Key Phrases for Starting, Leading and Concluding Any Group Discussion Topic

Updated 19 October 2022

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During an interview by a hiring committee, the interviewers may choose to ask surprising questions. That is why the key to dealing with any group discussion is to have a general strategy. That way you can prepare yourself to deal with any topic, regardless of your familiarity with it. In this article, we share what a discussion topic is and how to prepare for group discussion topics.

Key To Dealing With Any Group Discussion Topic

The best way to strengthen your group discussion skills is to learn and understand the nuances of using the important phrases for starting, leading and concluding any group discussion. It's always better to have some key phrases handy when you're caught in the middle of an unexpected group discussion topic.

Importance Of Learning Key Phrases

While in a group discussion, when you speak about a given topic it is important to hold forth your opinions in a polite and professional manner. Therefore, it is recommended to always contend your opinion in such a way that it does not start a conflict with your group members even while opposing or disagreeing with their view. Furthermore, these phrases differ depending on the scenario -whether you are initiating a topic or agreeing or disagreeing with your group members while interrupting or even concluding. So, let us have a look at these phrases.

Initiation

Setting the right tone

First, it is recommended to initiate a topic only when you are confident about the content or have in-depth knowledge of the subject. Also, it is important to initiate a topic on a good note so you can build the right momentum leading to a powerful start and earn yourself the title of leader among your group. It can also provide you with an edge to demonstrate the clarity of your thoughts and reflect your ability to showcase high confidence.

Grabbing attention

Initiating a topic provides you with a unique opportunity to grab everyone's attention right from the start. That way, you can leverage the uninterrupted time as your group members will be trying to understand the topic and gather their thoughts. It also helps in giving the right direction to the given topic and provides a space for further discussion. Therefore, one should keep in mind to not quickly conclude after starting a discussion.

Defining the topic

An essential aspect of initiating a topic is identifying and defining the keyword approach. Therefore, it is advisable to properly use the group discussion topic in your initiation statement and define it in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. Another approach to initiating would be to quote a well-known figure related to the topic. For example, if the topic is related to science, you can quote Albert Einstein and make an assertive statement. Similarly, you can also start a topic with statistics, a figure or a shocking statement.

Here are some key phrases to keep in mind while initiating a group discussion topic:

In today's world…
Well, the thing is …
The reason for this is…
A great man once said…
The best thing about...
In the year...

Agreeing

Skills for agreeing

Agreeing with someone else's opinion and adding your points on top of that needs a particular set of skills. It is a way through which you can gain an opportunity to speak and score some brownie points for yourself. Thus, you can avoid losing yourself in the crowd of silent members while at the same time being polite and not intrusive. The key lies in reaffirming an opinion and adding your facts without reiterating the same.

Partially agreeing

One can also partially agree with someone's opinion and build a case for themselves. It requires an approach of communicating multiple ideas while presenting more factual notes than your group member. Although factual topics do not offer much flexibility, you can still add an anecdote or historical incident to present your opinion. Also, it is necessary to be fluent enough to communicate your opinion without sounding invasive. It depends on whether you can find a space between the multiple ideas being presented by the other group members.

Modifying ideas

A clever way to do this is by creatively modifying the ideas put forth by other members and then developing them while listening. Another way is by leveraging your assertive skills during the group discussion. It is an essential skill to take a stand and showcase your potential. You can try to clarify the ideas and create harmony by providing a compromising solution. In this way, you can encourage your group members to explore different dimensions of the same idea. You can also seek the opinions of your team members and put forth your case in a broad perspective.

Here are the key phrases you can use to facilitate these ideas:

I agree and would like to add…
Exactly and I believe…
I think so too and actually
That being said…
That's quite obvious and…
Well, the way I see it…
I second that but…
Indeed
Very well said…
I agree, however…
That's a good point but…
Some people might say that...

Disagreeing Or Interrupting

When it comes to disagreeing or showing dissent, it's necessary to have a statement with concrete evidence. Often, people tend to enter into a discussion just for the sake of it. This could lead to embarrassment.

Importance of body language

The vital thing to keep in mind while disagreeing with someone's opinion is to use positive body language. Even while presenting an opposite opinion your body language shouldn't exhibit bluntness or dominance. You should also refrain from diverting from the group discussion topic and strive to be precise by not using any irrelevant information.

Politeness and voice modulation

Another key factor while disagreeing is to speak politely and present your opinion without raising your voice. Your voice should be crisp and audible, neither fumbling nor loud. Voice modulation plays a major role in group discussions and is a decisive element. You must understand the basics of timing and nuances of when to speak, pause or continue with your counter-arguments. Your pronunciation and intonation can also play a major role in impressing the panel of judges during a group discussion.

Do not make it personal

While disagreeing with someone one should also keep in mind to not make it personal. Being unsettled by someone's opinion shows a lower level of emotional intelligence. Additionally, it is advisable to not put down others' beliefs or ideas. Even though you may not agree with their opinion, it is important to respect their ideas. You should always try to use polite language and refrain from making derogatory or sarcastic comments.

Being a good listener

Another crucial point while disagreeing is to first carefully listen to the speaker's opinion. It would be embarrassing to counter an opinion without carefully listening to it first. Being a good listener and knowing when to speak shows respect to the other person's perspective. To display that you have listened carefully, you can always repeat a few important points made by the other speaker.

Here are some key phrases to use while disagreeing or presenting a counter-argument:

I am afraid I do not agree…
Well, that's one way of looking at it but…
I am sorry but…
I doubt that very much...
That is contradicting…
It is actually a logical fallacy...
I completely disagree…
As far as I know, it does not make any sense to me…
I believe that is not true
I am sorry to disagree with you...
Yes, but do not you think...
However, in my experience...

Concluding

How to conclude

As the saying goes, “In the end, all or nothing will matter.“ So, the most important part of a group discussion is when you have to conclude. It goes without saying that the best way to conclude a topic is by summarising the key points without dragging your conclusion. The appropriate way to conclude a topic is to briefly discuss the fundamental ideas and put forth your final take on the subject.

Essentials of concluding

When concluding, it is essential to moderate the discussion back to its key topic, thus keeping it on track. You also have to make sure to be convincing in your conclusion note. The key is to make use of your body language by displaying the right posture with firm eye contact. This way, you can affirm your assertiveness while concluding the subject. Furthermore, the closure argument should adhere to the main group discussion topic. All the points should be concise and refrain from raising new ideas.

Here are the key phrases to use while concluding a topic:

In conclusion…
We have concluded that…
Finally, we have arrived at…
Hence I conclude that
Therefore, we arrive at the conclusion…
We have reached an outcome that...