Page 48 - December 2020 Voices

SKILLS 2.0 CORNER

Humor: How to stop worrying and start joking

Sudhir Gautam, DL4

Humor is a soft skill and a superpower. Over the No Dilly-Dallying

years I’ve learned that humor can be the greatest This is the meat and potatoes of funny. Strive
value addition to a speech or a written piece or for more meat and less potatoes. Get to the meat
any other type of performance. I often see people of the humor as quickly as possible, especially
engage in endless debates about various forms when telling a joke about vegans.

of humor or the differences between humor and
comedy. Others might have all kinds of book Self–Flagellation

recommendations about comedy and humor. I don’t mean it in a religious context but if you
Although there is some marginal value in all have to, at least make it funny. Self-deprecation,

of these things, I’ve learned that the skill of being vulnerability, and humility go a long way in
funny is mostly acquired by just trying to be humor. In other words, a lot of fails and firsts
funny and getting better over time. Like learning from your personal experiences. Don’t overdo
to ride a bike. Tips might be useful, but you will it unless you really need to, in which case get a

mostly learn to ride a bike by just riding a bike, good therapist too.
falling down a few times, and telling everyone
to back off with their tips and tricks for a while. Use Funny Sounding Stuff
Once you can balance on a bike and ride it for a Use funny sounding words and phrases.

block or two without falling it’s time to look at Bumfuzzled about what this means? It’s okay to
some tips to improve your technique and maybe be confused sometimes.
do some crazy tricks.
Now that we’ve discussed the futile nature Misdirection

of humor semantics, books and tips, let’s look Use this tool even if you’re Martin Scorsese.
at some humor tips, starting with the Rule of 3. Set a trap, mislead them and all of a sudden hurt
them where it hurts the most. Not literally though,
Rule of Three unless you’re doing a business presentation to

Three of anything is optimal in forming a car salesmen or lawyers.
memorable pattern. Can I help you with humor?
How about some semantics, books and tips? Try ABE you’re being so ridiculous. I can’t even.
it. It works. No research needed. Use hyperbole, metaphors, and analogies.

48 ONE COMMUNITY