GD 2.0

The last post covered the critical aspects of the checklist, the body language to be maintained, beginning the discussion, cutting in while someone is speaking and group behaviour in a group discussion. But all these tips need quality content to support them. After all, how can you begin or interrupt someone without actually having something to speak? And even having ‘something’ to speak is not going to help your cause until that ‘something’ is logical and valid. So, this post is all about “The Processes to Generate Quality Content during a Group Discussion”.

First of all, to be able to talk about the given topic in a logical manner, you need to stay updated with the current topics and the aspects associated with them so that you can have a strong stance while speaking. This ability to generate content comes from:

1)      Read Newspapers:
Read newspapers like The Hindu, The Economic Times, Mint, etc. to stay updated with the current topics. The fact that they are available online and that too for free makes it even easier for us to subscribe to them.

And when it comes to choosing newspapers, be wise! If you choose The Times of India then your knowledge bank will be consisting of gems like “Lionel Messi joins Rahul as all time top scorer of UEFA Champions League” (you are free to interpret Rahul as Rahul Dravid or Rahul Gandhi or any other Rahul in your mohalla! :P). It even has the audacity to quote Sachin Tendulkar as saying “RIP Sachin Tendulkar”. So, BEWARE!!

2)      HG-SPELT: 
Consider all the factors related to the topic given. Namely, Historical, Geographical, Social, Political, Economical, Legal and Technical factors which might be related to the topic. This gives you an overall top view of all the aspects related to the topic so that you can have an informed opinion with logical points to support it.

Next up, we need to know about the processes we can adopt to put forward our content in a structured manner. So, these are the processes you can follow:

1)      Headline Approach: 
Just the way newspapers do it! Frame a catchy headline which captures the essence of what you will be speaking and catches the interest of the group. Then speak your points. This will make sure that your talk goes noticed.

2)      PREP Approach:

a)      State your position (the side or stance that you are taking in this discussion).

b)      Give the reason as to why you share that opinion.

c)      Give an example to kind of prove your position right.

d)     Finally, state your position in different words as if you have proved it right.

This gives a structured form to your speech and ensures that people can’t bash you logically if you have given valid points following this approach.

3)      Sequel Approach:
Give a point to each example that you give during your speech. A structured form of speech to validate your point as you go.

4)      Kidnapping Approach:
Give an example to each point that you make. Another structured form of speech to validate your point as you go.

5)      Keywords Approach: 
Define the keywords which are related to the topic as you know them. Then you can proceed with your opinion or even compare your definition with the definition that others have given. Gives validity to the point made by the speaker as he/she has already defined the aspects which have influenced the point.

6)      Affected Party Approach:
Think about the people whom the given topic affects the most. This will help you generate logical and valid points to support your arguments and stance taken.

7)      Rangeela Approach:
Use this method when you don’t have too much knowledge about the given topic and are about to reach at a loss of words. Give lots of examples that you think can be analytically related with the topic and use them to generate a solid viewpoint.

So, what should be the Ideal Approach to take part in a group discussion? Here is a small tip:

“Speak once at the start, but not too late, within the first 4 speakers. Speak twice in the middle, meaningfully, showing different perspectives. Try to keep it as out of the box as possible. And speak once at the end.”

Now that you have adequate knowledge about the resources and processes that will help you to generate quality content in a group discussion, please try it out. Choose any topic of your interest from a wide range of fields such as Politics and Sports to anything like brands of clothes or shoes. Sit with people having common interests, your friends or in DebSoc and discuss about a few topics at length. Believe me you will have fun.

Please feel free to comment. Any questions, suggestions, feedback (positive or negative), agreements or even disagreements are more than welcome.

So, Ready? Set? And Don’t Go! No really, don’t go anywhere and stay tuned! Because we have a lot more useful posts coming up.

                                                                                                              -Aditya Bose

With the arrival of the placement season arrives the biggest horror of a student "The GD". And it does not stops with placements, rather it follows you wherever you go, be it company meetings or GDs for IIMs and other B Schools. Now the biggest reason for this fear is the unfamiliarity with GDs, as Sir Kejriwal would say,
                                 "yahi to scam hai, hamein yahi to badalna hai " ;)
So here we are with certain basic tips and tricks to vanquish this fear.

Let us start with what a moderator looks for (in a participant ) :

1. Interpersonal Skills
2. Communication Skills
3. Leadership: Visualize an end and find a path to the end.

                               


Brush up your speaking skills (its easy if you try ), use simple words and make to-the-point statements. It is preferred if you speak less but make substantial points and give a direction to the discussion.

Body Language

Another issue that must be of primary concern is your body language. It is a mirror of your personality so do keep certain basic thumb rules in mind for extra brownie points:
1. Ignore Moderator
2. Eye contact with all members of group
3. Hands correctly positioned: Open palms
4. Wear a meaningful, Passive smile
5. NEVER POINT FINGERS
6. Gestures should reinforce what is being said.
7. LISTEN WHEN OTHERS SPEAK
8. Modulate your voice,

These are the basic things you need to keep in mind (as well as apply them) throughout the GD.

Now that we know how to present ourselves in a discussion let us look into some specific techniques that we'll need to be able to present our points efficiently.

Beginning:

1. Only lay down the agenda, show both sides.
2. DON'T TAKE SIDES AT THE VERY BEGINNING - you may win some friends    but you'll be making some enemies as well  
3. If your'e not confident that you have covered each and every point - DO NOT    BEGIN
4. Just serve the menu card, just state the different aspects of the topic that the    panel needs to discuss.
5. KISS: Keep It Short and Simple

Cutting-in:

1. Start speaking when someone takes breathing breaks.
2. Speak after the "Gareeb" guy - a person who hasn't spoken profoundly.
3. Voice higher(just a tad bit) that the preceding person.
4. Say "I agree with you my friend " or "As my friend very nicely pointed out" and    continue.

And in case someone else cuts you choose any of the given statement and try to continue with your statement.
1. Please may I finish
2. "Allow me to finish please"

Even if you're not allowed to speak after this, the moderator gets an impression that you had something more to add.

Remember, at the end of the day, the most logical and confident speaker prevails.

Group Behavior

1. Don't create a fish market
2. Think of the group as a single entity and focus on Group performance
3. Praise people
4. Interim summaries: Summarize what has been discussed and what needs to be    discussed every 5- 10 minutes
5. Don't state any statistics without mentioning the source.
6. Identify the core idea, draw diameters cutting right through the core idea, not    tangents.
7. NEVER SAY SORRY
8. DON'T MUG UP AND VOMIT
9. Always give global examples not local
10. If someone has already covered your point rephrase it and express it with a fresh example.

Concluding

1. Sum up all the points
2. Never say "in my opinion" or " I think"

Ideal Approach

1. Speak once at start, not too late, within the first four speakers.
2. Twice in the middle, meaningfully, showing different perspectives, as much out    of the box as possible. Be flexible with your approach.
3. Once at the end

Well, that's all for now. Stick around for more.Till then keep arguing, keep raising questions, keep debating. 

Say you are the CEO/Director of IIEST Inc. for one day...  all powerful, Shaktimaan-esque, Nayak anyone ...:p

Now being in the shoes of  the all powerful CEO what would you do,

 Would you have your students saying "Sorry Shaktimaan?" 

Or would you use your powers to turn your institute on its head?

We asked the biggest stakeholders of IIEST Inc., its students for their suggestions . And no, a "cute" golden bell, statues or a Meditation centre does not feature on their list of demands. Read on...

The idea is to turn this institution into a better place for everyone, a better place to learn, grow and to create a platform that provides students an all round development.

We would like to hear your comments and ideas.

 Let us hear what our young CEOs want and how they want to change IIEST for better. Let us take a step and try to bring the change.
            "All is connected ... no one thing can change by itself " -Pawl Hawken