Appropriate Humor in Corporate Presentations

At a Glance

How to tell better stories at work, including 

• Using humor to lighten the mood and build relationships: Commonality is the basis for connection

• When and how to deploy self-deprecation: A masterclass in humanity and humility for the good of your audience courtesy of Jake Gyllenahaal

• A quick breakdown of why humor works: Leave the dry data-dumping to Barb

Hey folks,

Before we get into today’s discussion I wanted to take a moment and acknowledge the passing of my friend and UX industry giant, Tomer Sharon. I had the pleasure of being his friend, colleague and even grad students together at Bentley University. I last spoke to him about 6 months ago. His passing, to me, was sudden and unexpected. I remain shocked and sad and keep his family in my thoughts. 

This newsletter is all about storytelling at work. Why? Because, let’s face it, it’s rare that anyone actually cares about our ideas. However, if we can tell compelling stories about those ideas to our colleagues and stakeholders, they might just listen. 

One tool I use all the time to get folks to pay attention when I’m standing in front of them is humor. Sure, it can be risky. But using it properly can help you land your point effectively. 

Let’s take a look at a couple of ways humor can help you make a bigger impact at work.  

– Jeff

P.S. I'm also excited to share that we are actively offering classes on storytelling for great presentations, we've launched a dedicated Sense & Respond Learning page on LinkedIn, and we're actively seeking Certified Training Partners (more details below).

Article: Appropriate Humor in Corporate Presentations

Have you ever noticed that the best stand-up comics work to win over their audiences? 

They land that perfect joke and you look around and everyone is shaking their head in agreement and laughing out loud. There’s a lot to be learned from stand-up comedy when it comes to telling compelling stories in the workplace. No, I’m not suggesting we all start telling jokes in front of our bosses, but introducing humor into our product pitches, funding requests, and status updates can win over stakeholders and get your request approved. Let’s talk about how to use it effectively. 

Shared circumstances build camaraderie

As leaders, we are in the business of helping our teams and organizations navigate the uncertainty of product development. Inevitably. there will be wins and there will be tough times—along with some hard-earned learnings. It’s these shared circumstances that can be fodder for humor that lightens the mood at your next presentation or meeting. In addition, the recognition that “we’ve all been through this together” brings you closer to the folks in the room—especially if they aren’t too familiar with you. 

Consider that last re-org. How did it go? I’m going to guess that it wasn’t as smooth as everyone hoped. Or the previous product launch? Sure, we shipped it, but the frenzy beforehand likely made for some late nights, last minute decisions, and raucous post-launch celebrations. 

As you get up in front of your next meeting or formal presentation, consider your audience. Did they share these experiences with you? If they were there, did they feel similarly to you? If so, you can acknowledge that it happened—along with all the awkwardness and stress it entailed— and use it as a point of contrast to the pitch you’re about to make. You’ve just broken the ice and endeared yourself to your audience (today, the boardroom, tomorrow the stage at Laugh Factory). 

Jerry Seinfeld is a master of observational comedy. The majority of his jokes are based on shared circumstances. All of us (in the US and over the age of 45, at least) have looked at a can of Ovaltine and wondered why a product with the word “oval” in it is stored in a round can. “Shouldn’t it be called Roundtine?” Jerry asks. Perhaps your funny segment isn’t about a can of chocolate drink mix, but rather about the last time the company tried the thing you’re about to pitch, how that went, and how this time it will be different. 

Of course, this approach comes with risk, depending on who is in the room with you. If the shared circumstance you choose to recount was caused by someone there, you’ll want to tread carefully. Your goal isn’t to offend, but rather to build some rapport with your colleagues before making your pitch. So, instead of, “Oh boy, John really messed up that last product launch didn’t he? Barb, you were there!” you may opt for, “Our product launches, including several of the ones I’ve led, haven’t exactly gone off without a hitch—remember the last iPhone app?” 

Self-deprecating humor shows humility and humanity

That last example captures another way you can work humor into your business storytelling. Self-deprecating humor helps show your teams—especially those who report to you—that you are both humble and human. You’ve already got the stage, the microphone, and the focus of the room. Your expertise is expected. What many folks don’t anticipate is a dose of humanity in business presentations. When it appears you both disarm and connect with the audience. That makes them more open to hearing your story and following through with the request you make of them at the end. 

For example, as a new leader you might introduce yourself to your team with a bit of autobiographical insight. “I’m thrilled to be your new team leader. I also said this to my last team 18 months ago, and look how that turned out.” You immediately show that you’re not infallible—that you’ve made some mistakes and learned from them and that you’re going to bring those insights to this new situation. It also opens up the opportunity to tell them a bit more about yourself before jumping into the changes you’re hoping to make in this new position. 

Here’s a great, short video of Jake Gyllenhaal on Jimmy Fallon talking about his failed audition for the Lord of the Rings. He’s a highly respected movie star, yet he instantly humanizes himself with stories about failed auditions and the size of his feet. :-) 

Humor makes better stories

The goal of storytelling at work is to move an initiative forward through a series of requests. The better your story, the higher the chance of getting your request to happen. Humor breaks down the barrier between audience and listener. If you can channel shared circumstances with your into a way to make your audience feel closer to you or poke fun at yourself, your story is instantly more engaging. Use humor where it makes sense and do so sparingly. After all, this isn’t Laugh Factory.

What I’ve been up to

I want to tell you about all the exciting things I’ve been up to in the last month, but the reality is that Josh Seiden and I are heads-down building Sense & Respond Learning. Our Certified Training Partners are starting to pop up around the world and we’re actively looking for more folks who want to grow their business with us and teach our material. If you’re interested or want to learn more, just hit reply to this email or fill out this form. 

We’ve also had a ton of fun putting our new storytelling class through its paces. As with any product, it’s never perfect out of the gate but we’ve been lucky to have a couple of clients let us trial the class with them. Reviews have been super positive and we’re having a great time teaching it. If you feel like your team could benefit from a short, practical course in business storytelling let me know.

Watch, Listen, Read

Watch: The Righteous Gemstones (Season 4) – Max – I love this show about a whacky famous evangelical family vying for control of their vast empire and trying not to ruin it along the way. It’s a dark comedy that is superbly written and acted.

Listen: Don Henley, The End of the Innocence – Went down the rabbit hole of this 1989 monster of an album. Don, after writing and playing some of the biggest songs ever with The Eagles (as their drummer!) then just happens to create one of the best pop-rock records of the 20th century. There are at least 5 top 10 hits on this record. It’s such a great listen, front to back. 

Read: Nothing particularly good… - Normally I’ve got a good book to recommend or at least one I’m not yet convinced about. This month, however, everything I’ve picked up has not been for me. What are you reading? I need a good book.

What’s new on the blog

5 So What’s instead of 5 Why’s - The 5 Whys uncover root causes, but to understand potential impacts, ask 'So what?' This focuses on future outcomes, aligning work with broader goals and ensuring efforts contribute to key results and business growth.

The Hidden Costs of OKRs: When goal-setting becomes a burden - OKRs can be valuable, but when applied universally they risk becoming a burden. This blog highlights three key pitfalls: forcing OKRs on routine tasks, using them for low-risk work, and implementing them without a clear purpose, leading to inefficiencies and disengagement.