Humor Isn’t About Getting Laughs — It’s About Building Connection
It’s Conor Cunneen, IrishmanSpeaks, here again with another simple tip, trick, or technique to help you add humor to your business presentation.
And as I consistently say:
The primary reason for adding humor to your business talk is not to make your audience laugh.
Shocking, right?
The real reason to add humor is to build connection with your audience.
When people smile — even just a little — they connect with you. And when they connect with you, they’re more likely to engage, absorb your message, and remember it long after the session ends.
A Simple Way to Start: Compliment with Humor
One of the easiest ways to build connection?
Give a compliment.
Even a light-hearted one. I sometimes say in my keynotes:
“Wow, your hair doesn’t look as bad as it did yesterday.”
Always gets a chuckle.
Why? Because it’s safe, playful, and feels real.
This is part of my CHAPS acronym. The “C” is for Compliment. I encourage people to start the day by complimenting just one person at work. It sets a tone of positivity — and often a smile.
Why I Always Say “With a Smile”
If you’ve seen my videos or keynotes, you’ve heard me sign off with:
“…with a smile.”
Why?
Because when you smile, you feel better.
And when your audience smiles, they feel better.
If I can get you — or your team — to smile, chuckle, or laugh four or five times during a presentation, I’m doing my job. Smiles trigger neurotransmitters like dopamine and endorphins that enhance mood, increase focus, and improve learning.
And when people feel good, they connect better — with each other and with you.
Humor is the Secret Ingredient to Engagement
Let’s be honest.
Some workshops, training sessions, and continuing education modules are… well… brain-numbing.
We’ve all been there.
That’s why I make it my mission to infuse relevant humor into my content — not just for laughs, but to keep the audience engaged and reinforce the message I’m delivering.
As I always say:
“I’m not a comedian. I’m a business speaker who uses relevant humor to connect with my audience and help them improve performance and behavior.”
The Bottom Line
You don’t have to be hilarious to be effective.
You just need to be intentional.
Use humor to build bridges. To create shared moments. To wake up your audience and make your message stick.
Because when your message is delivered with a smile, people remember.
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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.
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