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AP Photo / Richard Drew
You make a speech. You make a serious statement. The audience laughs. How should you answer? That's the question that President Trump faced when he addressed the United States Assembly this week. After the president claimed that in less than two years his administration has accomplished "more than almost any administration in the history of our country, "more than 100 world leaders and others in the audience burst out laughing.
Trump made the light at that time and later told reporters, "They did not laugh at me – they laughed with me. We had fun."
What happened to the president could happen to you, even if you only speak to a dozen people in your office at a committee meeting. If you follow these three guidelines, you will show great leadership.
Ask the group "What's so funny?"
When you receive an involuntary laugh from your audience, use what the journalist James M. Surowiecki calls "the wisdom of the crowds". The phenomenon of crowdsourcing is based on the idea that a group of people can make better decisions than anybody. It is therefore wise to seize the opportunity that presents itself to you.
If you are sincere about what caused the laugh, you involuntarily got it, asking "What's so funny?" can help you grow. Years ago, during a three year fellowship on leadership development, I asked a group of about ten people why they had laughed at something that I was doing. I said.
"It's just that you often make jokes when we are together, so I thought you were making a joke all the while," said one of my colleagues.
It was a revelation. I did not like hearing it, but I did not know it was how I fell. From then on, I was wiser in creating wisecracks, which served me well.
It is not always possible to stop and do this kind of on – site investigation. If you can, however, you will probably get comments that will help you become a better leader (and a better person).
Enjoy the varieties of laughter
All laughter does not mean the same thing. The laughter of the United States Assembly about President Trump's statement meant: "We find this hard to believe." The laughter that I caused during a leadership development program meant: "We assume you're making a joke the way you usually do."
The first example of laughter is a form of ridicule because the group thought that Trump's claim was ridiculous. The second example of laughter is a form of sincerity. Honestly, the group thought I was shedding light on something and they responded accordingly.
As this is a chronicle about humor, I thought it would make sense to get the prospect of a professional comedian. I contacted Andrew Tarvin, who shows executives how to effectively use humor in their work.
"Laughter is a form of communication," Tarvin told me.
When I feel an unexpected laugh, I try to determine the cause. In this sense, laughter is only one form of data. And then I take note so that I can redo it intentionally (if it was positive) or revise my message (if it was negative).
But it takes a certain trait of character to react in this way, which brings me to my third point.
Reply with humility
Humility plays a major role in ethical leadership. I know Tarvin – we are both members of the National Association of Speakers and his local – and I have seen first-hand his willingness to accept and even solicit comments. Like many of us, Tarvin knows that the only way to improve his performance is to listen to valuable reviews.
Unlike many of us, however, Tarvin solicits him from time to time, and then he acts accordingly. It's one day voluntarily put in one of the most uncomfortable situations for a professional speaker: a showcase for other speakers. Even professional speakers are annoying before a commitment, but there is no more challenging audience than that of your peers.
I was very impressed by the way Tarvin responded to the respectful comments of his colleagues. Although I have not seen him make a serious statement that others have laughed at, I can imagine him reacting with humility and grace when that happens.
The bottom line
There is nothing better than an audition for laughing. It's frustrating not to have a laugh that you hoped to get. What is even more disturbing is to laugh after pronouncing something that is extremely serious for you. The next time this happens to you, why not treat it as a gift?
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You make a speech. You make a serious statement. The audience laughs. How should you answer? That's the question that President Trump faced when he addressed the United States Assembly this week. After the president claimed that in less than two years his administration has accomplished "more than almost any administration in the history of our country, "more than 100 world leaders and others in the audience burst out laughing.
Trump made the light at that time and later told reporters, "They did not laugh at me – they laughed with me. We had fun."
What happened to the president could happen to you, even if you only speak to a dozen people in your office at a committee meeting. If you follow these three guidelines, you will show great leadership.
Ask the group "What's so funny?"
When you receive an involuntary laugh from your audience, use what the journalist James M. Surowiecki calls "the wisdom of the crowds". The phenomenon of crowdsourcing is based on the idea that a group of people can make better decisions than anybody. It is therefore wise to seize the opportunity that presents itself to you.
If you are sincere about what caused the laugh, you involuntarily got it, asking "What's so funny?" can help you grow. Years ago, during a three year fellowship on leadership development, I asked a group of about ten people why they had laughed at something that I was doing. I said.
"It's just that you often make jokes when we are together, so I thought you were making a joke all the while," said one of my colleagues.
It was a revelation. I did not like hearing it, but I did not know it was how I fell. From then on, I was wiser in creating wisecracks, which served me well.
It is not always possible to stop and do this kind of on – site investigation. If you can, however, you will probably get comments that will help you become a better leader (and a better person).
Enjoy the varieties of laughter
All laughter does not mean the same thing. The laughter of the United States Assembly about President Trump's statement meant: "We find this hard to believe." The laughter that I caused during a leadership development program meant: "We assume you're making a joke the way you usually do."
The first example of laughter is a form of ridicule because the group thought that Trump's claim was ridiculous. The second example of laughter is a form of sincerity. Honestly, the group thought I was shedding light on something and they responded accordingly.
As this is a chronicle about humor, I thought it would make sense to get the prospect of a professional comedian. I contacted Andrew Tarvin, who shows executives how to effectively use humor in their work.
"Laughter is a form of communication," Tarvin told me.
When I feel an unexpected laugh, I try to determine the cause. In this sense, laughter is only one form of data. And then I take note so that I can redo it intentionally (if it was positive) or revise my message (if it was negative).
But it takes a certain trait of character to react in this way, which brings me to my third point.
Reply with humility
Humility plays a major role in ethical leadership. I know Tarvin – we are both members of the National Association of Speakers and his local – and I have seen first-hand his willingness to accept and even solicit comments. Like many of us, Tarvin knows that the only way to improve his performance is to listen to valuable reviews.
Unlike many of us, however, Tarvin solicits him from time to time, and then he acts accordingly. It's one day voluntarily put in one of the most uncomfortable situations for a professional speaker: a showcase for other speakers. Even professional speakers are annoying before a commitment, but there is no more challenging audience than that of your peers.
I was very impressed by the way Tarvin responded to the respectful comments of his colleagues. Although I have not seen him make a serious statement that others have laughed at, I can imagine him reacting with humility and grace when that happens.
The bottom line
There is nothing better than an audition for laughing. It's frustrating not to have a laugh that you hoped to get. What is even more disturbing is to laugh after pronouncing something that is extremely serious for you. The next time this happens to you, why not treat it as a gift?
