Another Lesson on Adding Humor to your Presentation
How to Add Humor – LISTEN
This blog is one of a number that elaborates on a simple L.A.U.G.H. acronym to help you add humor to your presentation. The core benefit to adding Humor to your sales call or presentation is NOT to put a smile on someone’s face, but to build connection with the client or audience by PUTTING a smile on their face.
In this blog, we continue to explore one of the secrets to Adding Humor to your Presentation – Listen.
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Listen (and capture what made you LAUGH) Part II
Note that “Listen” is an all-encompassing term for any form of capturing and recording anything humorous that you see, heard, read, experience etc.
If you hear something funny that got you laughing, “Listen” to what you heard and pop it into your notepad.
If you say something that gets people laughing, “Listen” to what you heard yourself say and pop it into your notepad.
If you see something funny, pop it into your notepad.
If you read something funny, capture it and pop it into your notepad.
Example of Listen and Capture
Here is a simple example of something I captured in the past week that perfectly sums up the concept of “Adding Humor to your Presentation.
Twitter ( I know, I know, it’s X!)
“He’s so dumb he couldn’t spell U.S.A”. I saw this line on Twitter and can’t even remember the context.
This is hardly a new line but it is funny and very descriptive, so in it goes to my Notes. When might I use it? Not sure yet. Possibly when describing a pretty hopeless boss I had years ago! NOTE: Be careful who you make fun of. The golden rule is “Punch Up, Don’t Punch Down.” You are hoping to engage your audience via humor, so don’t be cruel or nasty. That will NOT engage your audience.
Other versions of this phrase might be “He’s so dumb he couldn’t spell BMW / U.N / U.S.S.R. / UAE / CDC etc.)
How you might use this line in a presentation?
Let’s say, you’re doing a program on Leadership. We have all had poor bosses over the years and maybe sometimes we might have even been that boss!
You could say “I once had a boss who was so dumb he couldn’t spell U.S.A.” It would likely get a smile, but what does it say about you as the presenter? You quite likely would come across as being unlikeable and maybe arrogant and mean.
However, if you were to say something like “We’ve all had bad bosses over the years. Some of you might have had a boss who had difficulty spelling BMW.” I guarantee that will get a laugh because the vast majority of the audience will be able to relate to it.
This is softer than if you specifically mention a previous boss. Even if the audience has no idea who the previous boss is, it could be perceived as being nasty and unkind. As a presenter, you don’t want to create that impression.
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Includes funny quotes from Mark Twain, Mayor Richard J. Daley “”The policeman is not here to create disorder. The policeman is here to preserve disorder,” Mother Teresa (honest), George Bernard Shaw, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and many more.
IrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen (left) is a Chicago-based motivational, humorous business speaker who delights in adding humor in his presentations and helping others to do the same.
About your Blogger on Adding Humor to your Presentation
Conor Cunneen – IrishmanSpeaks is an award winnng keynote speaker and business humorist. Conor’s mission is to leave his audience with a smile on the face, a spring in the step and memorable, actionable takeaways to improve people, performance and productivity – with a Smile. He also delights in helping others add humor to their presentation of sales pitch. Conor likes to play Metallica loud. His wife does not like him to play Metallica loud!
If you would like more detail on Adding Humor to your Presentation and courses provided by IrishmanSpeaks Conor Cunneen visit TheImprovementAcademy.comhttps://www.theimprovementacademy.com/
Conor is a Humorous Motivational Keynote Speaker who is also a multiple author. View his books at TheShamrockShop.com
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