anyone every time. Pardon me  

what did you say? That leaves a very bad taste,  that takes not only more time than available,  

it also indicates that you are not  attentive, we can avoid these things, next.

Where can we go wrong? These are the places. In a  group, never say do this, do that, better say, you  

use questions sentences, shall we do this, should  we do this, is it alright to look at it this way  

or will it not be better looking at it the other  way, and can and may rather that will. Somebody  

says who can do it and if you say I will do it, it  is alright, but it is not very polite, you can say  

well I can do it, can I have a chance, again if  you are sure you can do it, speak it this way. 

So, use pronouns that promote group  identity, say we, us, our company,  

is for us to decide where we want to be  five years from now or three years from now  

rather than it is for me to decide,  it is for the company to decide  

if you have to say company say our company,  can our company be there in 3 years, next.

So, this is the language of respect rather  than say things like even women can come,  

as if you are making a great concession to women  on the team or even people from South India  

can try speaking Hindi, why? You would much more  respectfully say, all sections, all of us can try,  

that includes all regions and all genders, all  caste, classes, communities, cultures, everyone. 

But the language of disrespect, as I said. Well,  even English teachers can come to this meeting,  

let us do something for poor people.  Well, women should get due respect,  

why speak this way, you can simply say everyone  can try, all who are interested are welcome,  

let us work for everyone rich or poor, let  us give a chance to everyone men or women. 

So, when you do not use or use in a limited manner  polite language words like shall, could, would,  

may, might, feel, seem, then if, when you do not  use these things you might in English sound rude,  

I mean exceptional situations apart  the language of good social behaviour  

involves these words, which will come to you  not only by getting these words by heart but  

by having a proper attitude that is the attitude  of respect, the attitude of finding out, next.

These are examples of the language of  

respect asking for opinions or how  you can give your opinion next.

Look at all this, next.

Etiquette, very important in a group we must  know how to stand, how to sit, how to talk;  

I have not spoken about dress, etc. because I  believe that all of us know that on any formal  

situation, at any formal situation we should be  properly dressed, quote on quote "properly". So,  

neither should we shout, nor should we whisper;  we should be easily audible, visible to all.

It will be wonderful if you participated  in a group discussion with your friends,  

with your colleagues and observe the  entire group and make a note of or if  

you make a recording then afterwards observe  what were the good things that were done, good  

practices. What was done which were not so good. Also identify, find some examples of language,  

a language that you may avoid and examples of  language that you may at times yourself like  

to use, we learn both ways, and once you have  done these things, then you can share your work  

with your friends and with your reviewers your  teachers and if you do this once in a while  

a few times you will become a star at any  GD. Thank you very much and good luck.