Leadership, Personality and Group Behaviour
Leadership, Personality and Group Behaviour tests officer-like qualities through group discussion, situational responses, and interview-style interaction. The assessor looks for initiative, cooperation, communication, responsibility, and social adjustment-not rehearsed speeches.
What is assessed
- Planning and organising: structuring a group’s approach to a topic.
- Social adjustment: listening, inviting quiet members, disagreeing without personal attack.
- Social effectiveness: clarity, confidence, and relevance.
- Dynamic qualities: initiative, courage of conviction, and adaptability.
- Sense of responsibility: owning outcomes and correcting the group’s drift.
Worked example
In a group discussion on ‘social media: boon or bane’, two candidates dominate and a third has not spoken. What is the officer-like response? Reasoning: leadership is not winning the loudest. A strong response is to summarise the points so far, invite the silent member with a specific question, and connect the next point to the group’s theme. This demonstrates social adjustment and organising ability. Grabbing extra speaking time would be marked as poor group behaviour.
Traps
- Dominating or interrupting to appear confident.
- Giving a memorised speech instead of responding to the group.
- Personal attacks or dismissing a valid point.
- Staying silent to avoid conflict.
Key points
- Treat the GD as a team task, not a debate to win.
- Bring others in without patronising them.
- Use facts and structure: point, reason, example.
- Show calm disagreement.
- In interviews, give honest, specific examples from your own experience.