You're preparing to speak internationally. How can you make sure your humor resonates across cultures?

I still remember a dear friend of mine shoving his foot in his mouth in front of an international audience. His country had been in the news with a political issue that was widely endorsed. He assumed that this audience would of course be celebrating it… And there was complete deafening science when he applauded the issue. Turns out this group was part of the small, but loud dissenters. It’s why it’s critical to have a pre-speech interview and get clear on individual groups likes and dislikes, what they are supporting and campaigning against. Normally a few hot button issues will save you so much! And, read The Culture Map. You’ll thank me for it!

Interview people who will be in your audience. Don’t be afraid to ask them direct questions. Understand how your style of speaking works or doesn’t work for your audience.

Have you ever heard a good humor in a wrong place? How did it turn out? It probably gave you second-hand embarrasement. Do a research before giving a speech is very important, and same goes to humor. Pay attention to local tradition, social circumstances, and political climate to avoid your jokes could be seen as derogatory. Instead, focus on universal experiences that can bridge cultural gaps.

Don't bother trying to make them more like you. It probably won't work as much you hope. Keep humour to a minimum and respect THEIR culture over yours. You are a guest in their country and if there are translators converting what you say, they may get certain words wrong anyway. Go for a 'Win'. Slow down. Keep it simple. Give a ton of respect and remember the only thing that truly matters is what's in it for THEM. Your content matters in this case as much as your delivery. Run your entire presentation by the organizer or show-runner BEFORE going on stage. It's their event and their audience. If it goes wrong and they okayed everything, it's now on them.

- Research the cultural norms and sensitivities of your audience to avoid any potential misunderstandings or offense. - Use humor that revolves around common experiences such as family, friendships, or everyday mishaps, which are more likely to be relatable regardless of cultural background. - Avoid colloquialisms, idiomatic expressions, or references that may not translate well. - Incorporate visual aids or stories that enhance your humorous points, making them more accessible and engaging. By emphasizing universal themes and maintaining cultural awareness, you can create a humorous and inclusive presentation that resonates with your international audience.

Absolutely. Less is more. Go for absolutely tried and tested material. This might mean adding a little twist to a guaranteed win but a warm speech that doesn't set the house on fire isn't going to burn it to the ground either. Test content overseas with people who live overseas. Get phrases and words that are relevant to yur audience. This is 100% about THEM not you. You get a gig and get paid. they have paid in time, energy or even cash to see you. Respect that reality.

Test your materials by soliciting feedback. If you have a prepared talk and can give it to people who understand the local context in advance for review - do it. If you don't have the speech verbatim but there are topics, you're discussing that you know could have sensitivities try and find resources who will be able to help review your thought process before your talk.

A l'international, l'humour reste strictement lié à la langue utilisée. Est-ce que l'orateur utilise une langue passe-partout comme l'anglais ? Est-ce que l'orateur est en mesure de s'exprimer dans la langue locale? Est-ce que l'orateur prend la parole dans sa propre langue? Chaque langue et son niveau de connaissance devra permettre le recours à un humour capable d'allier les spécificités linguistiques à la culture. Il est indispensable de ne pas se contenter de se faire comprendre, mais d'assimiler les expressions, le ton et même la "couleur" de l'humour que le public connait et s'attend. Cela concerne aussi le non-verbale. La connaissance de la culture, en tout cas, précède la connaissance de la langue.

Consider the story of the fish that's swimming around the world looking for water. His friend says 'What are you doing, it's all around us, we are in it now!' He replies 'That can't be true, it's too obvious.' What stands out as strange to you may not be strange to them and a foreigner who calls attention to it and shames it for being wrong, is actually wrong themselves. Not everybody speaks English. Not everybody wants to either. Bridge gaps and barriers wherever possible offering your spin and respect. Educate and inform but never dictate. Otherwise, you won't get invited back. Unless, you are a controversial stand up comedian, in which case your audience probably know what to expect in advance.

There are often nuances within a certain audience that may differ from the culture at large. Understanding these will allow you to insert humor in a way that not only resonates with the audience but also feels authentic to you. After speaking in more than 50 countries, I've also learned that while certain types of humor and jokes can be difficult to understand when and how to use, stories are often universal. The content of the story may have a natural humor, and the way you tell the story may include humor without "trying" to insert it.