How to Start an Impactful Investor Education Program

Delivering an impactful presentation during an Investor Awareness Program is crucial. One must learn the art of presenting, which requires time and continuous effort to sharpen presentation skills. Many people believe that the skill of presenting is a God-given talent and cannot be learned. While it is true that some individuals are naturally gifted speakers, it is incorrect to assume that this skill cannot be acquired.

During my MBA, I was terrified at the thought of presenting projects in front of the entire class. However, today, whether the audience consists of 20 or 2,000 people, I can present confidently and effectively. Throughout my career, I have delivered hundreds of training sessions and Investor Awareness Programs (IAPs). In just six months of starting my venture, AnchorEDGE Trainings, I have conducted over 150 training sessions and IAPs. One thing I have learned is that presentation skills are indeed learnable.

Let me share some techniques and insights I have gained over the years that can help you deliver impactful presentations to any audience.

How to Start

It is often said that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Your opening is the first impression you make on your audience, so it must be powerful. Most of the time, the audience judges you and your presentation based on your opening alone.

Here are some tips on how to start your presentation effectively:

Avoid Wrong and Negative Starts

Your audience is eager to hear from you, so ensure you do not begin with wrong or negative statements like:

• “Am I audible? Can you hear me?”

• “I think we should start now, though we are expecting a few more people.”

• “Has everyone got a notepad and pen?”

• “I didn’t get much time to prepare, but I will try my best.”

• “The topic is boring, but I will try to make it interesting.”

Such statements can sabotage your presentation before it even begins. Avoid them at all costs.

1. Grab Attention

It is crucial to grab your audience’s attention early on. To do this, start with something interesting. I never begin my presentations with, “Hello, my name is…” or a formal introduction. Instead, I use the following techniques:

• Start with Humor: Begin with a joke related to your topic. Humor creates a connection and makes the audience more interested in what you have to say. For example, I often introduce myself humorously:

  “Let me give you a small disclaimer before we start. Today, I will talk a lot about investing, the stock market, etc. My name is Jigar Parekh, and I am in no way connected to or related to Ketan Parekh.” This creates laughter and smiles, which helps grab attention.

  
  

• Start with a Question: Begin with a thought-provoking question related to your topic. Questions engage the audience’s minds and encourage them to focus. For example, during my IAPs, I ask:
  “How many of you want to be successful investors? Please raise your hand.”
  “How many of you want to achieve financial freedom in your life? Please raise your hand.”
  “Would you like to learn six powerful secrets successful investors use to manage their portfolios?”
  While asking these questions, I raise my hand, and most of the audience follows suit. This creates a sense of agreement and lowers resistance.

  
  

• Start with a Story: Stories are universally engaging. Begin with a short, relevant story that has a moral related to investing or financial planning. For example, I often share my personal story of how I got carried away during the 2007 IPO of RPL, despite knowing it was not a good investment. This story helps explain how emotions like greed can overpower logic in investing.
  However, ensure your story is concise and relevant. Avoid stretching it too long, as this can bore the audience and cause them to lose interest.