Humour tips from Bo Benet of Talking Toastmasters – you can listen to the podcast here.
- Never take credit for somebody else’s joke
- Don’t tell the same joke over and over
- Be appropriate to the audience
- Keep it short – long jokes are confusing, and prone to mishaps
- Be smooth – delivery is as important as the content (if not more so)
- Timing is important in delivery of humour
- Make sure the humour is relevant to the situation and occasion
- Do not make jokes at other peoples expense
- Don’t overdo it. Be fully, but you don’t need to be a stand-up comic
- Don’t be corny
All good and valid tips! Mind you, I’d go further and (as a trainer specialising in presentations) I’d suggest that it’s often a good idea to differentiate between ‘humour’ and ‘jokes’. Unless you’re a stand-up comic, avoid jokes – let your humour grow organically out of the situation you find yourself in.
That way you avoid risks of telling inappropriate jokes, corny jokes and so on….
Simon
Thanks Simon
Agreed, it does not have to be a joke to be funny, and all humour needs to be appropriate.
What do they say – if in doubt, leave it out.
Craig