A speech can be interesting, informative and highly entertaining without being humorous. Most speakers are invited because they are well informed on a specific subject and it is of interest to the audience, the listeners do not necessarily expect to be entertained. For entertainment they would hire an entertainer. However, humor has a number of great benefits in helping the speaker to be more effective in achieving the overall purpose of their speech.

The advantages of using humor in your speech are:

• You’ll quickly gain control of the audience – it gains their attention and helps in pulling them together
• It can be used to transition from one part of the speech to the next
• Helps to illustrate the points that you are making
• It will give the audience a “breather” by breaking up your speech. It is difficult for listeners to concentrate for long periods and it gives them a rest and keeps them interested.
• The use of humor can show that you do not take yourself too seriously and will increase your “likeability” quotient
• When presenting new ideas and policies that may not be popular, you can use humor to put your point across without creating hostility.

Humor can be learned and utilized by anyone willing to try. Most of the best speakers use it. To develop the art of humor will take you only a few minutes a day. To put humor in your speech apply the following:

• Develop a stockpile of stories – be on the lookout for good brief stories in newspapers, magazines and the internet. Be a careful observer of life. Also be a “watchful “listener of stories on TV or other speakers. Note the stories down. Do not rely on your memory.
• Observe other speakers. Note how they tell the story, the tone of their voice, their gestures, face expressions, the timing and pauses.
• Memorize the stories. You cannot read humor – you need to be looking at you audience to sell it. Also you do not want to lose your opportunity by stumbling over the punchline.
• Be prepared to deliver “impromptu” stories. Carry an index card in your pocket with the first line or a suggestive line of several stories. By quickly glancing at the card you will be able to quickly recall the story.
• Practice. A story gets better the more times it is told. Practice in front of the mirror or your family. Try different things – your voice tone, pauses, gestures, facial expressions etc.
• If the audience does not laugh at your story or joke… move on. Don’t let it throw you off course. There will be time to assess after the speech.
• Make the stories relevant to your speech and appropriate to the audience
• Plan the “spice” in your speech. Most TV and radio performers follow their scripts so closely there is not even room for an “ad lib” sneeze.

Humor is an important tool in gaining and keeping an audience’s attention and can be applied by anyone with the desire to develop the art. In summary, memorize and practice, tell the right story at the right time, be prepared, and gather a fund of stories.

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Learn how to improve your speaking effectiveness in public or private. Claim your free preview of “The Art of Great Conversation” visit http://www.selfconfidentspeaking.com

As our audiences change and are influenced by an unending flow of media and attempts at communication, does the average presenter have a chance of cutting through all this noise and clutter in the minds of their listeners?

Yes! However, it requires some intentionality on your part as a speaker or teacher. In no special order, here are ten elements for great contemporary presentations.

1. Preparation
The days of you being able to create a good presentation just off the “top of your head” are gone. Audiences are becoming more focused on singular subjects and you will need to be able to best speak to their niche. There is no excuse for putting together a presentation the night before you present it.

2. Engagement
Repeatedly, I see good presenters fall short of being great presenters in one area: audience involvement. Most adult learners require interaction to best absorb any material. Ask questions of your audience as you speak. Ask them to turn to a neighbor and respond quickly to a point you are making. Help your audience feel a part of the process rather than mindless seat-fillers.

3. Authenticity
You cannot be expected to know everything about any subject, even for those where you might be an expert. Include parts of your presentation where you ask questions to which you do not know the answers. Be genuine in the process.

4. Storytelling
Embrace good storytelling techniques. If you want your audience to remember your facts, frame them in the context of storytelling. Stories and anecdotes carry information back and forth across the brain, giving listeners of all types the chance to hang the information you share on a memorable story hook.

5. Application
With the exception of the highest-level presentations of theory, give your audience a way to apply some new learning immediately when they return to home or office. For example, in my storytelling for business training, I give leaders several tools to find and create stories from their everyday interaction with customers. The concepts I present become usable tools.

6. Diversity
Everyone learns differently. Include some lecture, some activity and some visuals in all of your presentation. Let your audience use many of their senses.

7. Humor
It is okay to laugh a bit. Especially in very complex subjects, add a bit of humor to lighten the mood or make transitions between the concepts in your presentation. Be sure your humor is good for general audiences.

8. Creativity
Why should an audience listen to you talk about your subject? Be creative and offer a new understanding of your topic. You want your audience to think, “I’ve never thought about it like that before.”

9. Humility
You do not know it all. As you practice the element of authenticity listed above, be grateful and honest when an audience member challenges you or helps you with a new understanding.

10. Pacing
Keep your presentations moving forward. Keep your learning goals to just one or two main points. Your audience should feel like they are on an exciting journey to new knowledge with you. Be fun, focused and (usually) fast.

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The author, Sean Buvala, is a professional storyteller and business coach specializing in the needs of nonprofit and corporate communications. Since 1986, he has helped national and local organizations communicate great ideas and grow their bottom line. You can find his website at http://www.seantells.com. Follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/storyteller. Sean lives with his family in Arizona.

Humor is a tool to that can be used to create interest and connection with your audience when giving a presentation. There are various ways that you can introduce humor into a speech. You may be able to successfully include a funny story or some humorous public speaking quotes in your talk to make your audience laugh and warm to you. But before you decide on this approach, make sure that it relates to what you are going to talk about, and that it really is funny. Test the idea on other people ahead of time and see if they laugh.

Humor is often a great way to break the ice when you introduce your talk. It could be a personal anecdote, or a simple (tasteful) joke. Otherwise you might find a humorous quote that you can use at the end of your speech that will leave the audience with smiles on their faces, feeling warm and fuzzy, and positive about you.

Both the introduction and conclusion of any speech is important, so either way you will need to be sure that what you say is appropriate to the occasion. And if you use humor elsewhere, do so to help make a point, not just to make people laugh.

Sense of humor is a very personal thing; not everybody will necessarily laugh at every joke or funny line. But if what you have said has some meaning, it doesn’t really matter. For this very reason, it is also not a good idea to try and prompt your audience into laughter by stating that you are about to tell a funny story or a joke. Pause before the punch line and then pause (and smile) to give them a chance to laugh. But if they don’t, move on to the rest of your speech without dwelling on the fact that they didn’t respond.

Before you decide to try using humorous quotes or funny stories, you need to find something that is relevant. Well chosen, short quotes are usually effective, but very short stories or quick anecdotes can always work quite well. If you are using a visual screen, cartoons and drawings can also be effective. Long, drawn-out stories, however funny, should generally be resisted. Likewise, stay away from “blue” humor — keep it clean.

If you do, or plan to do, quite a lot of public speaking, keep a constant lookout for humorous quotes and stories that you may be able to use at a later date. You will find them in books, magazines, on the Internet and in everyday life. Remember that speeches are always easier to make if they are relevant to you — the speaker. It is no different when it comes to humor. If you can use a story about something funny that happened to you, or quote something funny that you have said or have heard, then do so. You may find you’ll remember it better than something you merely read somewhere, and it will resonate more personally when you deliver it.

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Tim Ackerman is an author and public speaking enthusiast whose mission is to help people enrich their lives through more skillful communication. Check out his website at http://www.publicspeakinginsider.com for more info on using public speaking quotes, and a FREE email mini-course on effective public speaking.

What’s in YOUR Speech Toolbox?

My husband is a tool guy. He’s a car guy and a DIY guy, so his passions have driven him to collect every tool known to man, animal and God. Well, I thought he owned every tool. I’m frequently amazed how he can wander through the tool department of Sears and STILL find something he not only DOESN’T own, but MUST own, lest the world tilt off its axis. And how many times have I heard him utter words of frustration, while in the middle of a project he proclaims “I can’t finish it! I don’t have the right tool!” I shake my head in astonishment, as I scan the shelves and racks of cool but uncountable tools neatly housed in the garage and basement. He knows the value of the right tool.

As a speaker, do you know the value of the right tool? Do we have the tools we need? Do we use the tools we have? I am not a great writer, so I have forced myself to use better tools to make my task of writing speeches easier and more effective. I can’t rely on my own intellectual brilliance because I don’t have that much. I need help. The tools I use are simple but effective ones; ones that you too can use to make huge improvements in your speeches.

Tool #1: Thesaurus

Also called a “Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms” a thesaurus is the most powerful tool I use. Did you know you can set yourself apart as a communicator simply by using more interesting vocabulary? In most cases, imaginative and gripping vocabulary will engage the audience quicker, keep their attention longer, and challenge their minds more powerfully than some more common vocabulary. A thesaurus will help you find a word that is more descriptive, precise and inviting. For example, something that is “interesting” can be described as “riveting,” “engaging,” “magnetic,” or “tantalizing.” Instead of saying “gentle,” try “serene,” “soothing,” “tranquil,” or “benign.” Alternate words add both character and clout to your message. The English language is filled with colorful and expressive words. Use a thesaurus to find them!

On my desk I have two thesauruses that I have used through the decades. The Roget’s College Thesaurus in Dictionary Form is my favorite hard copy version. It is easy to use and quite comprehensive. I also use the website thesaurus.com which is a little faster and easier to read with my aged dimming eyes. A word of caution: be sure that the more expressive word you choose fits your speaking style, and doesn’t sound like you are reading from a thesaurus. Some words are better read than said. The word “merriment” is a synonym for “fun”, but it could sound a little pretentious or phony if given in a speech, unless you use the proper context and delivery techniques.

Tool #2: Dictionary

Obviously, a dictionary is necessary to insure proper spelling in a written document, but its worth to a speaker should not be minimized. Certainly it’s used to determine proper pronunciation, but far too often, when I thought I was using a great word, I misused it because I didn’t understand its proper meaning. While there are many words that are commonly misspelled, there are also words that are commonly misused, and misusing a word in a speech can bruise or even cripple your credibility. For example, in my former career as an engineer for NASA, I often made presentations explaining the results of our research projects. One of my more experienced peers pointed out that I was misusing the term “data” when referring to a single piece of information. “Data” is plural. “Datum” is singular. To that audience, I sounded naïve. As another example, I heard a speaker use the term “decorum” to refer to decorations in a room. The term actually refers to a high level of dignified behavior or appearance. It is a subtle but important difference. Make sure you have the correct meaning of a word; even if you think you are correct, look it up!

A dictionary is also a fantastic creative tool. Alliteration is a powerful speaking and writing device…using words that start with the same letter. It’s a technique that is pleasing to the listener, helps you to remember your points when speaking, and has sticking power for your audience. I wrote a speech on overcoming regrets, and the three points of the message were: Filter the Falsehoods, Force the Forgetfulness, Face the Front. To develop those message subtitles, I scanned the listings in the dictionary under one letter… in this case I chose “f” because the heart of my message was looking forward, not backwards. I made a list of words that started with “f” and then pieced phrases together to reflect the content of the message. It may seem tedious and time consuming, but the inspiration it unleashed was exhilarating.

Another creative technique is to use acronyms: words whose first letter makes another word. For one message I created, I was encouraging people to volunteer their time, so I used the word “SERVE” as an acronym for my 5 points. The points became “Skills,” “Energy,” “Relationships,” “Vision,” and “Experience.” Again, to find those words, I had my main concepts in mind, and scanned the dictionary listings to find words to fit.

Tool #3: Rhyming Dictionary

Why is Dr. Seuss so appealing? It’s because a rhyme is magnetic and lyrical. Ideas flow and the brain follows. When I discovered a rhyming dictionary, I felt a whole new world of innovative speech crafting had unfolded before my eyes.

Do you know how much more compelling your speeches can be if you add some rhymes? And I bet if you picked up a rhyming dictionary, you will be as astonished as I was with how many rhymes you can find for a certain word. For example, my Miriam Webster’s Rhyming Dictionary lists 72 words that rhyme with “dream”. Without a rhyming dictionary, I could probably think of a dozen. I wouldn’t have thought of “blaspheme,” “downstream,” or “moonbeam.” The listing for “-ate” goes on for pages, and includes words like ‘interpolate,” “necessitate,” and “underestimate.” There are even odd and unusual words like “phosphoenolpyruvate.” The value of this volume is incalculable!

Craig Valentine, the 1999 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking, teaches that a good story should have a foundational phrase: a clear summary statement of the message that is 10 words or fewer. He teaches that one effective way to structure it is to use a rhyme. When I competed in the finals of the World Championship of Public Speaking contest, the title of my speech was “Bless, Not Impress,” which was part of my foundational phrase: “Don’t hide behind pride; seek to bless, not impress.” It flowed, sounded pleasant, and stuck with the audience. Plus, speaking in rhymes is plain fun for everyone. (Look! A rhyme!)

Tool # 4: Books of quotes & inspirational sayings

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “Next to the originator of a good sentence is the first quoter of it.” Montaigne, one of the most influential writers of the French Renaissance wrote: “I do not speak the minds of others except to speak my own mind better.”

A good speech can be made into a great speech by using quotes. It accomplishes several things. A well chosen quote can dramatically increase the impact of your message. Don’t you find that when you hear a powerful quote in speech, you park for a minute on the thought and measure its importance? Not only can you draw from exceptionally good communicators, you strengthen your credibility as you can express your thoughts in a profound way. You also are showing your willingness to learn from others. It levels the ground for your audience because they no longer view YOU as the hero…the hero becomes the source of the quote. It builds a bridge and puts three people on it: you, the listener and the original author of the quote. And in an unexplained way, using a good quote is like having a “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval” on your speech because now there is an outside authority that meshes with your message.

Sources of quotes abound! I have no fewer than six volumes of quotes on my bookshelf. I scour the internet for quotes. I am not only a voracious reader, I am an incurable underliner. I am always looking for quotes to use, and I use them liberally. You should too. And in every case, make sure you credit the author (or admit you don’t know the author.) If you fail to do this, you imply that you are the originator and it’s inevitable that someone in your audience will know you are not, and your credibility is gone.

Tool #5: Books of jokes, humorous stories, illustrations

As speakers, we know that humor is essential for adding life to our speeches. Humor entertains, but it also provides a release from tension built up in an emotional segment of your talk. The audience needs permission to let go of the intensity. Stories and illustrations are crucial because they can explain complex concepts in a short number of words. I personally keep a story file on my computer… a Word document where I log some of my life’s interesting events with the intent of using them as an illustration in a speech. I also have several books of jokes and humor that I consult, not to use word for word, but to stimulate my creativity so I can uncover the humor in the stories I’ve collected from my own life.

Those are just a few of my favorite speech writing tools. Marshall McLuhan, the influential Canadian philosopher, and diligent student of pop culture in the 70′s, wrote “We become what we behold. We shape our tools and then our tools shape us.” As I admire my husband for his dexterity with his tools, I see that his tools shape his passion. Yours can too. Be the speaker who allows the tools to shape your passion and hone your skills, so that you leave your audience with a memorable and influential message.

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Maureen Zappala was one of the 10 finalists in the 2009 World Champion of Public Speaking contest at the Toastmaster’s International Convention in Mashantucket, Connecticut. She’s been a Toastmaster for more than 7 years. She’s a stay-at-home mom, former NASA engineer, and is a frequent speaker for women’s and teen church events. She lives in Hinckley, Ohio with her husband Jim, and two children, Ross & Gina.