TiEcon Delhi NCR 2023: Communication Strategies Must For Startups While Pitching — A Comedian's Guide By Papa CJ
TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2023: International comedian Papa CJ detailed the communication skills required to use while the startups pitch or convey their ideas to investors.
TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2023: International stand-up comedian and executive coach Papa CJ on Saturday lectured the budding startups about communication techniques that are essential for them to sustain and grow in the ecosystem. Interestingly, the methods he talked about are the ones that stand-up comedians use while performing.
The session was filled with learnings, references, anecdotes and definitely a pinch of laughs every now and then.
To Communicate Intention Of Message
Papa CJ began by focusing on a very common problem in the process of communication, which is believing that the crux of a message has been received the way it was intended. He shared a story of how someone in a hot air balloon was told about his whereabouts through engineering methods. Someone shared the height, latitude and longitude of the position of the balloon while the man inside wanted to know where he was.
Papa CJ emphasied on a famous quote by George Bernard Shaw - ‘The single biggest problem of communication is the illusion that it has taken place’.
He said that sending a message doesn’t mean that it has been received in the way it was intended to. He added that as a comedian, he is a brand, and his audiences are similar to customers of companies. Papa CJ said that his brand proposition never changes, what gets changed is the way he communicates depending on the audience.
People Listen To Reply Rather Than Understand
He engaged the audience by asking them to communicate a story to the person on their left and continue the same to understand how it changes through the course. CJ reasoned that it happens because people listen so that once the person finishes what he is saying, they can reply rather than understand the message.
Drawing similarities of the same with people in relationships these days, Papa CJ did get a shout-out from the audience. He noted that
Preparation Of Content
Topical
The author-comedian told the people at the event that he is being asked at times about how he prepares his content to suit the audience. He mentioned that he always goes for topical content- something that has happened recently.
Local
Papa CJ noted that local content goes well with the audience like a joke about Gurgaon will be funny in Gurgaon, but it would not work in the same way in Singapore.
He said that it is critical to do background research about the company you are going to ask for investment from, in the same way, that comedians do to get the attention of the audience at different places. Researching about the person the startups are pitching to, what they like and what they work for are keys to successful communication, Papa CJ said.
Be Authentic
He advised the startups to be authentic during their pitches and every time when they try to communicate something important to someone as their low interest would be fairly visible to the person they are communicating with.
Every Audience Is Not For You
Papa CJ detailed how comedians at times try to attract the audience with slow jokes and takes the pace to a higher level gradually. He said that when someone begins a business, the person looks for everyone, all kinds of consumers despite the fact that all audiences/consumers might not be looking for the venture.
He observed that stand-up comedians use intelligent jokes momentarily to look intelligent and get the audience’s attention.
Offended – Misunderstanding Of Message
People easily get offended by stand-up comedians, he noted, adding that during comedy events people enjoy but they get offended after 3-4 months due to a clip of a joke or a moment is shared on the internet. The reason being the context, speaker’s persona and his intent.
“As a brand”, he said, “have you made that effort on your consumers? Have you thought that what works on one media, might not work on the other one?”
Hecklers
Hecklers, Papa CJ explained, are the people who interrupt and hinder comedians’ shows and will keep doing it if one doesn’t address it immediately. He advised them to listen to negative feedback properly to address it.
Customise Pitch As Per Context
Papa CJ said that during corporate events, he is being instructed to present a clean show. He said that it is required to change the strategy as per demand, but the audience wanted just the opposite. So, from the stage, he asked what the audience wanted and consulted one of the senior-most persons of the company – ultimately saving the brand and the show.
He derived that at times, what clients tell is not what they want- it is on the ventures to take out the context and work accordingly.
Failure Is Only Way To Improve
Telling about feedback on a bad show, Papa CJ said that innovating new solutions after any kind of bad show is what suggests improvement and failures are proof of it.
Why You
Lastly, Papa CJ asked if the startups are creating their unique identity so that people look specifically for them, and not like them.
He was speaking at the TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2023 conference of startups and investors that was held on March 17-18 in Gurugram.
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