Why use humour?
  • Why should I bother using humour in my presentations?
  • Can't I just deliver my information and sit down?

You sure can! That's what most people do. The problem is that most people are not effective presenters. They are nighty-nite, snooze-inducing, say-your-prayers, hit-the-sack, unlicensed hypnotists. They are ZZZZZs presenters. They might be experts in their field and able to recite hours and hours of information on their topic, but is that effective?

According to Bob Orben, Special Assistant to President Gerald Ford and Former Director of the White House Speech writing Department, "Business executives and political leaders have embraced humour because humour works. Humour has gone from being an admirable part of a leader's character to a mandatory one."

A survey of top executives who earned more than $250,000 per year was conducted by a large executive search firm. The survey found that these executives believed their communication skills were the number one factor that carried them to the top.

Mastering the use of humour and other high-explosion techniques puts a fine polish on your presentation skills which can help propel you to the top of the speaking profession.

Benefits of using humour

There are many benefits you can derive from using humour in your presentations. Keep in mind that these benefits only help you reach your ultimate purpose for making the presentation. They are not purposes in themselves unless, of course, you are only interested in entertaining.

How humour helps you:

  • Enhance your connection with your audience
  • Makes you more likeable
  • Arouses interest
  • Keeps attention
  • Helps emphasize points and ideas
  • Disarms hostility
  • Overcomes overly flattering introductions
  • Gets your point across without creating hostility
  • Helps relate facts and figures
  • Makes a positive impression
  • Shows that you do not take yourself too seriously
  • Helps paint pictures in the audience's mind
  • Makes information more memorable
  • Lightens up heavy material

    Tom's List of Top 4 Benefits of Using Humour

  • You will be asked back
  • You will get higher evaluations or more sales
  • You will make more money
  • You will make people happy.

    The last one is my favorite benefit. I get great satisfaction from knowing that I have brightened someone else's life. I had an executive come up to me after one of my humour seminars and say, "You opened up a whole new world for me." I almost cried right on the spot. I'll never forget it. "

    Tom Antion is a veteran of over 2300 paid presentations. His Great Speaking e-zine has the largest subscriber base (over 85,000 as of this writing) in the entire speaking industry. Tom is the author of the book Wake 'em Up Business Presentations, the video series Wake 'em Up Video Professional Speaking System, and the one of a kind Click: The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing for Speakers.