You're delivering a speech on resilience. How can you ensure humor adds value and not distraction?

To ensure humor adds value and not distraction in a speech on resilience, use it wisely 🎯. Start with light, relatable jokes that tie into your theme of overcoming challenges 💪. Humor should serve to illustrate key points, making complex ideas more digestible and the message more memorable 🧠. Use it to lighten the mood when discussing tough topics, helping the audience feel more comfortable and engaged 😄. However, balance is key—avoid overloading your speech with jokes, as too much humor can dilute the seriousness of resilience 🌱. Gauge the audience's reactions and be ready to adjust if something doesn’t land as intended.

Think of humor in your speech on resilience like a sprinkle of seasoning—it should enhance the flavor, not overpower the dish. Know your audience: what makes them chuckle, what resonates? Find moments where humor can make a tough topic easier to digest. A light joke or a funny story can be the “breath of fresh air” your audience needs, like a wise saying goes, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” Remember, the goal is to keep them engaged and connected, not lost in a comedy routine. Let humor lighten the load, not derail the journey!

Having a good sense of humour is a key ingredient in being resilient and so humour is especially relevant in a presentation on the subject. The trick is to sprinkle humour thoughout the presentation and use it to bring people back up after any content that is particularly serious or heavy.

Know how to read your audience and how to engage and deliver with suddeen adaptability. Your peripheral vision has to be in tune with your audience.

Before integrating humor into your speech on resilience, it's essential to have a well-thought-out strategy. Start by understanding your audience, what do they find funny, and what humor might resonate with them? Consider the context of your speech and identify natural moments where humor can enhance your message without feeling forced. The key is to use humor to reinforce your points, acting as the "sugar" that helps your message go down smoothly, rather than overshadowing the core content of your speech.

Timing is crucial when incorporating humor into your speech. It’s not just about nailing the punchline, but also about sensing when your audience needs a break. Look for natural pauses where a light-hearted anecdote or witty observation can ease the tension and re-engage your listeners. This approach helps maintain the flow of your narrative on resilience, allowing the humor to support and enhance your message without detracting from the seriousness of the topic.

El tiempo es crucial, pero más importante es el propósito del humor. No debe ser solo un "momento de ligereza"; debe ser el gancho que toma a la audiencia por sorpresa, llevándolos a una reflexión incómoda. Utilizar el humor para "descansar de la intensidad" es un desperdicio si no profundizas en el impacto que puede tener en la narrativa. La verdadera maestría radica en usar la risa para desatar una conciencia renovada, no solo para mantener la atención momentánea.

Early in my stand-up comedy (and speaking) days, I got to be part of a Humor Contest in Boston. When someone asked me how it went, I replied: "Well, I got through 5 minutes of comedy in 3 and 1/2...because I didn't stop for that pesky laughter and applause that usually get in the way!" Basically, I raced through my material...and connected with NO ONE. We also need to remember this in speaking. Think of everything you deliver as a wave that washes from the stage all the way through the entire room. We need to give it time to land before we send the next one. Otherwise, people are following along and...BAM!! Another one disrupts their listening, learning and comprehension. Another lesson I learned the hard way. (aka the best way)

Timing is everything in comedy—especially when my audience starts dozing off. That’s the perfect moment to hit them with some self-deprecating humor, like, "And that’s when I realized, maybe burning the chicken wasn’t my best move."

The relevance of your stories and examples are so important. In one of my resilience presentations I share the story of our near death sailboat accident. In a serious story there are several humorous points such as my husband yelling for help in a low deep voice that sounded like a foghorn. As we are swimming for our lives I was laughing thinking he sounded so funny (he later informed me that my high pitched screams would never reach people on shore. His foghorn calls for help worked. When I tell that learning I show the foghorn call for help and it always breaks up the seriousness to laughter and allows for some key learnings (speak in a way that can be heard, how you say something is the difference between being heard or not, etc)

To ensure that humor adds real value to your speech, it must be relevant to your core theme of resilience. Irrelevant jokes can distract and even confuse your audience, pulling them away from the message you're trying to convey. Instead, use humor as a bridge that connects your personal stories or analogies back to the topic at hand. Think of it like threading a needle, the humor should weave seamlessly through your speech, enhancing and tying together your key points without ever overshadowing them.

For humor to add value, it needs to stay on point with your theme of resilience. Random jokes can confuse or distract, making the audience lose focus. Instead, use humor that ties directly to your message—like a story or analogy that reinforces your key ideas. Imagine humor as the thread that stitches together the fabric of your speech. It should seamlessly connect and strengthen your points, not pull them apart. Remember, humor works best when it brings clarity and keeps everyone engaged, not when it takes them off track.

La relevancia del humor debe ser más que un simple complemento; tiene que ser una herramienta de disrupción. Los chistes no deben ser meros adornos que suavicen el tema, sino provocaciones diseñadas para exponer verdades incómodas. Si tu humor solo sirve para reforzar los puntos que ya has hecho, te estás perdiendo la oportunidad de utilizarlo como un vehículo para desafiar y sacudir las creencias de tu audiencia. Un humor bien aplicado debería incomodar, no solo conectar.

Jokes can be a bit of a minefield. What cracks up one group might fall flat, or worse, offend another. Different cultures, regions, and individual senses of humor can all interpret the same joke in wildly different ways. That's why I think it's smart to use them sparingly. Instead of relying on full-blown jokes, sometimes just a well-timed line like, "I know what you're thinking..." can bring in humor without the gamble. It’s all about using humor as a tool to connect, not distract.

Humor is a muscle, it deserves to be consistently exercised in order to get the best results. I believe this is why some people struggle. They may write or learn a routine...then endlessly repeat it verbatim, never adjusting for an audience that may not be responding. They fail to continue practicing. No two audiences are 100% alike (in my experience). We need to understand that speaking is like a game of volleyball. We send out our energy and message. If the audience 'gets it' they respond with laughter, applause or attention. Do it correctly and the energy increases, the match creates excitement and, at the end, you spike it with your closing. The best part, when you do it right? Everybody wins.

Like any skill, incorporating humor into your speeches takes practice. Start by testing your jokes or humorous anecdotes on friends or colleagues to gauge their reactions. Notice which parts generate genuine laughter and which ones don’t quite hit the mark. Use this feedback to fine-tune your delivery and timing, ensuring that each humorous element effectively enhances your message about resilience. By refining your approach through practice, you'll ensure that your humor not only entertains but also reinforces your core themes.

Practicar el humor no es suficiente si no estás dispuesto a correr riesgos y fallar deliberadamente. El ensayo debe ser un laboratorio para explorar los límites de lo que se considera aceptable o cómodo, no solo una prueba de reacciones. No busques solo risas; busca las respuestas incómodas que revelan dónde puedes empujar más fuerte. La verdadera práctica es enfrentar lo que no funciona y usarlo para construir algo más disruptivo y memorable.

I thought I had a good piece of humor with slides in my TEDx speech. The coach listened and said "why don't you turn those two slides around? show her photograph first, then yours, it's much funnier". It's important to practice, to refine and to get feedback!

Authenticity trumps everything. Humour that is forced will always fall flat. Humour in your presentations should be akin to the humour you use in every day life. Don't try to tell jokes but rather relate stories and examples that are humorous. This way even if you don't get the laughs you hope for, if the content has a point, you don't have to worry about it.

When using humor in your speech, keep it genuine. If a joke feels forced or isn’t true to who you are, it can seem insincere. Your audience can tell when you’re not being yourself, which can weaken your message. Stick to humor that reflects your real personality and experiences. It makes your speech more relatable and memorable, helping you connect better with your audience and reinforce your message about resilience.

Authenticity is key when weaving humor into your speech. If a joke doesn't feel natural to you or aligns with your character, it may come across as forced or insincere. Audiences can sense when something isn’t genuine, which can undermine both your humor and your message about resilience. Stick to humor that reflects your true personality and experiences; this authenticity will resonate with your listeners, making your speech not only funnier but also more sincere and impactful.

La autenticidad en el humor no se trata solo de ser genuino, sino de exponer las partes de ti mismo que normalmente ocultarías. Si te aferras solo a lo cómodo y conocido, tu humor carecerá del filo necesario para resonar verdaderamente. Autenticidad no es seguridad; es ser radicalmente transparente sobre tus propias vulnerabilidades y contradicciones. Un humor que no arriesga nada de tu propia verdad es un humor estéril y predecible.

If certain humorous elements didn’t resonate as expected or caused distractions, take note and adjust for future talks. Resilience isn’t just a theme in your speech; it’s also crucial in your growth as a motivational speaker. Embrace every opportunity to refine your humor, ensuring it continues to uplift and enlighten your audience. By evolving with each experience, you'll make your message even more impactful and engaging.

Aprender de la retroalimentación es clave, pero solo si estás dispuesto a ir más allá de los comentarios superficiales. No se trata de ajustar simplemente lo que no funcionó; es una invitación a cuestionar si el enfoque mismo del humor está alineado con un propósito mayor. La resiliencia como orador no es solo ajustar para obtener más risas, sino usar cada falla como una oportunidad para profundizar en cómo puedes desafiar más audazmente. Sin este nivel de autocrítica, el humor se queda en lo trivial.