If you’re thinking about adding humor to your next sales meeting or speech, this is your month to do it! According to Izzy Gesell, CSP, “head honcho” of IzzyG & Company, April 14th is International Moment of Laughter Day. Gesell says the key to adding humor to any meeting or presentation is in understanding what to put and where to put it. He provides these humor dos and don’ts for your next meeting:

Do make it relevant. “If it’s not relevant to your audience, it doesn’t belong,” says Gesell. “Know your audience and their point of view because humor has to connect with them.”

Do practice. Humor is a skill; as such it needs to be practiced, says Gesell. The more you practice, the better you will become at developing rhythm, good pacing, and timing – important elements when presenting humor.

Do take advantage of all the talents and attributes you have. Impressions, characters, odd noises, and physical imperfections are humor assets when used judiciously.

Do know your material. Added words hinder progress to the punch line. Groping for words makes the audience lose confidence in you.

Do start a humor collection. Every time you read a funny piece or hear a funny story, write it down and keep it in a file for later use. Use a notebook or recorder to hold on to the things that make you laugh.

Don’t forget the punch line. “If you can’t remember anything else, remember the punch line,” says Gesell.

Don’t just tell a joke because you think it’s funny. Humor has to make a point in your meeting or speech. Remember: relevance.

Don’t forget to touch all senses with your humor. Instead of just telling a funny story, use the room décor, a video, or PowerPoint to show something funny.

Don’t use humor to put down anyone – including yourself. Negative humor, such as sarcasm or ethnic humor, needs a victim. Positive humor fosters equality by focusing on shared experiences. Use self-effacing humor – laughing at something you did (fell over a log, found yourself lost, etc.) rather than self-derogatory humor –laughing at yourself.

Don’t forget flow. Use the rule of three for humor. Say the first line, connect the second line to the first and third, bring in the shift in perspective.

“Use humor as a bridge, to bring your audience together,” says Gesell. “Humor is about shifting a point of view. People laugh because they see something from a different perspective.

“Remember you don’t have to get a big laugh all of the time,” says Gesell. “Humor is an interaction – an energy monitor. When you make people laugh or just smile, you’re changing the energy in the room. Laughter comes right after breathing as just about the healthiest thing you can do. It relieves stress, instills optimism, raises self-confidence, defuses resistance to change, and enhances all your relationships. In sales it can help build trust and relationships – exactly what sales is all about.”