Many people shy away from telling jokes because they once told one that fell flat or they are afraid of appearing silly or of offending someone. Jokes are canned humorous stories which are subtly different from personal anecdotes. With personal anecdotes you have the authority to tell them because they happened to you. Jokes are independent and in a sense artificial so you take a little risk when you launch into one. However, when told well, a joke can cause great amusement and lift the mood of the gathering. A speaker who puts some relevant and well-told jokes into his or her speech will be appreciated by the audience who are often bored with bland presentations and are crying out for a little entertainment.
Here are some tips on how to tell a good joke:
1. Select. Choose three or four jokes that really tickled you from the internet or a joke book. If you are giving a talk or presentation look for ones that have some relevance (however slight) so that you can work them into the pitch. Have one or two generic or topical ones that you can use on any occasion.
2. Practise. Practise them aloud - in front of a mirror if possible. Deliver them with style, confidence and panache. Focus on the punch line and ensure that you can deliver it word perfect.
3. Choose your moment. If there is a convenient hook in the conversation for one of your jokes you can introduce it then. Otherwise wait for a pause. Sometimes the most amusing jokes occur when people least expect the teller to tell a joke. So, if appropriate, be serious as you introduce the story and then catch your audience out with the punch line.
4. Deliver slowly and with confidence. Many people ruin jokes by rushing them, mumbling incoherently or just getting the words wrong. Your practice should have overcome this but there is still a temptation to hurry. Slow down a little. Try to pause for effect before you deliver the punch line. That can add enormously to the impact.
5. Match the joke to the audience. A joke which is hilarious with the guys on the 7th tee might well be a disaster at the Church Bazaar. Jokes often challenge taboos so it is OK to risk a tiny amount of offence to one or two people. But if your joke seriously offends people then you were guilty of misjudgment. In mixed company during the day you should stay with safe material. In the evening you can be a little more risqué and with the men in the bar you can be outrageous. Choose wisely.
6. Reciprocate. Never finish anyone else’s joke. Always laugh or smile even if you have heard it before. Be a good joke teller and receiver.
7. Develop. As you build experience and confidence try more and different jokes. But don’t overdo it. Don’t hog the conversation with one joke after another. A few really good jokes that you can tell with perfect confidence is the aim.
Finally have some one-liners to throw in from time to time. Here are a couple to get you going:
- Velcro - what a rip-off!
- ‘Shut up!’ my father explained.
Funny jokes make the world a more interesting place. Enjoy your joke telling!
Paul Sloane is an author and speaker on leadership, innovation and lateral thinking. His most recent book is The Innovative Leader. He helps organizations improve innovation, creativity and leadership. He is the founder of Destination Innovation. He has written 15 books of lateral thinking puzzles and hosts the lateral puzzles forum.
译文:
怎样讲笑话？
很多人羞于讲笑话，因为他们曾经讲过一个让人感觉沉闷的笑话，或者是他们害怕表现出自己的愚蠢，或是怕讲笑话伤害到别人。笑话是幽默故事的集成，跟个人轶事有细微的差异。关于个人轶事，你有权利告诉他们，因为这是发生在你自己身上的事。笑话是不相关联的，某种意义上它还是人造的，所以当你取笑别人的时候会冒一下险。然而，如果笑话说得好，那么会带给人很大的乐趣以及活跃聚会气氛。如果演讲者把合适及大家熟知的笑话加入他们的演讲中，那么他们将得到观众的赞赏，因为他们常常对乏味的报告感到厌烦，并会为一小段娱乐时间而欢呼。
这有一些关于如何讲一个好笑话的窍门儿：
1.选择。从网上或者笑话书上选择三到四个非常好笑的笑话。如果你要做一个谈话或做报告，寻找一些相关（即使相关性很小）的笑话以便你将它们运用得很到位。找一两个在任何场合你都可以讲的一般性的或者与时势有关的笑话。
2.练习 。大声地练习——如果可能的话在镜子面前。讲述时要有风格，有自信，有神气。要集中在最好笑的部分并确保你可以完美地表达它的意思。
3.选择时机。如果你觉得在谈话时有便利时机适合讲某个笑话，那就讲吧。不然就要等到停顿的时候。有时候，最有趣的笑话发生在人们对说话者会说笑话感到绝望的时候。所以如果时机合适，你要认真地讲故事，然后在最好笑的部分时抓住观众的注意力。
4.慢慢的充满自信地表达。很多人把笑话给搞砸了是因为说笑话时速度快，无条理地含糊说话或者言词不准确，。你的练习应该要克服这个问题，但仍然会不自主地加快速度。请慢一点。在你说到最好笑的部分前，为了效果请试着暂停一下。这会大大地增强笑话效果。
5.笑话要跟观众相匹配。对于第七高尔夫球场球员来说很有趣的笑话，对于在教会街的人们来说可能就会很糟糕。笑话常常向禁忌挑战，所以有一点风险冒犯了一两个人也是可以的。但如果你的笑话严重地冒犯了别人，那么你就会为判断错误而感到内疚。白天在混合人群里你应该选择安全的材料来讲。晚上你可以稍微放开一些同酒吧里的人们一起。请做明智的选择。
6.互换角色。千万不要打断别人的笑话。即使你以前已经听过这个笑话也要一直大笑或保持微笑。做个优秀的说笑话者和倾听者。
7.发展。由于你累积了经验和建立了信心，尝试接触不同的笑话吧。但一定不要做得过火了。千万不要在谈话的时候一个接一个的说笑话。你可以自信满满地完美讲述一些很好笑的笑话，这就是目的所在。
最后要不时地插入一些俏皮话。这有几个同你共享：
有趣的笑话使这个世界成为一个更有趣的地方。享受讲笑话带来的乐趣吧！
保罗·斯隆是个关于领导才能、改革和横向思维的作者及发言人。他最近的一本书是《创新的领导者》。他帮助组织加强改革、创新和领导才能。他是目标改革的创始人。他已经写了15本关于横向思维游戏的书以及主办了横向游戏论坛。