“If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears.” – Glenn Clark
How do you express your sense of humor without going overboard, off the edge, or over the top online and in person? I think this is really hard to do, but if you lighten up and have some fun, it can do wonders for building your personal brand.
We have all been around people at events who tell inappropriate jokes and say thoughtless, inappropriate things to people they don’t know thinking they are ‘connecting’? It certainly is one way to be remembered and stand out, but for the wrong reasons. If we have one chance to make a first impression, then please be sure you are using appropriate humor.
I suggest a couple of areas to stay away from when networking online or in person: politics, religion, race, sexuality, controversy.
I remember a few years ago a new client of mine who was Latino would tell me very bad, off color Jewish jokes that he thought connected us. They used to make me very uncomfortable, but I wasn’t sure just how to tell him that until one day I just said, “I really like you and appreciate our business relationship, but I would prefer not hearing your Jewish jokes anymore.” He simply said no problem and apologized if it offended me.
Do you have a sense of your sense of humor? Do you know how to use appropriate humor?
There are interactions in person and online where a fun and humorous roll and flow just happens. No forcing it, no awkwardness. It’s natural between some people and not others.
The point is it flows and is fun. When you think about the people you meet that you have that kind of chemistry with you, remember them and smile.
How do you use humor as a branding tool? What’s funny in general?
Think about real life, personal experiences. The regular things that happen to us everyday. They are the human things that bond any of us, no matter what background we come from.
Have any of these things happened to you?
Dropping your phone in the toilet.
Getting locked out of your car.
Things kids say.
Coincidences that are supposed to happen.
The bandanna and sunglasses you put on your dog.
Spilling ketchup on your shirt during a business lunch.
Standing on the street in a business suit and being pooped on by birds.
Having food on the side of your mouth.
Getting locked out of your house in the morning in your pajamas.
These, by the way, are all things that happened to me at one time or another. I assure you when I use these real life, human experiences as conversation starters to engage people, it usually just rolls and flows.
What are some of the appropriate humorous, real life experiences that you could use as conversation starters?
Try them at your next networking event.
I’m sure someone out there is saying, “Do you believe Deborah admitted she was pooped on by birds in a business suit?” It really was so bad I had to go home!
Author:
Deborah Shane is an author, entrepreneur, radio host and expert. She is the leader of her business education and professional development company, Train with Shane, hosts a weekly business radio show, and writes for several national business, career and marketing blogs, and websites. Her book Career Transition-make the shift-the 5 steps to successful career reinvention comes out in early 2011. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Blogtalkradio at Deborah Shane, or visit www.deborahshane.com.
