Skip to main content

Speaking Tip #8: "Inject Humor Into Your Story"

Just adding in a bit of humor can lighten up a serious situation.

For example in my true story “Negotiating For My Life On Top of the World”, I am inspecting a roof by standing on the roof taking video pictures of the roof when the roofer, Mr. S who resembles a “linebacker” comes over demanding more money! I heard him approaching sounding like “a heard of elephants”. I stopped what I was doing and looked at him!”

 Here’s what happened:
Mr. S says, "I need $3,000 right this minute"! He tried to threaten me by moving me to the edge of the roof. He was so angry! I remained calm, looked him in the eye and reminded him he had received his payment three days ago and that he needed to fix the gapes and bubbles in the membrane of the flat roof so he could receive more money.”  (His next draw from the contract.”)

“I explained I did not carry that amount of money with me. I said to him, “Do you see an ATM anywhere up here?”   

He stopped and looked around for an ATM on the roof! I continued to remain calm, looking him in the eye and did not turn my back to him. Eventually he moved away.”

Adding this little bit of humor calmed this terrifying situation down for the Roofer and me!

Remember when making a joke, make fun of yourself and not others!

Please share your thoughts and comments about this blog.

Until next week remember to “inject humor into your story to make your story memorable and visual.


Madeline Frank, Ph.D.,  is a 2014 Certified World Class Speaking Coach. She has been coaching and mentoring business professionals to be champion speakers for over 5 years. She is  an Amazon.com Best Selling Author,  speaker, business owner, teacher, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their Business". Her observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful.  Her latest book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget" is available everywhere books are sold.  Contact Madeline Frank for your for booking and other inquiries  at mfrankviola@gmail.com








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Speaking Tip #9: "Vocal Variety"

Just like in a movie each character has a different voice. When you tell a story you are acting out the different characters by changing your voice for each new character. A man’s voice will be deeper. A woman’s voice will be higher and a child’s voice has a child like quality of excitement about it. How do you talk to a baby? Does your voice get quieter and do you speak a little higher? When you are telling a story with different characters, you will want to practice your different characters voices and move slightly for each different character. When you are talking to a friend about a serious topic you will at times, speak faster and more excitedly to get your point across. Your friend will also vary the speed of their voice with the excitement they are trying to get across to you. The volume might be a little higher than normal because of the excitement! When you are “sharing a secret” with your friend you will lower your volume and speak more quietly, even when it is ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

Speaking Tip #24: Give Your Audience a “Road Map” to Follow

When you have a long presentation to make, give your audience a map to follow during your speech presentation. Craig Valentine, World Champion of Public Speaking and one of my coaches , calls this a “Road Map” for your audience to follow: For example in my speech presentation on “Connecting with Others” I will introduce my “Road Map” by saying,   “And this comes to you in the form of the 4 Ls, for “Levels of Conversations”. 1) How you can begin your first level of conversation with “Small talk”. 2) Then you’ll pick up your second level for “Fact disclosure”. 3)   You’ll then pick up your third level for how to connect your conversation with ‘Viewpoints and opinions”. By giving your audience a “road map” to follow, in three steps, your presentation will be clear, concise, and meaningful to your audience. Please share your thoughts and comments about this blog. Until next week give your audience a “Road Map” to follow during your speech pres...
Post a Comment
Read more

Speaking Tip # 11: "How & When to Move in Your Speech"

Your movement is prompted by your story. Move to show action. On stage create a place for a time line, for past, present, and future. On stage you move from   “right to left”. If you have three stories each story has a place for you to go on the stage. Remember you need to move only a few steps.   When your speech is a “Problem/solution” speech have two places on the stage. The right side of the stage is for the problem and the left side is for the solution. Remember you need to move only a few steps. At the conclusion of your speech when you call back to each story, you gesture back to where you told your story originally. In my story “Quietly Walk Away From A Snake”   -When my husband walks quickly to our boat to open the battery hatch- I show this by quickly walking to a point I have “decided on” the stage and make the motion for opening the boat hatch. (Walking forward and to the right a few steps.) After he sees “the 3 large black snakes” he quietly leans...
Post a Comment
Read more