How to Use Humour in Public Speaking - Without Forcing It
Many people like the idea of using humour in a presentation - until they imagine delivering a punchline and being met with complete silence.
Fortunately, humour in public speaking doesn't have to involve telling jokes. It might be a light observation, an unexpected comment or a story about something that happened to you.
Used naturally, humour can help you connect with your audience and make your message more memorable. The key is choosing something that suits you, your audience and the point you're making.
Humour doesn’t need to be scripted. Often, it comes from responding to what is happening in the room.
Humour and joke-telling are not the same thing
You don't need to become a comedian to bring humour into a speech or presentation. In fact, a prepared joke can create unnecessary pressure: you build towards the punchline, deliver it and wait for the audience to laugh.
A lighter, more conversational approach is usually easier - and often more effective.
Know your audience
Humour is very dependent on context. Something that works well with one audience may fall flat, or feel inappropriate, with another.
For example, you might make a light reference to a television programme you watched growing up. If much of your audience is too young to remember it, the reference won't mean anything to them.
A simple audience analysis can help you decide what is likely to connect and what may be misunderstood.
Before using humour, consider:
What does this audience have in common?
Will they understand the reference?
Does the occasion allow for humour?
Could anyone feel singled out or uncomfortable?
This is particularly important in workplace presentations, where audiences may include different cultures, age groups and levels of seniority.
If you would like some help thinking this through, download my free Audience Analysis Checklist.
Be careful with self-deprecating humour
Making yourself the subject of a light-hearted story can help you appear human and approachable. However, self-deprecating humour isn't automatically the safest option.
There is a difference between laughing at an everyday mishap and repeatedly undermining your own expertise. If you are presenting a recommendation, seeking funding or speaking to senior leaders, humour that questions your competence may weaken your message.
Aim for self-aware rather than self-diminishing. You can acknowledge an awkward moment without making yourself appear incapable.
Choose the subject carefully
Current events can make a presentation feel timely, but they can also create unnecessary risk. Avoid humour involving sensitive personal matters, politics, religion, stereotypes or anything that could divide the room.
Humour at the expense of an audience member is particularly risky. Even if that person laughs, others may feel uncomfortable or wonder whether they could be next.
When you're unsure, leave it out. Your audience should remember your message, not an ill-judged comment.
Keep the humour relevant
Humour works best when it helps you make your point. Adding something funny simply to get a laugh can feel forced and distract from the presentation.
A useful test
If nobody laughed, would this story or observation still help me communicate my message?
If the answer is yes, the humour is supporting your presentation rather than interrupting it.
This is also a useful test for opening a presentation. A humorous opening should give the audience a reason to listen and lead naturally into the subject, rather than operate as a separate warm-up joke.
Allow space for the audience to respond
If your humour gets a laugh, don't rush into your next sentence. Pause and allow the audience time to respond.
This can feel longer to you than it does to them. Continuing too quickly means people may miss your next point while they are still laughing.
Mark the pause when you practise, just as you would mark any other important pause in your presentation.
Look for humour in everyday experiences
Some of the most natural humour comes from ordinary moments. A small mishap, misunderstanding or unexpected comment can become a useful story when it connects with your message.
I was once delivering a talk about networking and wanted to emphasise what to do when you arrive at an event and don't know anyone.
I told the story how at one event, I scanned the room and couldn't see anyone I knew. Everyone else appeared to be standing in groups, so I held my cup of coffee and tried to look warm, friendly and open to conversation.
Eventually, a colleague waved me over and introduced me to the people around him.
"We felt sorry for you standing over there," he said. "You looked like you were waiting for your Tinder date to arrive."
It wasn't quite the image I had been trying to create.
The story got a laugh, but it also reinforced my point: when you stand alone and try to look occupied, other people may interpret your body language very differently.
The humour worked because the incident was genuine, the audience could picture it and the story led directly back to the message.
What if nobody laughs?
Sometimes a humorous comment won't get the response you expected. The audience may not understand the reference, the timing may be off or they may simply be more reserved than another group.
Stay composed and continue with your presentation. Avoid explaining the humour, apologising or repeatedly trying to recover the laugh. If the story still makes a useful point, it has continued to serve its purpose.
You can reflect afterwards on whether the humour suited the audience and whether you would use it again.
Keep it natural
You don't need a presentation filled with funny stories. One light, relevant moment may be enough to help the audience connect with you and remember your message.
Choose humour that sounds like you. Practise enough to become comfortable with the wording and timing, while allowing it to remain conversational.
The aim is to support your message, rather than turn the presentation into a performance.
Would you like to feel more confident about how your presentation will land?
In one-to-one presentation coaching, we can refine your content, practise your delivery and make sure elements such as humour and storytelling support the message you want your audience to remember.
Frequently asked questions
-
Usually, no. A prepared joke can feel disconnected from your subject and creates pressure to get an immediate laugh. If you use humour in your opening, choose a relevant observation or story that leads naturally into your message.
-
Yes. You don't need to tell jokes. A relatable experience, an unexpected detail or a light observation can add warmth without requiring a comedian's delivery.
-
It can be, when it involves a minor and relatable experience. Avoid humour that calls your competence, authority or recommendation into question - particularly when speaking to clients or senior leaders.
-
Remain composed and continue. Don't explain the humour or apologise for it. Afterwards, consider whether the reference, audience or delivery affected the response.
