Use humor effectively. The joke or anecdote you share before your speech should relate in some way to the audience, the setting or your topic. Think of ways to use humor to provide insight or add value to the message you'll deliver and get the audience thinking.
Share personal stories. Use your real-life experiences to add personality to your speech. Most audiences enjoy these types of stories because they can relate to what you're saying. Even if the story isn't humorous, you'll grab the audience's attention and leave them smiling.
Try self-effacing humor. When you joke about yourself and share your weaknesses, you come across as confident, strong and likeable, and the audience will find you more sympathetic. Stick to topics directly related to you, such as a small-town background or your profession, and avoid any anecdotes that may raise questions about your credibility.
Test your humor on a friend first. If you're not sure if your anecdotes will prompt a chuckle, run them by a friend or colleague and ask for an honest opinion. Never use humor you don't find funny; it will likely not come across as humorous to anyone else, either.