Contributing clearly in a group exercise
Official sources reviewed Oct 18, 2026 and linked below. FBO practice suggestions are independent teaching material; your employer's current instructions take priority.
Use a practice discussion to work on listening, evidence and a shared decision. There is no universal speaking quota or scorecard you can infer from an exercise's name.
Check what your role involves
McKinsey says that some internal roles may include a group exercise in the application process. This is a role-specific example, not a requirement for every consulting or graduate applicant.
Check your own invitation for the activity and any published assessment criteria. The routines below are FBO practice suggestions, not the employer's scoring rubric.
Make the task easier to follow
At the start of a practice discussion, confirm what the group must produce and how much time it has. Suggest a simple way to compare the options, then invite others to improve it.
When you contribute, connect your point to the task and explain the evidence behind it. If two views differ, name the assumption causing the disagreement and consider what would resolve it.
Listen and build on the discussion
Give others space to finish. Summarise a useful point before adding your own, and invite another view when something remains unexplored. You do not need to take control of every part of the exercise.
If you have been quiet, contribute when you can add a relevant observation or question. Avoid forcing a comment merely to hit a speaking target.
Review the group's output
Finish a practice exercise with the decision, its supporting reasons and the unresolved risks. Afterwards, ask your partners where you helped the discussion and where your reasoning was hard to follow. Use that feedback to choose one change for the next session.