Say It with Presentations, Second Edition, Revised & Expanded, 2nd Edition

Take Humor Seriously

I recall, in my earlier days, relying on several cartoons for the introduction to my presentation at the business schools. While the audience laughed and I felt good, after a while, I realized that the humor was a cover-up for my nervousness, a plea to the audience to be kind. In time, I came to realize that my audience wanted the serious content of my presentation and that I did not need the crutch. Today I still use humor, but in a much more constructive way. For instance, I’ve learned:

Humor is great when it helps to make a point. Unrelated jokes or funny stories do not make a presentation great. What does work is to be human, to share personal experiences. Let the audience know that you’ve lived through similar situations ...