Welcome
Welcome to this month's edition of People Matter, produced by CustomerClix.
Firstly, a very big thank you to the fabulous Carl Semmelroth, PhD, Clinical Psychologist and author of The Anger Habit series of books for contributing articles to the last few editions of People Matter; his contributions have been much appreciated. Click here to view one of his books 'The Anger Habit: Proven Principles to Calm the Stormy Mind'.
Secondly, do join us on the evening of Thu 22nd Sep 2011 in Central London for a Charity Stand Up Comedy Night for my late Dad. Every penny raised will go towards the The Stanley Crosby Breath of Life Tribute Fund for the British Lung Foundation, to aid vital research into lung disease. We do hope that you will be able to attend the event to mingle, have fun and laugh, but, if you can't make it, any contributions to the Fund would be very gratefully received. Thank you.
With warmest wishes, as ever
Kim Crosby
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How to win your audience with bomb proof humour
Humour is one of the most powerful skills you can employ as a public speaker, presenter or meeting chairperson. Humour warms up your audience, holds their attention, uplifts their spirits and makes your message more memorable. Funny stories or illustrations can also reinforce important points and make your audience more receptive to your ideas.
Despite its value, humour is one of the most intimidating skills to tackle as a novice speaker.
There is a big difference between the expectations audiences have for comedians delivering a stand up act versus motivational speakers who use humour selectively and effectively to enhance their messages. The pressure is on the comedian to consistently deliver one gag after another but, if one falls short, it is glaringly obvious. The motivational speaker, on the other hand, is not expected to deliver a steady stream of belly laughs. In other words, with the comedian, the focus is comedy. With the motivational speaker, the focus is the message, hopefully enhanced with humour. This is why the entertaining speaker is in demand.
Laughter not required
Bomb proof humour is a speech organisation strategy in which important points are so skilfully reinforced with funny stories and analogies that the humour supports the premises of these points – regardless of whether it gets any laughs. When humour makes a point, it adds value and has merit independent of its perception as funny. Accordingly, the premise of bomb proof humour is simple: If your audience doesn’t know you are telling a joke, how can it bomb? Keep in mind that an audience can be entertained without laughing out loud. Smiles are always welcome!
The five rules of bomb proof humour:
Firstly, don’t announce: Telling the audience that you are reminded of a funny story, or that a funny thing happened to you on the way to the meeting, defuses humour’s most powerful advantage – the element of surprise. It focuses attention on the joke rather than your message, increases the pressure to deliver and sets you up to possibly bomb.
Secondly, reinforce the key points: Humour that reinforces an important point of your speech is an extension of the first rule, in that is seems like a logical continuation of the message and thus preserves the element of surprise. Such stories also contribute value, whether or not they get laughs. Conversely, humour that serves no useful purpose in your speech detracts from your message and calls attention to itself... setting up the possibility of bombing.
Thirdly, make it believable: Humour is more effective when it blends in and supports your message. Again, this premise is an extension of the first two rules, in that a believable story seems like a logical continuation of your speech and thus preserves the element of surprise. Conversely, if you resort to slapstick or obvious comedy, there’s an increased pressure to deliver a funny line.
Fourthly, avoid weak material. This may seem obvious, but there are many pitfalls when attempting humour. To improve your odds of success, you should avoid the following:
* Lengthy jokes;
* Jokes about physical defects;
* Puns (they usually elicit groans);
* Off colour stories;
* Ethnic / sexist jokes;
* Put down humour;
* Inside jokes;
* Politically incorrect humour.
Self-deprecating humour is the highest form of levity, because it puts your audience at ease and signals that you are comfortable and secure, and don’t take yourself too seriously. Plus when you can laugh at yourself, you’ll never run out of material. Personal stories seem authentic, helping preserve the element of surprise that makes humour effective.
Fifthly, practice, practice, practice: An unrehearsed joke can set you up to bomb, and you could also forget the punch line, further adding to your embarrassment. For example, a minister planned to use this joke in his Mother’s Day sermon: ‘Some of the happiest moments of my life were spent in the arms of another man’s wife... my Mother!’ This is indeed a clever line, but the minister did not rehearse it and, on the occasion of his sermon, he forgot the punch line – ‘my Mother!’. You can imagine the look on his wife’s face! Practice leads to smooth, confident delivery and no blown punch lines!
This five step humour strategy eliminates bombing and thus eliminates the fear of using humour, so what do you have to lose? When studied and applied, bomb proof humour turns you from being someone who tells a few jokes into an entertaining speaker. Learn this proven humour formula and leave the joke telling to the stand up comedians.
Source: How to win your audience with bomb proof humour, p8-9, Toastmaster magazine, Aug 2011, Toastmasters International
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Poet’s Corner: As Summer into Autumn Slips
Those of you that have attended our public speaking training sessions know the importance of working with words to craft compelling speeches. So, each month, we feature a topical poem or passage that illustrates this point, using lyrical English. This month's is 'As Summer into Autumn Slips' by American poet, Emily Elizabeth Dickinson:
As Summer into Autumn slips
And yet we sooner say
"The Summer" than "the Autumn," lest
We turn the sun away,
And almost count it an Affront
The presence to concede
Of one however lovely, not
The one that we have loved --
So we evade the charge of Years
On one attempting shy
The Circumvention of the Shaft
Of Life's Declivity.
As Summer into Autumn Slips, Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (1830-1886), American poet
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Quotations
I'll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure, Mae West (1892-1980), US movie actress
There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart, Celia Thaxter (1835-1894), US poet, storyteller
You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it, Robin Williams (1951-), US actor & comedian
If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think, Oprah Winfrey (1954-), US actress & television talk show host
Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it, Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC), Chinese philosopher & reformer
And if your birthday is in September...
Birthstone: Saphire
A maiden born when Autumn leaves
Are rustling in September's breeze
A saphire on her brow should bind
'Twill cure diseases of the mind
Anonymous
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Volunteering: The British Lung Foundation
Many people do much for worthy causes. Thus, every month, we will feature an organisation that requires volunteers and / or other forms of help to assist those that are vulnerable in society.
If you are based in a part of the country where this charity is not active, perhaps you could consider setting up a local branch. Or, if you live overseas and the subject is of interest to you, perhaps you could touch base with a similar charity there.
The British Lung Foundation
People of all ages and from all walks of life volunteer for the British Lung Foundation, whether giving one day a week or one day a year.
There are three main ways that you can get involved with the British Lung Foundation:
Firstly, assisting the local Breathe Easy support group that meets monthly for those affected by lung disease, their family, friends and carers. There's also opportunities to help with fundraising activities, etc.
Secondly, working in the local British Lung Foundation offices.
Thirdly, volunteering to assist with key fundraising events, such as the London Marathon or the Great North Run.
Interested? Click here for more information.
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Forthcoming events
Would you like to mingle, have fun and laugh? If the answer to this question is yes, do come along to the following events. But do let us know beforehand that you're attending so that we can rendezvous with you. And do extend the invite to others - the more the merrier!
Thu 22nd Sep 2011 - 19:30 for 20:00 hours - Charity Stand Up Comedy Night for the British Lung Foundation - London, United Kingdom - £10 per person + raffle prizes (all money raised will go towards vital research into lung disease) - Click here to reserve tickets.
Tue 4th Oct 2011 - 19:00-20:00 hours - Lecture: Does neuromarketing work? - Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4BS, United Kingdom - £10 per person
Click here to reserve tickets.
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