How Humor Can Make You a Great Speaker

Humor in a public speaking event seems just about right. It’s not a requirement but especially when the talk goes for as long as the whole day, it is quite compulsory. I have been both an audience member and a speaker and it can be quite boring without a laugh or at least an attempt to be relatable and entertaining.

Introduction and Delivery

Sometimes it starts with a story. And the story has to be good; and if it isn’t good, make sure that it is told well. Delivery of the first anecdote or line gives the biggest impression and would sum up the impression that the audience would make up of you as the lecture continues. And of course, nothing beats good humor. I include humor as part of the necessary phases of public speaking because this is where a speaker picks up a piece of himself or herself and connects it to the audience. As the famous quote suggests that “Laughter is the closest distance between two people”, a simple anecdote that is relevant to your topic keeps your ball rolling and in effect helps you take your audience to the direction and message that you’d hope they get.

A funny keynote speaker can be just the thing to make your corporate or social event stand out with your guests. Keynote speakers are a great way to introduce your main event speakers and add fun to the event.

Be Appropriate and Beware of the Misfired Punchline

You are not a corporate speaker for nothing. Remember what to say or what not to say. The humor of a perverse nature—that uses a tone of sexuality, shock value, distasteful or toilet humor might not suit well for a general audience. On some occasion and after a couple of successful jokes, you might get a feeling of accomplishment and smugness that this wonderful luck will continue and you might be an undiscovered King or Queen of Comedy—but trust me when I say that the opposite usually happens. And that is why while it is agreed on this post that humor is essential; don’t go abusing it.