How can humor make your vision and strategy more memorable?

In my experience teaching meditation, people make it very serious. They think it is not a time for fun, because you have to focus and meditate. Part of the joy that comes from meditating is to not take every part of life so seriously and allowing ourselves to take pleasure in the senses of our body. In order to enjoy being in our body we have to call our attention and bring our energy inside. And the process of seeing where your mind goes to or what is coming up, can often be hilarious! Don't be afraid to laugh!

Strategic humor enhances vision and strategy communication, akin to my discussions on effective innovation adoption. It's about finding that balance where humor aids in lowering barriers, fostering a conducive environment for idea absorption, much like blending diverse technologies for optimal solutions. Humor, when aligned with your vision, can act as a catalyst, making complex strategies more approachable and memorable, similar to how we simplify complex concepts in sustainable innovation.

Humor can be a powerful tool in making your vision and strategy more memorable. It breaks down barriers, creating a relaxed and engaging atmosphere where ideas stick better. When humor is woven into discussions about vision and strategy, it not only eases tension but also makes the content more relatable and memorable. A light-hearted approach can help in reinforcing key points, making them stand out in the minds of your team. Remember, when people laugh, they're more likely to remember.

My favorite approach to this is to use analogies once you present the strategy or in case of any other important information sharing. Typically it's around sport, especially football (or soccer if you like). It's super useful and helps to visualize the case better, put it into the wider perspective, but also gives you more freedom to bring humorous anecdotes, pictures, stories etc. It's way safer to do jokes while playing with analogies than making it directly related to your strategy or vision. You don't want to make people feel there is anything funny about it...

I have a very nervous vocalist to record. To put her at ease I used fun and humor. She put on her headphones, and I played the chipmunks through her "cans" "Oops sorry" I said, "that was the artist before you" and then I played some more chipmunk music, and I said "oops, and they are the cousins of the artist before you". The laughter was amazing, it broke down the barriers. I knew exactly what I was doing, with timing, delivery, and it was a strategy delivering confidence at every level. Understand your audience, and rehearse your humor delivery and strategy, and deliver with purposeful conviction, and remember simplicity. Be able to laugh at yourself first! Embrace the sound of laughter.