Leverage well-placed humor to lower defenses and boost recall

Imagine walking into a pitch and the presenter delivers a dry bullet list—crickets. Now, imagine he opens with, “I once tried selling this idea to my cat—she wasn’t impressed either.” That one line draws a smile, you lean in, and suddenly you’re paying attention. Humor is a social lubricant—it lowers defenses and builds rapport. Psychologists have found that people rate leaders with a sense of humor as more trustworthy and creative. But humor must feel sincere. When you share a quick, relevant quip—an ironic story or a clever analogy—you make your audience relax. In that moment of shared laughter, you’ve both acknowledged a truth and created an emotional bond that helps your message stick.

You now have a clear path to sprinkle genuine humor into your presentation. Pick one anecdote or analogy that’s personal and relevant. Practice delivering it at the right moment—likely near your opener or before a key takeaway. Keep it brief, true to your style, and watch how easing a few smiles can amplify your audience’s recall. Try it in your next internal meeting.