I didn’t say you should steal jokes<\/strong>, I said you should steal laughs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Write those moments down.<\/p>\n Next time you teach the same subject or share the same content all you have to do is followup your example by telling the story of the laugh.<\/p>\n For example, for several years I taught classes on\u00a0retirement benefits at an organization. My humorless version went something like this:<\/p>\n In case you are not aware, one of your employee benefits is a $55,000 lump sum death benefit.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n But then one day, as soon as I spoke, a gentleman\u00a0in the back of the room called out. “Don’t tell my wife!”<\/strong><\/p>\n Everybody laughed.<\/p>\n I made a note, and from that day on I got to steal the laugh. I replaced my humorless version with this:<\/p>\n In case you are not aware, one of your employee benefits is a $55,000 lump sum death benefit … One time when I mentioned that, a gentleman in the back called out “don’t tell my wife.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Everybody laughs.<\/p>\n I got to steal the laugh without stealing the credit.<\/p>\n3 ways to Steal Laughs<\/h2>\n
1<\/span> Steal a reaction<\/h3>\n
![\"laugh\"](\"http:\/\/michaelspeaks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/laugh.jpg\")
<\/a>Let’s start with the most obvious way. Whenever you conduct a class or presentation pay attention to audience reactions. Every once in a while, someone will respond to something you say with a one-liner that makes the whole room laugh.<\/p>\n2<\/span> Steal momentum<\/h3>\n