Worst Possible Things
That Can Happen in a CAT Group
Discussion
Let's paint a picture!
So, you're heading into your CAT Group
Discussion. You've done everything to prepare yourself and more.
Going through an abundance of tips and guides to ensure that you
are a prime candidate. Yet, despite how confident you may feel
and nailing every technique within the books, fact of the matter
is that things can happen on the spur of the moment and be
completely out of your control.
Sound scary?
Reality is, you need to understand that things might not
go according to plan. Be aware that surprises may throw
you off. And how you bounce back from these circumstances may
actually work in your favour.
In this lesson, we will look at common mistakes made in group
discussions. Instead of listing all the worst possible things
that can happen in a group discussion, this lesson highlights a
collection of unfortunate stories that have occurred during group
discussions. Addressing these possible occurrences now will
hopefully allow you to avoid a horrific scene.
Emotional
Outburst
Rashmi was offended when one of the male
participants in a group discussion made a statement on women
generally being submissive while explaining his point of view.
When Rashmi finally got an opportunity to speak, instead of
focusing on the topic, she vented her anger by accusing the other
candidate for being a male chauvinist and went on to defend women
in general.
What Rashmi essentially did was:
- Deviated from the subject.
- Treated the discussion as a forum to air her own views.
- Lost objectivity and make personal attacks.
Bottom Line: Her behaviour was
perceived as immature and demotivating to the rest of the team.
Quality Versus
Quantity
Gautam believed that the more he talked, the
more likely he was to get through the group discussion. So, he
interrupted other people at every opportunity. He did this so
often that the other candidates got together to prevent him from
participating in the rest of the discussion.
Keep in Mind: Assessment is
not only on your communication skills but also on your ability to
be a team player. Evaluation is based on quality and not on
quantity and your contribution must be relevant.
The mantra is "Contributing meaningfully to the team's success"
and domination is frowned
upon.
Egotism Showing Off
Krishna was happy to have got a
group discussion topic he had prepared for. So, he took pains to
project his vast knowledge of the topic.
Every other sentence of his contained statistical data - "20 per
cent of companies; 24.27 per cent of parliamentarians felt that;
I recently read in a Jupiter Report that…" and so on so
forth.
Soon, the rest of the team either laughed at him or ignored his
attempts to enlighten them as they perceived that he was cooking
up the data.
p<>. Exercise restraint in anything. You
will end up being frowned upon if you attempt showing-off your
knowledge.
Keep in Mind:
- Facts and figures need not validate all your statements.
- Its your analysis and interpretation that are equally important
- not just facts and figures.
- You might be appreciated for your in-depth knowledge. But you
will fail miserably in your people skills.
Bottom Line: Such a behavior
indicates how self-centered you are and
highlights your inability to work in an atmosphere where
different opinions are expressed.
Get Noticed - But For The Right
Reasons
Srikumar knew that everyone would compete to
initiate the discussion. So as soon as the topic - "Discuss the
negative effects of India joining the WTO" - was read out, he began talking. In his
anxiety to be the first to start speaking, he did not hear the
word "negative" in the topic. He began discussing the ways in
which the country had benefited by joining WTO, only to be stopped by the evaluator, who then
corrected his mistake.
Keep in Mind:
- False starts are extremely expensive. They cost you your
admission.
- It is very important to listen and understand the topic before
you air your opinions.
- Analyzing the topic may provide you with insights which others
may not have thought about.
- Use a pen and paper to jot down your ideas.
- Listen! It gives you the time to conceptualize and present the
information in a better manner.
Bottom Line: Some mistakes are irreparable. Starting off the
group discussion with a mistake is one such mistake, unless you
have a great sense of humor.
Managing One's
Insecurities
Sumati was very nervous. She thought that some
of the other candidates were exceptionally good. Thanks to her
insecurity, she contributed little to the discussion. Even when
she was asked to comment on a particular point, she preferred to
remain silent.
Keep in Mind:
- Your personality is also being evaluated.
- Your verbal and non verbal cues are being read.
- Remember, you are the participant; not the evaluator.
- Your confidence level is being evaluated.
- Decent communication skills with good confidence is a
must.
Bottom Line: Focus on your
strengths and do not spend too much time
thinking about how others are superior or inferior to you.
It is easy to pick up these cues from your body
language.
References:Common Mistakes
Image Credits: Daily Pic, Bricolage, Brajeshwar ,Nick Wheels , Insecurity is a Fight Club
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