The Non-Comedian's Guide to Making Jokes in Presentations

Humor is a funny thing… (That’s obvious. Let’s start over.)
So a guy walks onto a stage… (Nope, too cliché.)

There’s nothing like a laugh. And when standing in front of people, presenting an idea, you can wedge your way into their hearts and minds through their funny bone. It works because before your idea can resonate, you need to resonate. You need a vibe, a rapport. People laugh when they’re comfortable. They laugh when they get you. And a comfortable audience who gets you is likely to listen to you and make your ideas real.

It also creates a nice exchange between you and your audience.
They laugh, you’re confident. You’re funny, they’re happy.

Some people nail it. Some people crash and burn. And many of us roam somewhere in between “ha!” and “ugh.”

So is there a formula to humor in presentations? Not exactly, but here’s what you should know:

You Do You. Presenters who embrace their authentic selves and sense of humor are the ones who get funny right. Try-hards and posers don’t, so don’t try too hard, and don’t pose.

Quality Over Quantity. It’s not about the number of laughs; it’s about how many people walk out on your side. Humor helps get your audience to cozy up to you as a person—and then to your idea. Even one helps.

Those are the general guidelines, but there are also some trusty tricks for weaving humor into a presentation.

• Start with a laugh. Loosen up the audience by getting a giggle right off the bat. A quick laugh lets them know that they’re in the hands of a good presenter, or at least a likeable person. Because of that they’ll start to trust that their time won’t be wasted. Once you’ve secured that trust, they’re more likely to be open to what you’ll say next.
• Be self-deprecating. Know yourself. Burn yourself—especially before you burn anyone else. Being a little vulnerable helps people feel closer to you.
• Be balanced. You create more impact with contrast. Change up the mood throughout the presentation by mixing humor with thoughtful or serious insights. It keeps your audience engaged and curious about what’s coming next.
• Am I right? Share relatable tidbits, things they can’t help but laugh at because they get it. Make them want to say, “I get you. You get me. We think the same way.”
• Get personal. Not too personal. But share an occasional story about your own life. A silly anecdote about your childhood or an impression of your kid. You’re human; you want your audience to know that.

Here are five examples of different people who all nail funny in their own ways. Turns out, no matter who you are, if you embrace the tips above, you’ll get a laugh or two.

So, go forth and be funny! You have the essential tools: yourself and a few humor tricks. Remember, if you can make them laugh, you can probably make them think. A touch of humor goes a long way in establishing a bond with your audience. Once you establish that bond, they’ll listen and learn. That’s no joke.

Graphic Credit: Aisling Doyle, Duarte, Inc. 2015
Editorial Contribution: Amanda Holt, Duarte, Inc. 2015

Nancy Duarte is CEO of Duarte, Inc. and the author of Resonate, Slide:ology, and the HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations. She has a passion for teaching others about the power of persuasive presentations to drive change in the world.

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