Using humor purposefully in a presentation means thinking ahead about how a brief humorous moment can serve your message, rather than making the audience laugh your sole aim. Decide what the joke is for, whether it suits the audience, and where it belongs in the presentation. Then rehearse it aloud to assess whether it is clear. The steps below are practical editorial suggestions; do not assume that a particular approach to humor will have the same effect on every audience.
First, decide what the humor is for
Give the joke a single purpose: connect the topic to an everyday situation in the opening, illustrate an idea, or transition between sections. If you cannot answer the question, “What will the audience understand better after this humorous moment?” reconsider why the joke is in the presentation. This is not an absolute rule against using humor; it is a practical way to test your choice.
You do not have to add humor to every part of a presentation. Especially with a serious or sensitive topic, decide separately whether to use humor and where to use it. Avoiding jokes that target someone’s appearance, identity, accent, age, or hardship may be a more inclusive choice. A harmless mishap involving yourself is another option, but consider whether it contributes to the topic.
Take the audience and context into account
Does the joke depend on a shared experience, language, professional term, or cultural knowledge? If you think the audience may not share that knowledge, consider revising the joke so it needs no explanation, or removing it. The probability joke in Penn State’s “Fun” training material may depend on the audience knowing that “probabilidad” means probability in Spanish. The material also notes that emphasizing the final syllable when delivering the joke may contribute to its effect. This example shows why a joke should be assessed in light of the audience and how it is delivered.
The presentation’s purpose and topic may also affect your decision. A brief analogy might work in an informational presentation, while a light observation about a familiar workplace habit might suit a presentation making a recommendation; these are options, not formulas for every presentation. For topics such as grief, crisis, safety, or personal loss, consider the subject and timing of any humor particularly carefully. Think about whether the joke targets the sensitivity of the issue itself. If you decide it is not appropriate, removing the humor is a valid editorial choice.
Connect the joke to the main message
One useful structure could be: a real situation, a brief humorous turn, and then the main idea. If the joke turns into a long story, try shortening it. Return to the presentation’s topic in the next sentence; this can make it clearer to the audience why they heard the example.
To keep the humor from overshadowing the topic, state the point you want to explain after the joke briefly and directly. A University of Nebraska news story reports that biologist Jay Storz made a brief joke during a research presentation about a video of a mouse moving through snow. The story also reports that the presentation included research and visual storytelling. This is an example from a single presentation; it does not prove that humor will work in every presentation. Assess the connection between the joke and the topic, and whether it suits your audience: University of Nebraska news story.
For more suggestions on making a first impression, see creating an attention-grabbing opening for a presentation; to plan materials for your audience, see preparing a handout for a presentation.
Hypothetical example: meetings running long
Scenario: A team is introducing a new agenda template to make its weekly meetings more efficient. The goal is not to make participants laugh, but to describe the problem of going off topic through a familiar situation.
Slide 1 – Situation: “Our meeting agenda had three items. Then a topic that started with ‘just briefly’ came up.” Keep the sentence short and do not single out a specific person.
Slide 2 – Turn and message: “The ‘just briefly’ part held its own meeting.” Then move to the main point: “That’s why we’re adding an owner and a time allocation to each item.” Using this humorous turn is not required; leave it out if it could be seen as targeting people on the team or cause confusion.
Slide 3 – Action: Show the three fields in the template: topic, owner, and time. Explain how to use the solution; return to the presentation’s purpose rather than repeating the humor.
This example is hypothetical. In your actual presentation, consider the effect before tying a joke to someone on the team or to an embarrassing incident that really happened. Keep in mind that the word “briefly” may not evoke the same associations for every audience member. If you are unsure, remove the joke and describe the agenda problem directly.
Rehearse and get feedback
Read the joke aloud without the slide. Is it brief and clear, and is the transition to the main message clear afterward? If it needs explaining, try shortening or removing it. Pausing if people laugh and moving on without explaining the joke if they do not are practical options. These are suggestions for managing the flow of a talk; they cannot guarantee how the audience will respond.
If possible, show the draft to someone similar to your intended audience. Instead of asking, “Was it funny?” ask, “What did you think I was trying to say here?” and “Was anything confusing or uncomfortable?” A BYU article describes a family reading comic books together and sharing them, and how these shared experiences created common references within the family. This is an example of one family’s experience, not proof that every joke will have the same effect in every community: BYU article.
Common mistakes and how to address them
- Explaining the joke: If it needs explaining, consider shortening or removing it, then return to the main message.
- Singling out a person: Try describing a shared situation or a process problem instead of a person.
- Losing track of the topic: After the joke, use a sentence that connects it to the main idea.
- Pushing when there is no reaction: Keep the talk moving instead of repeating the joke.
- Adding humor to every slide: Keep only the examples you think serve a specific purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to tell a joke at the start of a presentation?
No. Use humor in the opening only if you think it will help introduce the topic. An open-ended question, a brief example, or a direct statement of purpose are also options for getting started.
What should I do if nobody laughs at the joke?
Move on to your main message without making a big deal of it. Instead of explaining or repeating the joke, assess after rehearsal whether the example made your message clearer.
Final checklist
Before the presentation, answer these questions:
- Does the joke have a clear purpose?
- Is its connection to the topic clear, and can you still convey the main idea without the humor?
- Does the joke rely on knowledge the audience may not share or on a sensitive trait?
- Is it about a situation or process rather than a person or group?
- Is it brief and clear when read aloud, with a clear transition from the joke to the main message?
- Can you continue with the presentation even if the audience does not respond as you expect?
If you are unsure about any answer, revising or removing the joke may be an appropriate adjustment.
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