TIPS AND TRICKS
Group discussions are a challenging but essential part of most selection processes by companies. It’s a chance for them to gauge your communication skills, how well you pick up on social cues and non-verbal hints, and whether you can participate in a discussion without dominating it while also putting your ideas forward. Many of us fail to perform to the best of our potential because of several reasons such as social anxiety, unpreparedness, stage fright or just last-minute nerves. Here are some simple yet significant points to remember during group discussions to ace them.
- READ: Read about as many probable topics as you can before the group discussion so that you have all the content fresh in your mind. This helps you recall and gather the required information in less time and also makes you certain about the facts.
- MAKE BULLET POINTS: Organise your ideas in the form of bullet points and avoid writing paragraphs. Arrange the points in the order in which you wish to bring them up, and you could even write down points for an impactful introduction and a crisp conclusion.
- INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION: Show your leadership skills by either introducing the topic or concluding it when the time is about to get over.
- LISTEN, THEN SPEAK: Listen to what others are saying before speaking in order to make your point relevant. This also avoids overlapping of information and gives a direction to the discussion.
- COMMUNICATE PROPERLY: Mastering communication skills in a day is not possible but you can remember certain points to make sure your voice is heard. Keep your language simple, crisp and to the point. Raise your voice only when necessary but do not shout or get aggressive. Mind your tone and body language. Complete your sentences and do not rush to another point without completing the previous one. Do not interrupt when someone is speaking and wait for him to complete. Formulate your ideas before speaking and make sure that your words make sense.
- BE CONFIDENT: Do not get nervous while speaking because it can make you stutter or shiver, creating a negative impact. Confidence makes your point sound stronger, making people listen to you and hence, giving you an opportunity to share your thoughts uninterrupted.
These points should help you perform your best in any group activities and attain that position you really want. No process is impossible to master, and the MHPC is here to give you all the tips & tricks needed to ace them!
-Ashima, PR Team
The Placement Cell, Miranda House 