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Posted on: 16/05/2012 11:05.
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How can I make the most of group exercises?

There are two aspects to most types of group exercise – what you contribute in terms of completing the task set, and the way in which you contribute to the group overall.  Each of these is important, with the latter often being the most critical part of the group selection process.

Play to your strengths

The selectors are not expecting you to be an expert on the subject under discussion or the task to completed, but they do want to see evidence that you can make an effective contribution to the group.  It is important to get involved but avoid the temptation to dominate the group.  You can make an effective contribution by:

• Including others in the discussions and addressing them by their name, if possible.
• Making sure the group keeps to time and completes the task in hand.
• Coming up with creative ideas.
• Organising people.
• Checking details.

It is often an ineffective use of resources in a group if you all try to do the same things thus wasting time and causing unnecessary duplication.  Split up large tasks and allocate different parts to those best suited to them.  Using the diverse strengths of the group members and delegating tasks can often achieve quicker, better results and is an important part of effective team work!

Make a really positive impact

You can improve your chances of scoring highly in a group activity by the impact you make.

Think about the way you interact with others, how you can influence them and how you can ensure the group achieves its goal, even if your personal approach would have been different.

• Keep your contributions short and concise – your point is more likely to be understood and to make an impact.
• Avoid interrupting others to make your contribution and do not let others interrupt you – listen to other candidates’ points of view and if you disagree, be firm but polite in putting your ideas across.
• Keep your non-verbal behaviour assertive – both the volume and tone of voice are important.  If you speak too quietly there is the danger of not being heard or being interrupted by others.  Use eye contact to catch the chairperson’s eyes (but include others as well) or direct it to the most relevant member(s).
• Timing of your contribution – if you want to influence a discussion, it is not just what you say that counts but also when you say it.

Raise points at the relevant time for maximum impact.   Don’t wait until the last minute before airing an opposing view – this may irritate the group when they are just about to make the final decision!

• Getting a reaction to your contribution – you are more likely to get a reaction if you time your contribution effectively as mentioned above.  However, if no one reacts, ask the group or an individual for comments.
• Changing your mind – This is a valid thing to do, especially in light of new information or better ideas.  Be honest and open about it (not apologetic!).
• Not falling in with an apparent majority – you have a responsibility to make your doubts and disagreements known.  It is important not to let the discussion be dominated by others whose point of view may be less valid than your own.
• Falling in with the majority – however, if after exploring all the options you find yourself holding a “minority” point of view and time is pressing, it can be wise to “fall in” with the majority rather than prevent the meeting from progressing.
• Deciding which issues to make a stand on – if you find yourself out of line with the majority view, there will be many issues on which you can make a stand.  If you do this on every issue, it will become counter productive and you may be labelled awkward and argumentative.

Make sure you know what you are talking about if you decide to make an individual stand on an issue and remember that there may be a time limit within which a decision has to be made.  Sometimes agreement has to be reached in order to meet a deadline!

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