Group Discussions (GDs) are an integral part of the MBA admission process in almost all the top B-Schools. They test your communication skills, leadership abilities and analytical skills in a professional setting. They will also try to gauge your ability to work in a team and narrate ideas under time pressure. However, sometimes GDs can present an unexpected twist like a surprise topic. Many candidates then cannot process the fact and hence do not perform well in the GD. Surprise topics in GDs are mostly designed to evaluate your ability to think on your toes, how to structure your thoughts quickly, and confidently show your perspective. Therefore, practicing enough GDs and having a good, focused approach is absolutely necessary. In this article, we will explore practical strategy to Handle Surprise Topics in GD for MBA Admission with confidence.
1. Stay Calm and Collected During GD
The first step towards our strategy to Handle Surprise Topics in GD for MBA Admission is to maintain your calm and composure. It is very natural to feel a rush of anxiety when you encounter an unfamiliar subject. However, if you allow panic to take over, it will blur your thinking. Understand the very fact that you are not alone and just like you, all the others are also on the same boat and are equally unprepared. Take a deep breath, collect your thoughts whatever you can gather and focus on understanding the topic. Maintaining a calm and composed attitude is also judged heavily in the interviews and is highly regarded. If at all you are unable to speak anything initially, remain calm and let others start and try to pick up from there.
2. Understand the Topic Thoroughly
A few of the candidates often tend to misinterpret the topic in their hurry to contribute early. This can lead to arguments which has no meaning in that forum which eventually weaken your impact. Instead, take a moment to listen to the topic carefully and give a thought once again, analyze it and you are free to clarify any doubts that is in your mind. If the topic is abstract or very open-ended (e.g., “Shadows of the Mind”), focus on identifying all of its possible interpretations. Abstract topics often test your creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, so don’t stop yourself from exploring different angles. On the other hand, if the topic is very factual (e.g., “The Role of Cryptocurrency in Modern Banking”), aim to understand its broader context and how other factors may impact the topic in discussion. This is beyond the specific topic and try to connect the dots with whatever knowledge you may have.
3. Draw from General Knowledge
Even if the topic is unfamiliar, you should ideally try to connect it to general knowledge or current affairs. Reading widely, whether it is any form of news, editorials, or books, can provide you with plethora of information which eventually you can use in your favour. For instance, if the topic is around a very niche subject like “Quantum Computing in Everyday Life” and you lack any form of technical knowledge, focus on related concepts like innovation, the general impact of technology on our lives. You can also choose aspects like societal acceptance here or sustainability related topics. Therefore, being aware of happenings around the world not only helps you in your personal interview but also forms a solid foundation for your group discussions. The more examples and instances you quote, the more well read you sound.
4. Leverage a Structured Approach
A good and structured approach can make your ideas more appealing and easier to follow for your colleagues as well as the panel. Even if you do not have a very deep expertise on any topic, structuring your response at least shows that you are confident and can form a cohesive discussion in general.
- Start with a definition or introduction: Do not underestimate the power of summarising topics. It helps you gain clarity of the topic within yourselves and sets you in a right direction. Define whatever you feel you understood if you are starting the GD.
- Explore multiple perspectives: Try to find out the pros and cons or analyze any topic from different angles such as economic, social or even factual angles to say. This shows your ability to think critically, on your toes and also shows good coverage of the topic.
- Conclude with a balanced view: If you are someone who is trying to summarise the GD, make sure you highlight the key points made in the overall discussion. Take a stance which your group has come down to and make sure you do not change the stance last minute.
5. Take Cues from Fellow Participants
In a GD, one of the key strategies to handle surprise topics in GD for MBA admission is to listen more than speaking yourself. When you face a surprise topic, try to actively listen to what others are saying in the GD. Mostly, their interpretations and arguments can give you new insights or probably provide you with an angle that others might have missed otherwise. Do not try to re-speak the points that they have already mentioned because that will not add any value to the discussion. Instead now using the cues, try to frame points which are still spoken and take impactful entries.
6. Use Examples and Analogies for Group Discussion
Examples and analogies are very powerful tools which are there to make your points relatable and memorable for your panelists. Even if you lack technical knowledge about a difficult surprise topic, real life examples can help you build your argument. It is often seen people from commerce background lack the know-hows of certain technology or engineer grads lack economics related new. In these situations, using certain analogies and examples which you have experienced, either directly or indirectly helps you to express your thoughts in a better way. Hence, avoid speaking vaguely that has limited meaning, instead speak with examples and create impact in your GDs.
7. Master the Art of Time Management
In a group discussion, time is limited and often fall short in most of the cases. What makes GDs more challenging is the intense competition. When dealing with a surprise topic in GD for MBA admission, it is very easy to get caught up in overthinking and missing your chance to speak. Always aim to make your entry early in the group discussion as this gives you an edge as a leader in the discussion and sets the direction which you wanted the GD to go. Later on, try making another 1 – 2 entries, that should be good enough. However, avoid speaking for too long in your initial contribution. Remember that the length of the discussion does not matter, it is how you speak up in a crisp and concise way, making others understand is very important. Do not repeat as it eats away time and always leave room for others to speak as teamwork is again heavily tested too.
8. Practice Impromptu Speaking
Handling surprise topics is not just an exercise for impromptu speaking. The more you practice it, the more comfortable you will get in thinking and speaking ideas on the spot.
- Participate in mock GDs with other friends or mentors, focus on topics you find challenging or very abstract.
- Read the news daily and try speaking or summarising ideas about those ideas. This exercise will help you connect dots very easily.
- You can listen to various news articles or podcasts on current trends and then try to summarise that as it will help you in remembering things better and also make you confident before the actual GDs.
9. Embrace Creativity and Originality During Group Discussion
Creativity is the only originality that will stay with you during the Group Discussions. Though it is very necessary to quote facts and figures wherever possible but there are certain cases where you find yourself blank. That is the time when you need to show your creativity and stand out in the crowd. For abstract topics like “Life is not black and white but grey”, it is your creativity and interpretation of the meaning of what is black or white for you. Think as different as you can and then finally speak your points. These instances will help the interviewer remember you clearly, providing an edge over the others.
10. Learn from Feedback
Just like any other event, feedback is extremely important in the context of Group Discussions. While situations may change from topic to topic and from time to time but there are a few thumb rules which you need to follow. The best way to learn those is by practicing more and getting regular feedback from your mentors. Try to incorporate these feedback into your subsequent group discussions which will eventually lead to improvement.
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