One would have to be engaging in the audience with a personal story or experience related to the same topic of conversation within the presentation. Emotional energy keeps the audience interested due to their own similar life experiences no mater how small. Being true to your audience not afraid to express laughter even if your laughing at yourself

Images and cartoons are such amazing tools however here are a few cautions when using them - 1. Be aware of the copyrighted images or cartoons. You don't want to get into legal trouble for misusing a picture 2. Be sure your audience is aware of the cartoons. Once I used a Dilbert cartoon for a presentation in India and very few people could understand the context behind the same.

A piece of advice while using quote is don't just use quote of any random person from internet. You should be well aware of what that person stands for and also want to ensure you know about the person you quote so that if an audience member asks you a question about the person, you have things to talk about him or her. If possible, use your own quotes to escape all this. Similarly, for jokes, the best ones are self-deprecating jokes. It makes things light & easy for both the speaker as well as the audience. Never ever make fun of your audience, that is unpardonable.

When adding quotes and jokes to my slides, I like to weave them into the flow of my presentation naturally. I often use a light-hearted quote that ties into my topic, helping the audience feel more connected and at ease. Jokes work well when they’re relevant, short, and timed right—it keeps the energy up and makes the session more engaging. For stories, I share relatable experiences that may have a humorous twist or surprise ending, which makes the message more memorable. It’s all about finding the balance between keeping it fun and ensuring the key points stick.

If you are talking about slides, the number 1 rule is to keep them simple. Slides are primarily meant to give structure to the presentation and help the presenter. So how to use a story or an anecdote. My favorite way of starting a session is a story that relates to the key takeaways of the session. This should come just at the beginning, or immediately after you have stated the objectives of the session. DO NOT WRITE THE STORY IN THE SLIDE. Just put a picture that reminds you of the story you want to tell. The picture should convey to the participants something/ someone they can relate to. You tell the story and ask questions about it. That's it, in the PPT slide nothing but a picture. As you know, a picture is worth a thousand words.

When I use anecdotes and stories in my slides, I focus on personal or relatable experiences that the audience can connect with. I choose moments that have a natural element of humor, like unexpected outcomes or funny mistakes, which keeps things light and engaging. Telling a story with a twist or a lesson at the end adds value while making the presentation enjoyable. I also make sure the anecdotes tie into the key message, so the humor doesn’t feel random but helps reinforce the point. It keeps the audience engaged and makes the content more memorable.

Learning & practicing improv can help you be in the moment which can help you to capitalize on things on the spot. This humor can feel spontaneous and your audience generally responds better. E.g. someone sneezes in your audience, you can immediately say Bless You and it can generate a laugh

When adding humor to my slides, I use techniques like exaggeration, surprise, and wordplay to keep the audience entertained. I might exaggerate a scenario to highlight the absurdity of a common problem, which gets a good laugh while making the point clearer. A well-timed punchline or unexpected twist in a story can catch the audience off-guard, adding humor without feeling forced. I also like using playful comparisons or metaphors that people don’t see coming. The key is to keep it light and natural, making sure the humor complements the message rather than distracts from it.

When it comes to humor, timing and delivery are everything. I make sure to pause before and after delivering a punchline to give the audience time to absorb it and react. A little suspense before the joke helps build anticipation. I also watch the audience’s energy—if they’re engaged, I might take a moment to add a spontaneous comment, which often gets a good laugh. The key is not to rush; I let the humor land naturally and adjust based on their response. Pacing is important, so I space out the funny moments, mixing them in with the serious points to keep the balance just right.

A lot of time what we feel funny is not funny to the audience and vice versa. The best way to know is by trying it out. You don't want to start by saying - 'Let me tell you a joke.' It may backfire if your audience don't find it funny enough. So just insert your humor in between and analyze it afterwards. One of the best ways to do this is by recording & and watching your presentations afterward. It might be painful to start with but its worth it