Group Discussion: 5 tips for the D Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOIDA, U.P, India, Republic of (Free-Press-Release.com) February 13, 2012 -- In the last and second part of the article on the special series on Group Discussion, we are going to talk about the D Day. After months of preparation, you must ensure that you follow them on the day of your GD at the coveted B-School from which you have fetched a call. In the third and final part of the series, we will talk about the things you must do on the GD day and during your GD.

We will share with you five points which you should maintain during the day.

Be up to date: The first and foremost condition for a successful performance in a GD is to be up to date with the current affairs. You never know what is going to be the topic of your GD; hence you must be well prepared for any topic under the sun. And for a topic on Business, Politics, Economy and other affairs, you must have facts and figures on the tip of your tongue. Even on the day of your GD, you should read the day’s newspaper. Even if you can manage to read the headlines, that will be good. But you should not try to cram information as it might lead to confusion. “We see many students reading newspapers and trying to mug everything. If you are not regular, it will not benefit you much by reading the newspaper on the day of your GD,” warns Dr. A M Sherry, Admission Chairperson, IMT Group of Institutes.

Maintain a pleasant appearance: On the D Day, you should be extra careful about your appearance. You must be in your formal attire. It is not mandatory to wear suit or tie, but crisp ironed shirt and trousers should be worn. Your hair must be neatly combed and shoes should be properly polished. But you must be comfortable in what you are wearing. If you can’t make yourself comfortable, it will inevitable show in your appearance and hamper your overall performance. You need not be dressed to kill but at least you should be able to carry off your attire with élan.

Have a fresh mind and body: Ensure that you have a good eight hours sleep the night before your GD. A fresh mind and body is what you need the most to crack your GD. If you are tired then you will not be able to concentrate properly or share your points. If you go with a fresh body and mind then your concentration and level of focus will be much higher and having a cheerful mood can take you to the next level in the GD.

Don’t be nervous: Don’t be nervous. Maintaining a calm and composed attitude is the mantra of success. Nervousness can lead to fumbling and forgetting the important points which you had decided to speak. Khistij Mohta, student, IIM Ahmedabad says, “Take your time, it is not necessary to speak often and many times. Do not panic, even a 10 minute GD gives you enough chances to speak twice, which is more than enough!”

Be candid, not arrogant: Your attitude while speaking to your fellow group members will judge your team spirit. You may not agree to someone’s point but instead of countering it by making a rude remark, you should be polite yet strong in your disapproval. Similar is applicable with your body language. Throwing your fist, pointing finger or making a spiteful facial expression can go strongly against you, in spite of good contributions. Mohta suggests some ways to interject or counter a point in the GD. “he right approach would be to interrupt politely, beginning with: - Although I agree with ______ aspect of your point, I feel that______ - To add to the point you are making, ______. Do not make the mistake of 'totally agreeing with the point' and then putting across a different point.”

To know more on the Dos and Don’ts of a GD, read the second part of the article series:

Group Discussion: Know the Dos & Don'ts to follow in a GD

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more on GD preparation.

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