The reality is that you don’t have to be a natural born comic or even the class clown to develop a reputation as a humorous speaker. It’s really just a function of hard work. If you speak on a similar subject on a regular basis, the trick is to occasionally say something that strikes you as amusing or funny. If it is funny to you, it might be funny to someone else. Then, if you get a laugh, make a note of it. If it works with one audience, it might work with others.
Once you have a funny observation, reuse it. It’s now much less risky saying the same thing to other audiences because you know some people like it. One note of caution, don’t try to say anything that sounds like a “joke.” You don’t want to be seen as a joke teller. Instead, try to cultivate a reputation as someone who can make interesting, amusing or fun observations and connections with different ideas and events going on in the world.
I often start my full day presentation training class by looking out at individuals with a stern expression and saying “the goal for today is that by the end of our training session you will walk and talk and sound just like me.” This usually gets a laugh. If it fails to get a laugh, I quickly say “I’m just kidding.” Then, I usually get a laugh. While I am getting them to have a little fun, I am able to reassure them that I don’t want to change their speaking styles, but just to bring out the best in their own natural style. So I am making a very important point to set off the training.
But sometimes, I don’t get any laugh at all. That’s OK; I’m still making my point. The key here is don’t panic. It doesn’t matter if your audience didn’t laugh. Remember, you weren’t hired to be a standup comic. The hard part comes with your next speech. You must remember to try your line again. Chances are it will work. I know my opening line usually works the next time, even if it didn’t work today.
Somewhere during the next 20 minutes of your presentation, you may get a chuckle or laugh—even though you didn’t plan it. Great, but write it down so that you can use it next time. Even though you didn’t write your humor in advance, doesn’t mean you can’t write it out after the fact and then reuse it.
This way, you can add humor to your presentations naturally, slowly and organically. You won’t seem like an old-style Catskills comedian, but you will seem sharp and fun.
