Tag: public speaking skills

Recipes for a Humorous But Effective Corporate Presentation

audience engagement

humor in presentations

presentation tips

public speaking skills

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speech communication

Jul 24, 2015

Speakers with the innate ability to insert humor into presentations effectively engage and entertain people. While not everyone is a natural at funny yet effective speeches, you can still bring that therapeutic feeling to your audience.

Your clients already have enough problems to deal with outside your corporate presentation. Give them some reprieve by injecting a little humor into your presentation while proving that you’re the answer to their needs. You don’t have to make fun of yourself to give your presentation an ice breaker.

Speech coach Avish Parashar suggests five steps to adding humor to your presentation. Once you’ve identified what tickles the listener’s funny bone, it’s time to put these into action by incorporating a few techniques. We’ve borrowed three of his humor basics and expounded on them below:
[sg-blog-modules module=three]

Wordplay

Wordplay is wittily substituting words that sound similar but mean different things. Play with words to lighten up your discussion.

Popular food bloggers and book authors Janet and Greta Podleski are masters of this literary technique. They always use wordplay in their cookbook and recipe titles, such as “Eat, Shrink, and Be Merry” instead of “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry,” “Lord of the Wings,” “Nacho. Nacho. Man,” and “Another One Bites the Crust.”

Even the most serious audiences get tired of straight data, especially in hours-long presentations. Have pun making your audiences smile for even a second. They’ll appreciate the brief reprise from word-heavy slides and complicated numbers. Memorable and witty words also make them remember your story better.

Puns

Puns lie within the realm of wordplay. They’re done by connecting different ideas in a way where the words are deliberately confused with each other. Talking about an intricate financial report? Try this joke: “A bank manager without anyone around may find himself a-loan.”

Puns aren’t limited to those already made by other people. Experiment and make your own puns that fit your presentation’s message. Some of the best marketing campaigns used terrible puns. They may elicit some groans, but let’s face it: they’re easy to remember, which is great at making your audience remember you after the presentation is over.

Exaggeration

Advertisers exaggerate ideas to attract consumers, making things ridiculously humorous while empowering brand images. Exaggeration delivers a product pitch while at the same time catching your viewers’ attention because of how over-the-top you can get.

Most people don’t talk about a typical day at the office, but they do talk about bizarre incidents. Present an idea in ways that are so unusual that audiences will be compelled to remember and talk about it outside of the conference room.

Conclusion

Presentations aren’t meant to be boring. The more monotone you get, the more likely your audience will tune you out.

Mix things up and engage your audience by putting some comic elements into your speech. Whether you use clever wordplay, puns, or exaggerate ideas, a more humorous delivery is often more memorable than a straight-faced presentation.

Let SlideGenius help you with your presentation needs. Give us a call at 1-858-217-5144 or submit a form to request a free quote today!

 
[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References

“Incorporating Humor into a Presentation.” SlideGenius, Inc. August 15, 2013. Accessed May 14, 2015.
Parashar, Avish. “5 Ways to Add Humor to Your Presentations Without Being a Comedian.” Speak and Deliver. June 16, 2011. Accessed May 14, 2015.

Frank Sinatra: Make Your PowerPoint Presentations Sing

Frank Sinatra

performance skills

Powerpoint

presentation tips

public speaking skills

Rick Enrico Blog

May 12, 2015

You don’t have to be a singer to make your PowerPoint presentations sing. Just hone your public speaking skills to go with your deck, and you’re set for a winning performance. Emulating famous artists can teach you how to better influence people.

In one of his articles, public speaking guru Garr Reynolds cites Frank Sinatra, one of the greatest entertainers of the twentieth century, as an example of somebody we can learn from for pitching techniques.

[sg-blog-modules module=three]

When asked in The Playboy Interview: Music Men what his secret towards successful performances was, Sinatra says, “I think it’s because I get an audience involved, personally involved in a song—because I’m involved myself.” Sinatra believed that getting an audience requires reaching out with total honesty, humility, and adaptability to changes, and he put it into action in his performances.

Let’s dig more into these virtues and how you can use them to enhance your sales pitch.

Present with Genuine Honesty

According to Reynolds, Sinatra’s authenticity attributed his success to the music industry.

Frank Sinatra’s simpatico image is his key for developing rapport with his listeners. When he performs, he sings with his heart—his emotions genuinely reflecting the song’s meaning.

We can’t build relationships without honesty. As a speaker, establish credibility to capture your audience’s attention. A truthful and authentic presentation approach moves your audience and lets them savor your message’s every nuance.

Deliver with Unassuming Humility

It’s important to depict confidence while presenting, but humility also goes a long way. This doesn’t require you to sound clever. It only takes a few humble acts to suggest maturity and professionalism.

In Frank Sinatra’s case, he kept himself collected and confident without going overboard. In his live performances, he used simple movements and natural body language to amuse his audience. Notice his cool reactions when his friends tried to mock him offstage. Now that’s humility.

Body language exudes confidence and project an image that your audience can relate to.

Adapt to Changing Times

Another factor that made Sinatra a remarkable artist was his ability to successfully adapt his music to changing times.

Despite the post-war changes brought by World War I and World War II, he was able to create music that remained relevant to the times. He even changed his singing style to keep up with the changing world of music.

This same principle applies in today’s business, specifically when it comes to giving presentations. You have to adapt to technological advancements and newest trends to satisfy your audience’s needs. Since majority of people now are visual learners, giving them eye-catching visuals like infographics and videos is a great way to make information more digestible.

—

If you need a model for getting involved with your audience, look no further.

Let Frank Sinatra’s authentically honest and humble performance skills guide you while you craft your PowerPoint presentation and deck.

Involving yourself and your audience with your speech is a good start to building trust. Express yourself with authenticity and honesty to establish an emotional and intellectual rapport. Maintain humility and keep confidence in perspective to constantly impress people. Keep up with the world’s many changes to make your content fit your audience.

Follow these tips and you’re sure to get presentations that’ll have your audience singing praises.

[sg-blog-modules module=two]

References:

“Communication lessons from Frank Sinatra, 1963.” Presentation Zen. October 2, 2014. Accessed May 8, 2015.
Enrico, Rick. “Go Visual: Use Infographics to Give Your Business Pitch Maximum Impact.” Piktochart Infographics. October 1, 2015. Accessed May 8, 2015.
“Longform Reprints: Playboy Interview: Frank Sinatra by Joe Hyams.” Longform. Accessed May 8, 2015.
Sinatra Live You Make Me Feel So Young. YouTube. Accessed May 8, 2015.

Featured Image: “The Frank Sinatra Show” from Wikipedia

The Best Medicine: 5 Tips on How You Can Give Humorous Presentations

audience engagement

presentation humor

presentation tips

public speaking skills

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius Blog

speech communication

Jun 10, 2014

Humor can be a powerful tool in presentations. It helps break the ice, engage your audience, and make your message more memorable. However, incorporating humor into a presentation requires balance, as poorly timed or inappropriate jokes can distract or alienate your audience. When done right, humor can add energy and levity to your talk, making your key points stick.

Here are five tips on how to give a humorous presentation while maintaining professionalism and delivering your message effectively.

1. Know Your Audience

The key to using humor in a presentation is understanding your audience. Tailor your jokes or humorous anecdotes to suit their interests, preferences, and cultural norms. What might be funny to one group could be confusing or offensive to another, so take time to assess who you’re speaking to.

How to Do It:

  • Research Your Audience: Know the demographics of your audience—age, profession, industry, and cultural background. Humor that resonates with younger professionals may differ from that which appeals to senior executives.
  • Stay Relevant: Ensure that your humor is related to the presentation’s topic and relevant to your audience’s experiences.
  • Test Your Jokes: If possible, try out your jokes on a few colleagues or friends to gauge their reactions. Make sure the humor comes across the way you intend it to.

Example:

For a presentation to a group of healthcare professionals, lighthearted jokes about the quirks of medical training or patient interactions could resonate, while industry jargon-based humor may be confusing for a non-specialized audience.

2. Use Humor to Support Your Message

Humor should complement, not distract from, the core message of your presentation. Use jokes, funny anecdotes, or humorous visuals to reinforce your key points rather than overshadow them. Well-placed humor can make complex or dry subjects more engaging and easier to remember.

How to Do It:

  • Tie Humor to Key Points: Incorporate humor where it naturally fits, especially when making transitions between sections or introducing complex ideas. It can help break down barriers and make difficult content more accessible.
  • Use Relatable Situations: Jokes or stories drawn from everyday work experiences can make your audience feel more connected to your message.
  • Keep It Simple: Avoid overly complex humor that takes too long to set up. Quick, simple jokes or quips are easier to weave into your narrative.

Example:

If you’re presenting on project management challenges, you might use a humorous meme or quote about the unpredictability of deadlines to introduce the importance of time management.

3. Balance Humor and Seriousness

While humor can make your presentation more enjoyable, it’s important not to overdo it. Too much humor can dilute your message and make you seem unprofessional. Find a balance by incorporating humor in moderation and maintaining a tone that’s appropriate for your topic.

How to Do It:

  • Limit the Jokes: Focus on quality over quantity. A few well-timed jokes will have a greater impact than constant attempts at humor, which can quickly become tiresome.
  • Maintain Professionalism: Ensure that your humor doesn’t undermine the serious aspects of your presentation. Keep the tone light, but transition smoothly back to your core message when necessary.
  • Use Humor as a Breather: If your presentation covers complex or technical material, humor can serve as a way to give your audience a mental break before diving back into the main content.

Example:

During a technical presentation about cybersecurity, you might make a light joke about how your grandparents handle online passwords, but quickly transition back to the importance of robust security measures for businesses.

4. Leverage Visual Humor

Sometimes, a funny image, meme, or visual can have a greater impact than a spoken joke. Visual humor can quickly convey a message without interrupting the flow of your presentation, and it can add an extra layer of engagement for visual learners in your audience.

How to Do It:

  • Use Memes or Cartoons: A well-placed meme or cartoon related to your topic can add humor without distracting from the content.
  • Create Funny Comparisons: Use side-by-side comparisons of unexpected or exaggerated visuals to illustrate a point humorously.
  • Animate Your Slides: Subtle animations or transitions can create a humorous effect without disrupting the presentation’s flow.

Example:

If you’re discussing the challenges of multitasking, you could show a funny cartoon of a person juggling way too many tasks at once, followed by a transition into how your solution simplifies work processes.

5. Be Authentic and Spontaneous

Forced humor rarely works. Being yourself, relaxed, and spontaneous often leads to more genuine and relatable humor. Audiences appreciate authenticity, and humor that reflects your own personality is more likely to resonate.

How to Do It:

  • Stay True to Your Style: Don’t try to imitate someone else’s comedic style—use humor that feels natural to you.
  • React to the Moment: If something funny happens during the presentation (like a minor tech glitch or unexpected audience reaction), acknowledge it with a light-hearted comment. This shows you can think on your feet.
  • Don’t Be Afraid to Laugh at Yourself: Self-deprecating humor, when done right, can make you seem approachable and humble.

Example:

If your clicker stops working mid-presentation, instead of panicking, you could make a quick joke like, “It seems my clicker needs more coffee than I do!” before smoothly continuing with your talk.

Final Thoughts

Humor is a powerful tool when used correctly in presentations, but it requires a thoughtful approach. By knowing your audience, tying humor to your key points, balancing lighthearted moments with serious content, and staying authentic, you can deliver a presentation that is both engaging and informative. Remember, the goal of humor in presentations is not just to entertain but to enhance your message and connect with your audience on a deeper level.