Hold that joke!
June 17th 2008 12:44
Conventional wisdom is that great presentations should start with a joke. In fact, that can be the toughest start for you -- and your audience.
A Harvard Business Review Article, "Five Winning Ways to Begin a Presentation", cautions against starting with humour. The article is ten years old now, but that point has stayed with me.
Three main reasons not to start with a joke:
1. Even the highest paid comedians will have a significant percentage of their jokes fall flat on a given gig. So why would we amateurs attempt it in that all important first 30 seconds?
2. Jokes often take a while to process. When you're speaking, a pause in the response from the audience feels ten times as long. So, even if they do laugh, it's often very half-hearted and delayed. Meanwhile, your confidence has plummetted.
3. Most jokes are exclusionary. (Ever played that party game where you try to think of a joke that wouldn't offend anyone). And rule #1 of presenting is to win your audience over from the start, not get them offside.
Start with a story instead
A good alternative is to tell a story. Perhaps a story about how you became interested in this subject. Just last month, I saw a presenter hook his audience at 3.30pm on a long Friday afternoon. What was his topic -- occupational health and safety? Yep, we were all ready to flip open our laptops and surrepticiously check email. But he started with a story. He described how, as a young employee, he'd driven out to a job in the country and been asked to spray with agricultural chemicals. He read the label and found out about the dangers of using that product without a mask. When he asked for protective equipment, he was told to leave. Now he works for a major coroporation in OH&S. He told us -- I care about this topic, because basically it saves lives, and that life could be your's or mine. This is someone who, from a young age, had the courage of his convictions. So, yep, we sat up and listened for the full 30 minute presentation.
Image is from Harvard Business Review article archives.
A Harvard Business Review Article, "Five Winning Ways to Begin a Presentation", cautions against starting with humour. The article is ten years old now, but that point has stayed with me.
The #1 tip I still recall from this article, ten years on
Three main reasons not to start with a joke:
1. Even the highest paid comedians will have a significant percentage of their jokes fall flat on a given gig. So why would we amateurs attempt it in that all important first 30 seconds?
2. Jokes often take a while to process. When you're speaking, a pause in the response from the audience feels ten times as long. So, even if they do laugh, it's often very half-hearted and delayed. Meanwhile, your confidence has plummetted.
3. Most jokes are exclusionary. (Ever played that party game where you try to think of a joke that wouldn't offend anyone). And rule #1 of presenting is to win your audience over from the start, not get them offside.
Start with a story instead
A good alternative is to tell a story. Perhaps a story about how you became interested in this subject. Just last month, I saw a presenter hook his audience at 3.30pm on a long Friday afternoon. What was his topic -- occupational health and safety? Yep, we were all ready to flip open our laptops and surrepticiously check email. But he started with a story. He described how, as a young employee, he'd driven out to a job in the country and been asked to spray with agricultural chemicals. He read the label and found out about the dangers of using that product without a mask. When he asked for protective equipment, he was told to leave. Now he works for a major coroporation in OH&S. He told us -- I care about this topic, because basically it saves lives, and that life could be your's or mine. This is someone who, from a young age, had the courage of his convictions. So, yep, we sat up and listened for the full 30 minute presentation.
Image is from Harvard Business Review article archives.
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Comment by theroderickpost
Comment by Naomi Paul
Business Scoop
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Comment by nobordersguide
Researchers found that when you use um and arr the audience's attention can be regathered (if they drifted off). The reason behind is that continuous words can lose one's attention, saying umm in sentences can sometimes get the attention of one's attention. It's like a que to say' hey I'm about to say something different!'
But like all things in life use it in moderation
Comment by Naomi Paul
Business Scoop
Speech Starter
Melbourne For Kids