OK, so, it’s time to make your presentation. You’ve got your information down pat. You’ve got your PowerPoint slides flowing faster than an Eminem rap. You’ve got your new jacket on and your lucky shoes shined. You’ve combed your hair, and you’re ready to knockout a room full of colleagues and peers.
You take the stage. You thank your introducer. You launch into your presentation by delivering the knockout joke you’ve been laughing to yourself about all weekend…
Silence.
Sweat.
Chaos.
You’ve just stumbled coming out of the gate by having your joke crash like a plane on the Hudson River – sans the steel-nerved pilot!
Humor is a go-to device we all try to incorporate into our presentations. It makes sense: Make ’em laugh and they will listen. However, it’s not that easy. If it was simple to be funny on demand we’d all be Jerry Seinfeld.
Here are 5 basic kinds of humor that can help you leave ’em laughing after your next presentation.
- The Advisor – This style of humor seems custom made for presentations. After all, you are already intending to inform and advise your audience, why not pull the rug out from under them too? The general formula is “Set-up: Twist”. “You should really go see that new movie: unless you need to clean your bathroom or hang out with your mother-in-law.”
- Anecdote – This is the presenters Ol’ Faithful. Essentially, an anecdote is a short story about a real-life incident, that illustrates a point you can connect to your presentation. It is best to tell anecdotes about your own life, especially if they are self-deprecating and demonstrate humility.
- The Insightful Aside – A technique that works best for speakers who like to play fast and loose, the Insightful Aside is a quick, pointed comment that allows you to interject humor with a lot of impact – especially when tackling a rather dull subject. “At this point we see the numbers begin falling off the chart – and who can blame them!” Check out ‘Simpsons star, Harry Shearer’s podcast for a crash course in awesome asides!
- Witty Banter – As this requires give-and-take, banter works best if you are presenting with a partner, however it can also play a role in your Q & A. If you banter with your audience, be careful to remain self-deprecating. However, when presenting with a partner, rough-housing and ribbing can bring a lot of spark!
- Chain for Fools – We are always listing things at our presentations. This is a great opportunity for a chain-gag. “In September we see that profits begin to warm up. Higher in October. Higher in November. But by December, we froze our assets off!”