After years of consulting, meetings and strategy sessions, I have given, presented and been privy to countless presentations. Some good, some bad, and some, outright made me gasp. I believe we all have the ability to make memorable presentations when we leverage principles of humor and levity. Here are 4 tips to cultivate a memorable presentation using humor principles. (you see what I did there)
Know your audience.
The first step to using humor in your presentation is to know your audience. What are their interests? What do they already know about the topic? What do they need to know? Once you know your audience, you can tailor your humor to their interests and level of knowledge.
For example, if you are giving a presentation to a group of programmers, you might make a joke about the latest code release. If you are giving a presentation to a group of parents, you might make a joke about the challenges of minivans, phones and raising free-range organic children. The last part may just be my children.
Use self-deprecating humor.
Self-deprecating humor is a great way to connect with your audience and make them feel like they know you. It can also help to build your credibility and make you seem more relatable.
For example, you might start your presentation by telling a story about a time when you made a mistake. You could then use this story to segue into your topic.
Use situational humor.
Situational humor is based on the situation at hand. It can be used to make light of a difficult situation or to connect with your audience on a personal level.
For example, if you are giving a presentation during a time when there is a lot of stress in the workplace, you might make a joke about a universally stressful situation such as traffic, pollen, or why no one takes the last donut in the break room. This can help to relieve some of the tension in the room and make your audience more receptive to your message.
Use observational humor.
Observational humor is based on observations about the world around us. It can be used to make fun of current events, pop culture, or even your own life. Using your own life brings your audience into your world and audiences feel that they are better connected to you as a presenter.
For example, you might make a joke about the latest celebrity scandal. Think more ‘real housewives’, less ‘kanye’. You could then use this joke to segue into a discussion about the importance of ethics in the workplace.
A couple of points to remember is that practicing your presentation with humor is recommended. This will help you gauge how your audience reacts to your humor and make adjustments. Also, be prepared for your humor to fall flat. Even the best comedians bomb sometimes. If your humor doesn’t land, don’t dwell on it. Just move on to the next point. Some of the best moments in presenting history have come from the silence of something not working. How many of us enjoy awkwardness (maybe just me). Take pride that you tried it and now you know whether to use it again, or send that joke to the appendix never to be seen again. If you follow these tips, you can plot humor into your presentations more memorable and engaging. (if you don’t see what I did by now, please subscribe and I will keep trying till you do)