Have you ever wondered if you really need to add humor to your business presentations, keynotes, or conference talks?

Maybe you think, I’m just here to share valuable information - why should I try to be funny? 

Well, in this episode, I’m joined by our lead speaking coach, Diane Diaz, to show you exactly why humor isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s a must-have.

We’re diving into how to use humor effectively in your talks, without forcing corny jokes (unless that’s your thing!).

From situational storytelling to physical comedy, sarcasm, self-deprecating humor, and even well-placed memes and GIFs, we cover it all.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why humor makes your audience feel more connected and engaged

• How to plan humor in your talk (even if you don’t think you’re funny)

• The power of physical comedy as a speaker

• Diane’s hilarious story about her mom teaching her to be a petty thief

• The one type of self-deprecating humor to avoid

 

Even if you don’t consider yourself a comedian, there are so many ways to add humor that feel natural and authentic to you. Your audience will thank you - and they’ll definitely remember you!

Action Step: The next time you’re working on a presentation, pick one of the humor techniques we talk about and try incorporating it. Let us know how it goes!

You’ll also want to watch the video version at https://youtu.be/nVDRqerIlxQ. 

We’ve included funny clips from stand-up comedians and sitcoms to illustrate our points - you won’t want to miss them!

This episode was filmed in one of the beautiful studios on the campus of Full Sail University, where Diane and I have been teaching business and marketing classes since 2009.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/426/ 

Watch the video of this episode at https://youtu.be/nVDRqerIlxQ

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ 

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

• Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 376: Use the Secrets of Comedy for Better Storytelling and Delivery in Your Talks

• Episode 422: How to Create a 10-Out-of-10 Keynote that Leaves Your Audience in Awe