Top 7 Fun Ways to Liven up Any Presentation

Most of us would agree that having humor in our lives increases rapport, strengthens our relationships and overcomes communication barriers. People who work in a positive, often playful environment are more likely to stay. Productivity and creativity increase while stress is reduced. We just feel better after a good laugh. Think funny!

1. Open with a humorous story. . I remember the time the
   lights when out and I fell off the stage. I wasn’t hurt and
   quickly said, Now I will take questions from the floor. I’m
   at my best when taking questions in the dark. Before you can
   be funny, you must learn to see funny. Find the humor around
   you, in your life every day. The lady who takes an aisle
   seat rather tan sit next to the window . . . doesn’t want to
   mess up her hair. Practice telling the story out loud, and
   cut out any parts that aren't crucial. As Shakespeare so
   wisely said, "Brevity is the soul of wit."
   
   
2. Use props (candy bars, hats, funny faces, etc.) Props can
   be used as a metaphor or an analogy for a point you are
   introducing. They get your creative juices working while
   providing an anchor for your audience to focus on.
   
   
3. Cartoons use your own or others a picture saves a 1000
   words. Put cartoons on an overhead or use as part of a
   PowerPoint presentation.
   
   
4. Humor - should be relevant to your topic. Tom Peters
   said, I deeply believe in humor; not in jokes. Humor is
   spectacular. Humor relieves anxiety and tension, serves as
   outlet for hostility and anger, and provides a healthy
   escape from reality. It lightens heaviness related to
   critical illness, trauma, disfigurement, and death. It comes
   as no surprise that many people are utilizing humor to deal
   with the trying times. But is the humor timely? Is it
   appropriate?
   
   Do not use ethnic, racist, political or religious jokes.
   Include a joke that helps bring back the attention of the
   audience or as a way to lighten up your remarks. We all can
   use a good laugh from a well timed, funny joke.
   
   
5. Self effacing humor- it is better to admit you made a
   mistake than to admit that you are one. One of my lines as
   a mother of five is: For someone who isn’t Catholic, I sure
   did my share for the pope!
   
   Phyllis Diller is in the Guinness Book of World Records as
   having the most laughs per minute.
   
   A laugh is measured by:
   
   5 points if everyone is laughing and applauding
   
   4 points if everyone is laughing and there's a smattering of applause
   
   3 points if everyone laughs but there's no applause
   
   2 points if some people are laughing
   
   1 point for a titter or giggle
   
   
6. Mime- Marcel Marceau makes us laugh and moves us. Charlie
   Chaplin was an all time great without using the spoken
   word.
   
   
7. Move Your Body Try lifting your nose, look off to the
   side, jut out the bottom of your jaw, and notice how you
   become arrogant or aloof, Take a wide stance, shift your
   hips forward, and now you’ve just gained 50 pounds.
   The use of body movements will help to visually enhance your
   remarks.

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Sandra Schrift 13 year speaker bureau owner and now career coach to emerging and veteran public speakers who want to "grow" a profitable speaking business. I also work with business professionals and organizations who want to master their presentations.

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