By Jackie Edwards
Injecting humor into public speaking is like a secret handshake — it instantly forges a bond with the audience, inviting them into your world with a shared chuckle. It’s the spoonful of sugar that helps the message go down, dressing up hefty ideas in delightful wit so they stick around in the memory. And let’s face it, a talk peppered with laughs is one that echoes in the mind’s corridors, turning a moment into a cherished story.
A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience highlights the fact that laughter is key in social bonding, as it releases endorphins in the brain (hormones produced to help reduce stress and improve mood). For public speakers looking to brighten up an otherwise mundane speech, mastering the art of humor can bring more than one benefit to the table — from captivating your audience to getting your point across in a memorable way.
A captivated audience
Humor holds great potential for public speakers, regardless of the subject. Not only does it help set a speech apart, it can create a memorable one that captivates an audience. For example, when attempting to make a speech memorable, convey an important message, or drive a point home, humor can help greatly in achieving the goal. This is because humor improves memory retention, meaning that when using relevant humor alongside the delivery of a fact, the outcome is better recollection of that fact. Implementing humor into the speech can also convey a seemingly ‘boring’ or complicated topic in a way that is more understandable — especially when using bright and humorous analogies, jokes, and references that are easily relatable to your target audience.
Using humor can also establish a connection with your audience — not only does laughter bring people together and add positivity to the situation, but it can make you more relatable as a speaker, too, and result in the creation of a more relaxed and engaging atmosphere. However, while humor can make a speech captivating for the audience, it’s imperative to keep in mind that speakers themselves can benefit from mastering the art, particularly when using it as a tool to boost confidence. Those who struggle with challenges such as articulating one’s thoughts during a speech, for example, can benefit from speaking with greater confidence. In fact, confidence is a major part of learning how to articulate one’s thoughts, and using humor can help in various ways. If you stumble on your words, for instance, making a joke about it can break any tension while allowing everyone to laugh together over the matter before diving back into your speech and delivering the intended message.
Inspiration from stand-up comedians
A Forbes post by contributor John Greathouse dives into the world of stand up comedy, as many facets of the career can be applied to those in public speaking. A strong start, practiced spontaneity, and physical humor are all factors identified within the dissection, in addition to ‘heckler management’ and audience connection. Public speakers can take note from all of these — for example, it’s noted that comedians, due to their limited time on stage, must set the tone of their act quickly.
“Often the success or failure of the opening joke determines how well a routine is received,” notes Greathouse. The same can be applied to public speaking. In the same way, starting a speech off strong can grab the attention of the audience. Doing so with a joke, on the other hand, can set the tone in a way that lets the listeners know that they’re in for something fun, fresh, and entertaining — thus allowing the audience to look forward to what you have to say (rather than having to simply endure it).
Regarding physical humor, Greathouse explores the value that voice, posture, gestures, and physical appearance can help in establishing the ‘appropriate tenor,’ going on to point out that how something is said has great impact. Citing the statistic that 55% of a speaker’s communication during the first few minutes of a presentation is nonverbal, while an additional 38% is tone of voice, it’s further noted that only seven percent of a speaker’s initial communications comprise the words that are said. Watching a bit of stand up comedy is a effective way to learn just what Greathouse is alluding to — you won’t see a comedian standing behind the mic motionless, rather, they tend to move about the stage in a natural way while using their body language to emphasize their humor.
Creating a memorable experience
The idea of spicing up your speech with a healthy dose of humor can be intimidating. For those who are new to the concept, figuring out exactly how much humor to inject into a speech can be a challenging endeavor. You don’t want to overdo it and turn the speech into a stand up comedy act, but you also don’t want to leave things to dry. According to Inc.com, a good rule of thumb is to simply be yourself — while integrating a bit of humor when it’s appropriate. “Getting the audience to laugh (or at least crack a smile) early on is a great way to break the ice,” states the Inc post, though goes on to suggest running your joke(s) by some friends before to ensure they don’t fall flat. When generating ideas for a humorous speech, one LinkedIn post recommends keeping a journal to record any humorous or creative thoughts, experiences, or achievements.
Comedian, author, and founder of FunnyBizz Conference David Nihill offers a few tips for those looking to apply humor to public speaking, according to a Forbes article by Nick Morgan. When asked about tips for successful delivery, Nihill recommended developing a strong opening line by acknowledging the obvious. “If you are visibly nervous, have a fresh stain on your shirt, have a foreign accent, or anything else unusual about yourself that the audience might fixate on, address it right away to get some laughs, and then move on so the audience can focus.” Other tips include rehearsing your first 30 seconds the most, making it a point to smile and make eye contact with as many people as you can up front, and stepping forward to emphasize your main points and punchlines. “Small changes in delivery like raising your voice at the end of a sentence have a big, big impact,” Nihill notes.
Humor is a fantastic way to build a rapport with your audience while playing a role in creating a memorable speech. For public speakers who wish to master the art of humor, understanding the many advantages that it can bring to any topic in addition to drawing inspiration from those who are hilarious for a living can be a fantastic way to get started.
Jackie Edwards used to work as a public speaking coach, and as a therapist – engaging with people who found working life a challenge and helping to encourage their confidence. Ill health forced her to take a break and semi-retire, so she now works as a freelance writer, penning pieces on health, wellbeing and current affairs. In any free time she has, she is walked by her two dogs Sooty and Sweep and loves baking, cooking and the chance to grow older (and fatter) with her partner, Phil.