Carrying on from my last post critiquing Jeffrey Gitomer’s “Getting Your Way ~ How to Speak, Write, Present, Persuade, Influence, and Sell Your Point of View To Others” let’s discuss whether humour in presentations is acceptable.
Gitomer suggests that humour is appropriate while working with all levels of an organization and believes that it is the tie that bonds us. He suggests that behaving professionally does allow for a few guffaws.
Are you writhing at your computer screen right now remembering awful, poorly executed jokes that you have been subjected to? Or remembering feeling uncomfortable because the speaker did not consider the audience and missed the mark around appropriate humour?
Sucheta Misra
Associate VP Inclusion & Diversity and Social Impact Leader
Using humour as part of your presentation strategy is a fine balancing act not to be taken lightly. There is nothing more rewarding than listening and learning through well executed jokes and stories. Deep learning happens when the experience is enjoyable. But when the jokes and humour bomb, it’s not pretty.
How do you ensure that you don’t go down the Rodney Dangerfield road of “Getting no respect?”
Easy in concept but hard work to get exactly right: “Know your audience!” Profile them until you understand the who, what, where, and why of their being. Get to know them intimately. Tools like Meyers Briggs are a starting point. Only from that place of knowledge will you be able to execute “on the mark” humour.
My experience tells me that not all audiences appreciate humour – I can think of a few board situations where it was not welcomed. I often agree with Gitomer but this time I will respectfully disagree.
Move wisely and well armed.
You want some respect don’t you?
To your voice,
Janice
