Adding Humor to Your Presentation
Jim Snack
3/2/20211 min read


Adding Humor to Your Presentation
by Jim Snack
Humor is a valuable tool for establishing a climate conducive to learning in a classroom. Appropriate and timely humor in your program can foster mutual openness and respect and contribute to overall communication effectiveness. Humor can take many forms, including:
· jokes
· riddles
· puns
· funny stories
· humorous comments
· cartoons
· top ten lists
· comic verse
Here are two simple ways to use humor in a presentation:
To Introduce Yourself - Use a top ten list to introduce yourselves to the participants, "top ten things you should know about your presenter"
As an ice breaker or to reduce stress and facilitate creativity - Have participants share their "goofiest moment as a _________."
Keep in mind threee things when you add humor to your program:
· Humor is most effective when it is appropriate to the situation and reflects the personality of the presenter.
· The appropriate use of humor is a powerful tool to build a sense of community, promote creativity, and reduce conflict. Judicious use of humor by the presenter sets people at ease and reduces the inherent inequity of the status relationship
· In contrast, inappropriate use of humor creates a hostile learning environment that quickly stifles communication and self-esteem.
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Jim Snack
Leadership Communication
Averill Park, NY
(518) 360-2423
jim@jimsnack.com