How can humor help you build relationships with policymakers?

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Humor is a powerful tool for social impact, especially when you want to influence policymakers and decision-makers. It can help you break the ice, build rapport, convey your message, and persuade your audience. But how can you use humor effectively and appropriately in your advocacy and campaigning efforts? Here are some tips and examples to inspire you.

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1 Know your audience

The first rule of humor is to know your audience and tailor your jokes accordingly. What makes them laugh, what offends them, what are their values and interests? You don't want to alienate or insult your potential allies or opponents with insensitive or irrelevant humor. You also want to avoid clichés, stereotypes, and assumptions that may undermine your credibility or cause confusion. Do your research, test your jokes, and be ready to adapt to different contexts and situations.

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Fatima Hassan Naqvi

Key Accounts Manager | Social Media Manager
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Yes, Agreed. Also don't judge anyone before making fun of them and do not joke if the person feels uncomfortable. Try to learn about the environment or culture first before cracking any jokes.

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Aarij B.

| Business Development | International Sales | Voiceover Artist |
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Knowing your audience is the first step, while humor is valuable, it's essential to maintain professionalism. Avoid jokes that could be perceived as offensive or inappropriate. Keep your humor light, positive, and respectful.

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Michael McTigue

Storytelling | Internal Communications | External Communications | Executive Communications | Copywriting | Editing | Speechwriting | Change Management | Business Partnering | Jargon Busting
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Whatever strategic tool you decide to use, knowing your audience is the first step. It doesn't matter if is humor, data, anecdotal evidence...you will miss the mark if you don't first understand your audience.

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Ana Gonzales Lewis

Children’s book author and artist: “Under the Desert Skies” The children’s book series about desert animals in the southwest.
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We can’t forget that this is the WORLD wide web. What may be funny in your culture may be offensive or not at all funny in another culture. Knowing your audience is key.

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2 Use positive humor

Positive humor is humor that uplifts, connects, and inspires. It is not mean-spirited, sarcastic, or aggressive. It does not mock, ridicule, or belittle others. Positive humor shows respect, empathy, and humility. It also demonstrates confidence, creativity, and intelligence. Positive humor can help you build trust, rapport, and goodwill with your audience. It can also make your message more memorable, engaging, and persuasive.

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Fatima Hassan Naqvi

Key Accounts Manager | Social Media Manager
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Positive humor in the workplace can boost morale and foster a collaborative environment. Consider light-hearted jokes, team-building activities, or celebrating achievements with a touch of humor to create a more enjoyable and engaging work atmosphere.

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Ana Gonzales Lewis

Children’s book author and artist: “Under the Desert Skies” The children’s book series about desert animals in the southwest.
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Humility is key to using humor. Don’t make fun of others, poke fun at yourself and join in on others who are good at it. A good example is when Facebook changed their name to Meta. Wendy’s posted in social media, “We changed our name to Meat.” Arby’s chimed in, “We changed our name to Meata.” I suggested to a vegan group to chime in with, “This is awkward! We changed our name to NoMeata!” This would have provided a chance for the vegan company to use humor (out of character) and use humility along with it.

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3 Be strategic

Humor is not just a random or spontaneous act. It is a strategic tool that can help you achieve your goals and objectives. You need to have a clear purpose and intention for using humor in your advocacy and campaigning. What do you want to achieve? How do you want your audience to feel, think, or act? How does humor fit into your overall strategy and tactics? You also need to consider the timing, tone, and delivery of your humor. When is the best moment to use humor? How can you balance humor and seriousness? How can you convey your humor effectively and authentically?

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Aarij B.

| Business Development | International Sales | Voiceover Artist |
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Remember that humor can be a powerful connector, but it's not a onesize fits all strategy. Being strategic with humor involves a nuanced understanding of your audience, situation, and goals. Always prioritize professionalism and ensure that your humor aligns with the overall tone of the interaction.

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Michael McTigue

Storytelling | Internal Communications | External Communications | Executive Communications | Copywriting | Editing | Speechwriting | Change Management | Business Partnering | Jargon Busting
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Humor in this instance should elevate your argument or message. The humor itself should not be the thing that people remember.

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4 Learn from others

You don't have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to using humor in your advocacy and campaigning. You can learn from others who have successfully used humor to influence policymakers and decision-makers. For example, you can watch TED talks, comedy shows, or documentaries that feature humor as a social impact tool. You can also read books, articles, or blogs that share tips and insights on how to use humor for social change. You can also network with other advocates and campaigners who use humor in their work and exchange ideas and feedback.

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Michael McTigue

Storytelling | Internal Communications | External Communications | Executive Communications | Copywriting | Editing | Speechwriting | Change Management | Business Partnering | Jargon Busting
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Learn from others but don't steal from them. Chances are if you've heard the joke before, so has your audience. Make it your own, but don't make it all about you.

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Aarij B.

| Business Development | International Sales | Voiceover Artist |
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Humor can break down barriers and establish a more personal connection with policymakers. Learning from successful instances where humor was used effectively can provide insights into the types of humor that resonate in professional settings.

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5 Have fun

Finally, don't forget to have fun with humor. Humor is not only a tool, but also a source of joy, relief, and resilience. It can help you cope with stress, frustration, and uncertainty. It can also help you celebrate your achievements, appreciate your team, and recharge your energy. Humor can also make your work more enjoyable, rewarding, and meaningful. So, don't be afraid to laugh, smile, and play with humor in your advocacy and campaigning.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can humor help you build relationships with policymakers?

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1 Know your audience

2 Use positive humor

3 Be strategic

4 Learn from others

5 Have fun

6 Here’s what else to consider

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