A few weeks ago, I was at a business conference. The host was great – high energy, confident, clearly knew their stuff. But about 10 minutes in, I was bored.
It wasn’t the content. It was the delivery.
Just one fact after another. No story. No break. No humor. The info was useful, but it felt like I was sitting through a TED Talk… given by Excel.
If you want people’s attention, you must be engaging and make it worth their while. And the best way to do that? By adding some humor to it.
Here’s why even the most informative presentations fall flat and how a dash of humor can transform your next talk from forgettable to unforgettable.
Humor Strategies for Your Next Talk
Here’s what you need to know.
Know Your Material and Audience
If you’re talking to tech execs, don’t open with a joke about farming. Joke about ChatGPT, or AI, or Elon Musk. 💀
Match your humor to your audience and stay true to your style. The best laughs come from what feels naturally you.
Lower the Bar (in a Good Way)
The bar for humor is low in business, so the impact is high. Even a cheeky opener like “Forecast says 100% chance of good ideas today” makes people smile.
No one’s expecting Dave Chappelle.
If you’re “trying to be a comedian,” your audience won’t take you seriously because you’re trying to be something you’re not. You’re undercutting your own credibility as an expert, which is why you were asked to speak in the first place.
With the techniques that follow, you won’t need to step outside your brand expertise to find humor.
So don’t try to be funny. Just try to be witty. That’s enough.
Laughter to Build Connection
Laughter = likability. It’s one of the fastest ways to get the room on your side.
Drop a funny (true!) personal story. Show you’re human. Let them laugh with you. Self-deprecating jokes work wonders if you can pull them off.
Break Tension on Purpose
You just dropped a stat that made everyone uncomfortable? Good.
Now follow it up with something light.
“We are the most medicated adult cohort in U.S. history… but at least we’ve got great coffee, right?”
The combo of insight + humor = unforgettable.
Conclusion
You don’t need to be funny. You just need to give people a reason to stay awake.
Which of these could you try in your next talk? Or how have you used humor in your own way on stage?