Humor Me – First read a book on humor!
Have you ever sat in a seminar or listened to a speaker try to make a joke that went wrong or was just plain ridiculous, not funny at all, and actually felt embarrassed for them, even glad it wasn’t you who made such a mistake? in concept? I think we all have it, which is why I recommend you learn a little about the basics of humor and the philosophy behind it, as well as the fundamentals, techniques, and most importantly, timing.
If you’re serious about being funny, when it really matters, then you might want to brush up on your skills a bit. Joining Toastmasters is a good idea, don’t get me wrong and overcoming your fear of public speaking is paramount, but telling a good joke at the right time is paramount to effective speaking. Let me recommend a very good book, one that has helped me become a great public speaker:
“The executive handbook of humor for speakersby the Office of Business Practices, 1971.
Now I could say, well, this is for business purposes only, and well, I could say that, but if I did, it would be extremely short. In fact, I’ve given speeches to large groups before on everything from crime to environmental issues. Each time, I found that the words of wisdom in this book had helped me calm the crowd down, put them in a good mood, and open their minds for discussion and dialogue.
When you use good humor, you set a positive tone, and that’s true whether you’re talking to a small group of friends or in front of a TV camera with 40 million potential viewers, so consider this book to help you become a champion of humour.
