Public Speaking - Making it look easy (3)

In my previous posts I shared some ideas on preparing and delivering a public presentation.  But what extra thing can you do to make your presentation buzz? 

Admired speakers are able to use humour in a way that engages their audience in the subject to a surprising degree.  Only recently, I saw the audience of a young speaker responding out loud to his rhetorical questions, so engaged were they in his material.

However, there are some pitfalls to the use of humour; it takes a degree of caution to be able to pull it off without mishap.  There’s nothing worse than a speech full of jokes that misfire!

But do not be discouraged.  The good news is that, with a few simple ground rules, new public speakers can use humour successfully and effectively every time. 

Ground Rule for Humour #1:  Be yourself and be humble

When we are attempting to be funny, there is often the temptation to think and behave as though we are being smart and clever.   Your humour should be a reflection of the real you, not some sophisticated superior you that you imagine you are presenting as.  The reality is, you are more likely to be perceived as a person who is trying to look clever, rather than one who is.  Authenticity is the way to people's hearts, not pretentiousness. In the words of Captain Danielle Strickland, "I have never heard a fantastic sermon delivered by a jerk!"

Ground Rule for Humour #2:  Your funny story must really be funny

Does the story you are telling make you laugh?  If it doesn’t, it is not likely to make your audience laugh.  If there is any doubt don’t use it. 

Ground Rule for Humour #3:  Good delivery is essential

The number of times I have heard a funny story fumbled because the speaker forgot the punch-line or missed out an important detail is too great to think about.  That is the kind of experience that leaves everyone with a moment of cringe.  Be very sure of your material and even practice it and refine it in front of a friend before “going live” with it.  

Other delivery issues to be aware of are:

• It has to sound convincing and real,
• Inject some limited acting into it; voice modulation, gestures and expressions can all add to the power of the story,
• Keep it short.

Ground Rule for Humour #4:  Keep it relevant

Usually, the only reasons for using humour are to:

1.       Illustrate the point you are making in your address, or

2.       As an icebreaker / rapport-builder at the beginning of the speech, or

3.       As an attention grabber or “lightener” when things have got a bit heavy.

If it doesn’t serve one of these goals it probably doesn’t belong in your speech. 

Ground Rule for Humour #5:  Keep it appropriate

Gauging what is appropriate and what is not for a particular audience is important.  If you go too far you will lose their support.  The better you know your audience the more accurately you can assess their sense of appropriateness.  (Be aware that the same audience may have different sense of appropriateness on different occasions.  For example, a more graphic description may be used in a Saturday night fellowship meeting than in a Sunday morning sermon.)

You also need a clear sense of what you consider appropriate and inappropriate.  An expression or turn-of-phrase you may use with family and friends might be considered disrespectful from the platform.  On the other hand don't forsake your authenticity. 

There is never a place for unclean humour, not even in a male-only audience.  Despite many speakers’ behaviour to the contrary, there are many men who do not wish to be exposed to unsavoury humour.  Most likely they will remain silent in your audience, but you will have devalued yourself and your message in their eyes. 

Ground Rule for Humour #6:  It’s OK to have the occasional flop

I once addressed an audience of sergeants and senior officers of the Western Australia police force.  As I got up to speak in my Salvation Army uniform, they all sat looking up at me in their police uniforms.  On the spur of the moment I decided to say as an icebreaker, “I see you all had the same problem as me this morning - couldn’t decide what to wear to the office.”  No one laughed.  Later in the same address, I referred to one of their senior officers (my host) in a humorous way, and again no-one laughed.  One or two further attempts at humour were met with blank stares.

Sometimes, it just doesn’t work – and that’s OK.  (Afterwards, several members of the audience said how helpful the address was and my host apologised for their “stuffiness”.)  The important thing is to move on.  In no circumstances explain your story or apologise for it.  If it didn't work, it didn't work, and that is the end of it. Trying to squirm out of it will only make things worse. 

Ground Rule #7:  Enjoy yourself

I am convinced that humour is a gift of God, the whole idea of which is to help us enjoy our interactions with each other.  Enjoy the humour you inject into your speaking, let it be an expression of your personality, and use it to spread happiness and fun, especially if there is some serious subject matter that you have to get through.

Coming up in Public Speaking – Making it look easy:  Running a Q&A session, responding to objections, hints on preaching from the Bible, and sharing a meaningful testimony.