Using Humor in Speeches

00:01 So how do you use humor in a speech? Now, let me stop you right there.

00:05 I don't want you to feel tremendous pressure to be this funny man, this funny character in your speeches and presentations.

00:12 And nothing is more contrived than starting a speech off with some kind of joke you found in a Milton Berle joke book.

00:20 Even if it's a little bit funny, people are kind of like, I guess I'm supposed to laugh now. It doesn't seem authentic.

00:27 It seems contrived.

00:28 The best use of humor in a speech is when it doesn't seem like you're trying to be a stand-up comedian when it seems natural, especially if you're making fun of yourself, and it seems spontaneous.

00:40 That's the best way of using humor.

00:42 Now, here's the thing about humor.

00:44 If you're getting people to laugh.

00:47 Typically, that means a lot of good things have happened.

00:49 Number one, they're paying attention to you.

00:51 Number two, they are responding to you.

00:54 Number three, they're responding with a type of approval.

00:59 And number four, it's created a variety of sound and experience, has turned it from a monologue to a dialogue.

01:07 So that's all good stuff if you get people to laugh.

01:11 Some people are better at it than others.

01:13 Not personally. I love comedy.

01:15 I love humor. I go to stand-up comedy clubs in New York City all the time.

01:19 But I'm not particularly great at telling jokes, so the way I get humor in a speech or presentation is when I'm making fun of myself. Bad things have happened, and I'm giving a speech and I think everything's great and people are laughing.

01:34 And then I realize I somehow have blue ink or chalk on my face.

01:38 And that's what people are laughing at.

01:40 It's not funny here.

01:41 It's only funny within the context.

01:44 So if you're naturally humorous, especially if you can make fun of yourself, incorporate it into the speech.

01:51 But if you're not, don't spend a lot of time, effort researching jokes and writing jokes and shoehorning them into the presentation.

01:59 You don't have to. You can still be effective.

02:01 I've been speaking to you for several minutes now, and I haven't made you laugh once. That's okay.