Group Discussion Etiquettes, KPR Institute Engineering and Technology, Autonomous Engineering Institution, Coimbatore, India

Group Discussion forms an important stage of admission process in top B-schools. Apart from the knowledge and communication skills, candidates are judged on the basis of their mannerisms and etiquettes. Candidates are required to present their personality traits in a limited time. A successful group presentation demands a certain degree of decorum. Here are certain things to keep in mind to enhance your score in a group discussion:

·       It is very important to dress formally and arrive on time. The way you walk to your allocated seats speaks about your personality. Be confident but not arrogant.

·       Take a pen and a notepad. It makes you look organized.

·       Listen to others carefully, jot down the relevant points and list down your own points.

·       Organize your thoughts before you speak. This will help you express with confidence and clarity.

·       Pay attention while others are speaking. This will enable you contribute to the discussion in a positive way.

·       Do not to deviate yourself from the topic. Talking about unrelated things puts a bad impression.

·       Do not interrupt the speech of other participants and wait till they complete.

·       Maintain a balance in your tone while objecting to the points made by other participants. Avoid raising your voice too much or shouting.

·       Respect the opinion of others. Agree and acknowledge what you find good points expressed by others. Use phrases like “What you have said here, sheds light on another aspect...”.

·       Express your disagreement in a polite, dignified and convincing manner. Do not use negative comments like ‘‘this point is wrong" or "your argument doesn't make any sense."

·       Do not try to dominate other participants. It is a discussion and not an argument or debate.

·       Keep your body language positive. Table thumping, pointing fingers, looking here and there, etc, are negative gestures.