The wild horses of every aspirant’s mind start running as soon as the word GTO comes in their mind. Many of us have been there and have quite an idea regarding the GTO tasks while several longs to be there and are quite perplexed when it comes to handling the GTO tasks. The repeaters have an edge in this regard but at the same time, the expectations are high from them. While the freshers do their part by looking into books and videos for the interview and the psychology but rarely the tension and pressure can be felt anywhere else except the GTO ground. Interview and psychology are individual based tasks and they don’t need working in a group. But your performance in the GTO depends a lot on various factors such as the first and initial impression on your group as well as on GT officer.
It is mandatory to be in the good books of your brethren with whom you are going to share the two days of the gruelling GTO. To positively influence your group members and to look sharp in front of GT officer, it is necessary to appear attractive in certain terms which will enhance your performance and will boost your confidence. A leader attracts the awe of his followers by his action and ideas. In the same way during the GTO tasks for you to be a leader among your group members, you will have to create followers.
These points will give you a line of action to follow to shine brightly in your group during GTO tasks:
- Maintain the perfect dress code:
You will receive the dress code for the GTO tasks in your call letter and maintaining dress code is a thing that is not taken lightly in the armed forces. Many a candidate reaches on the grounds with not proper attire and instructed dress code and thus faces the wrath of the GTO in one way or the other. Being a gentleman candidate, dress accurately. But, at the same time also look after for your comfort as you don’t want yourself to feel uncomfortable in many ways while performing tasks. If you are going to be an officer then dress like an officer. There is a saying that, “Dress to impress” and it fits everywhere where you want to leave an impact of your personality.
- Speak less but say more:
A candidate, who speaks more, cuts other people while they are speaking and listens very less is always undesirable in any group. The members of a group always respect a person who speaks quality matter at critical junctures of the discussion and listens to the views of other members too. Try to put yourself into others’ shoes and think from their perspective too for you may catch a thing or two. Remember, we are there to have a healthy group discussion and not to prove people wrong. It isn’t a test of your knowledge as such and rather how do you conduct yourself in the group. A good team member contributes and derives quality from a group and that’s what makes it attractive for others to follow.
- Convince your ideas to the group and make them happen:
During the group tasks, say PGT, you have an idea in your mind but to make it happen you need to properly project it to other team members, convincing them is almost winning the battle. This proper projection by you should be such that they receive it in its original form. Speaking with clarity and speaking in an effective manner will bring appreciation from your group members and will mark your strong presence in the group for the GT officer. Communication skills are into the game at this juncture. If you want to lead your group then you will have to be clear in your words as well as in your actions.
- Be quick and be fast in your approach:
Analytical ability with proper reasoning and logical intent will make your group understand that this candidate means serious business. Also, to counter his arguments they will have to bring something over the top and much more logical. Such actions create a drastic impression of your personality on the GT officer. For example, during GPE group discussion when others are stuck in prioritizing the problems or are messing up with the time and distance factors, at this time you should step up and show them alternate ways of solving the problems. Be quick in evaluating the distances on the model and depict the accurate time factor at places. This will prompt the group members to seek your solution as the group solution. In other words, it is a stamp on your analytical ability which will definitely leave your mark in the group.
IMPORTANT – Download eBooks for SSB Interview Preparations
- Thematic Apperception Test – TAT
- Lecturette Topics Part-1 eBook [100 Topics]
- Word Association Test – WAT
- Situation Reaction Test – SRT
- Officers Intelligence Test – OIR
- Current Affairs for All
- Learn your basics and learn to apply them as well:
We learn about the basic principles of physics in our school but rarely we apply them in our daily life. That’s where most of us get stuck during our course in the PGT, HGT, FGT and CT. Having a basic idea about the functioning of the fulcrum and the cantilever, off the paper and with plank, rope and balli, will give you an edge over the others when ideas are rare in successive stages. We all know who we call in CT as we always expect some unwarranted help from those who are swift with the material. When others are at their saturation point of giving ideas to solve a task, be the first one to respond. This will get you appreciation from the group who is stuck at a certain point and will establish the fact that this candidate has his basics together.
- Be the helping hand, be the support in the group:
When the GOR is in full swing, nobody wants to remain behind but a few of us are slow and that’s where quick performances of a few agile ones come handy. Being at the peak of your physical fitness will help you in not only crossing all of the obstacles without any injury but also without breaking any rules. It will give you a chance to extend a helping hand for the group members who are a little bit slow. Who doesn’t appreciate a helping hand? That’s what team bonding is like and this is sure well looked by the assessors and your team members.
- Know your knots:
We can place balli and plank at certain angles but what use a bridge is without being tied properly. The knowledge of knots will make your actions quick and even without an idea at times; you can be very visible in the front solely by your skills.
Armed forces work in a group to reach a common goal to achieve something bigger than them. SSB is just a manifestation of the big life in the armed forces ahead and one can get success in it by following these hard and fast rules. Being attractive in a GTO group is not all about appearance rather it is based on how you conduct yourself in the group to earn their respect. Remember, if you have earned the respect of your group then it automatically paves your path to handle GTO tasks with ease.
