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13.9 Joking Around… Really?
Any topic, even serious ones, can benefit from some humor. Humor will entertain
the audience, raise their attention level and might even help getting some points
across. Humor can make your presentation livelier.
Given all this, you should include humor in your presentation, right?
Actually, my STRONG advice is to avoid humor, unless joking around is one of
your personality traits, or if you have used humor successfully and repeatedly in the
past. If you are not a “natural”, just leave the jokes aside.
But if despite not having a proven “entertainer” record, you still insist on including humor, here is my advice:
• Do not expect a reaction from the audience – be ready for, and even plan for a
total indifference of the audience to your joke
• Do not provide non-verbal cues that you are joking. Do it covertly
• Do not laugh at your own joke, especially if you are the only one laughing
• Do not let your “joke” alter the flow of your presentation – whether the audience
reacts or not, keep going!
We can all relate to some presenter being embarrassed after telling a poor joke.
Avoid the embarrassment… An interesting talk does NOT need to be funny.
13 Delivery
13.9 Joking Around… Really?
Any topic, even serious ones, can benefit from some humor. Humor will entertain
the audience, raise their attention level and might even help getting some points
across. Humor can make your presentation livelier.
Given all this, you should include humor in your presentation, right?
Actually, my STRONG advice is to avoid humor, unless joking around is one of
your personality traits, or if you have used humor successfully and repeatedly in the
past. If you are not a “natural”, just leave the jokes aside.
But if despite not having a proven “entertainer” record, you still insist on including humor, here is my advice:
• Do not expect a reaction from the audience – be ready for, and even plan for a
total indifference of the audience to your joke
• Do not provide non-verbal cues that you are joking. Do it covertly
• Do not laugh at your own joke, especially if you are the only one laughing
• Do not let your “joke” alter the flow of your presentation – whether the audience
reacts or not, keep going!
We can all relate to some presenter being embarrassed after telling a poor joke.
Avoid the embarrassment… An interesting talk does NOT need to be funny.
13 Delivery