How to Make Your Speech Funnier

“How do I make my speech funnier?” is a question I am often asked.

My answer: L.A.U.G.H.!

Yup, that’s right folks, L.A.U.G.H. is an acronym for five concepts to add humor to your presentation or make your speech funnier.

The L.A.U.G.H. Acronym

L – Listen

Listen to what makes you laugh and what makes others laugh. Capture and record these moments. Over time, you’ll have a collection of humorous material to use in your presentations.

A – Anecdote

Stories (anecdotes) are more powerful than jokes. A good anecdote can reinforce your message. I truly believe that the antidote to a weak speech is a good anecdote, particularly a relevant humorous story that reinforces your key point.

U – Uncomfortable

The funniest stories often involve moments of discomfort or when something went wrong. Once the situation is safe to laugh about, these stories create relatability and humor.

I often share a story about when, while having fun with my darling granddaughter Maggie, I got “stuck” in the back seat of the car with child locks on. I use that to illustrate how an uncomfortable moment can be viewed later as humorous—and how it can reinforce key messages. In manufacturing and safety conferences, I use this story to stress the importance of attention to detail and being aware of your surroundings.

G – Google on the Bing!!

Use Google (or “the Googler,” as I often call it—which always generates smiles) to find appropriate humor to reinforce your key message.

Whatever your topic, get onto the Googler and “Google on the Bing” (again, this phrase gets laughs!) for funny quotes related to leadership, sales, teamwork, marketing—whatever your topic may be. Humor doesn’t always need to be created—you can capture it from others.

H – Hee Hee to Ho Ho Ho

Pay attention to audience reactions. If something gets a chuckle (the “Hee, Hee, Hee”), pause and ask yourself: How can I improve this line so next time I get a full “Ho, Ho, Ho”?

Small tweaks in timing, phrasing, or delivery can transform a mild smile into a deep, memorable laugh.

Final Thoughts from the Irishman

The L.A.U.G.H. framework works—but it doesn’t work by chance. You need to be intentional.

By applying the LAUGH framework—Listen, Anecdote, Uncomfortable, Googler, and Hee Hee to Ho Ho Ho—you can add humor to your presentations, even if you don’t think you are funny.

The key is to capture, refine, and use humor purposefully to engage and connect with your audience.

With a smile,
Conor Cunneen
IrishmanSpeaks