The advantages of humour in a presentation are clear. Humour:
• keeps the listeners listening
• reduces stress and puts the audience in a more receptive mode
• creates a more appreciative audience. It leaves them wanting more.
• serves as a mnemonic device. Using a joke to illustrate a point creates a connection . Listeners remember the joke and remember the point the joke was designed to make.
• enhances creativity by stimulating right brain thinking.
• helps to create a sense of solidarity. It bring the audience together.
At the same time, humour is a two-edged sword. The wrong joke can alienate the audience or lead them astray from the central point. It becomes critical to know how humour works, and how it can work best for you.