Presentation Skills
Articles for Speakers

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Why use humor?

Tom Antion
Washington, D.C.

Why should I bother using humor in my presentations? Can't I just
deliver my information and sit down? You sure can and that's what
most people do. The problem is that most people are not effective
presenters. They are nighty nite, snooze inducing, say your
prayers, hit the sack, unlicensed hypnotists. They are ZZZZZs
presenters. They might be experts in their field and be able to
recite hours and hours of information on their topic, but is that
effective?

According to Bob Orben, Special Assistant to President Gerald
Ford and Former Director of the White House Speech writing
Department, "Business executives and political leaders have
embraced humor because humor works. Humor has gone from being an
admirable part of a leader's character to a mandatory one."

A survey of top executives who earned more than $250,000 per year
was conducted by a large executive search firm. The survey found
that these executives believed their communication skills were
the number one factor that carried them to the top. Mastering
the use of humor and other high-explosion techniques puts a fine
polish on your presentation skills which can help propel you to
the top of the speaking profession.

There are many benefits you can derive from using humor in your
presentations. Keep in mind that these benefits only help you
reach your ultimate purpose for making the presentation. They are
not purposes themselves unless, of course, you are only
interested in entertaining.

Using humor does the following for you:

HELPS YOU CONNECT WITH THE AUDIENCE.

MAKES YOU MORE LIKEABLE.

AROUSES INTEREST.

KEEPS ATTENTION.

HELPS EMPHASIZE POINTS AND IDEAS.

DISARMS HOSTILITY.

OVERCOMES OVERLY FLATTERING INTRODUCTIONS.

GETS YOUR POINT ACROSS WITHOUT CREATING HOSTILITY.

HELPS RELATE FACTS AND FIGURES.

MAKES A POSITIVE IMPRESSION.

SHOWS THAT YOU DON'T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY.

HELPS PAINT PICTURES IN THE AUDIENCE'S MIND.

MAKES INFORMATION MORE MEMORABLE.

LIGHTENS UP HEAVY MATERIAL.

TOM'S LIST

YOU WILL BE ASKED BACK.
YOU WILL GET HIGHER EVALUATIONS OR MORE SALES.
YOU WILL MAKE MORE MONEY.
YOU WILL MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY. This is my favorite benefit. I get
great satisfaction from knowing that I have brightened someone
else's life. I had an executive come up to me after one of my
humor seminars and say, "You opened up a whole new world for me."
I almost cried right on the spot. I'll never forget it.

Next issue learn techniques to deliver your talk without notes.

"Wake em Up teaches you to be irresistible as a presenter."
Also, Foreword by: Mark Victor Hansen,
Co-Author of the #1 New York Times Best- selling series, Chicken Soup for
the Soul


Note: This article is part of an eleven part series excerpted from
Tom Antion's new book, Wake em Up: How to Use Humor and Other
Professional Techniques to Create Alarmingly Good Business
Presentations. Anchor Publishing, 336 page softcover, $24.95 +
$4.00 S&H, (800) 448-6280 x 1 or FAX to (757) 431-2050 To Order Click Here