You're struggling to connect with a disinterested audience. How can you use humor to engage them effectively?

When getting ready to tell jokes, it's important to know your audience's mood and what they might find funny. Start with jokes that are easy for everyone to relate to, like something about the event or a common experience. This helps you see how the crowd reacts without risking offense. Stay away from risky topics or jokes that not everyone might understand. By beginning with safe, light humor, you can test how the audience responds and adjust your style to keep everyone laughing and comfortable.

If your audience seems disinterested using humor can help break the ice and grab their attention. Start by making a light, simple joke that everyone can understand, and is universally relatable . Watch how they react - if they smile or laugh, you know you’re on the right track. If they don’t, avoid forcing any more jokes. The key is to be natural and not overdo it. When you see them responding, you can add more humor, but always keep it kind, inclusive and related to what you’re talking about. Do not try cracking jokes that could offend certain members of the audience. Also understand your audience demographics when using humor. This way, your humor helps your audience feel more connected to you.

Humor can significantly enhance audience engagement during a presentation. Timing is crucial; strategically presenting a humorous cartoon just before a complex slide or at the end of your talk can help relate to your audience and make the content more accessible. Additionally, it might discourage attendees from challenging you during the Q&A session, giving you a strategic edge.

Personal touch can really engage the audience with your talk, especially when you are trying to deliver a complex thought through your presentation, which might keep your audience guessing your talk or making it difficult to understand. Personal anecdotes can really induce interest in the course of conversation, not only in stage talk but also in direct communication with a person.

Sharing personal anecdotes can add humor and make you more relatable, but it’s essential to do it right. Start by choosing a story that genuinely connects with your message—don’t just go for laughs. Focus on the details that make the story engaging and relatable. Timing is key, so practice delivering the punchline for maximum effect. Finally, always tie the story back to your main point, ensuring it reinforces your message rather than distracts from it. With these steps, your humor will feel natural and purposeful, leaving a lasting impact.

This is crucial. I also believe being honest and open, authenticity helps here a lot. If you’re not naturally funny then don’t force it but maybe state the obvious, invite them to chat to their neighbour, to stand up or raise their hands, getting them moving or doing something works well and then if you dare you can joke with them about the vibe of the room. Sometimes if I am speaking at a breakfast and the room feels a bit quieter I’ll say “ok everyone on the count of 3 take a sip of your coffee, 1,2,3!” And they do! And they laugh and it gives them the “let’s get some energy in here” message but still fun and light hearted

Honesty converts! Humour is about connection, and connection is about honesty. Being genuine with your audience creates a space where they feel comfortable enough to laugh and engage. If something isn’t landing, it’s okay to acknowledge it with a bit of self-deprecation, this often wins more respect than pushing forward with a joke that isn’t working. People appreciate honesty because it feels real, and in the end, that’s what converts. When you're flexible, authentic, and responsive to your audience, you create a moment that resonates far beyond the humour itself.