We all dislike that gloomy hour when energy flattens and eyes glaze over. The post-lunch slump hits, heads nod and attention drifts away. That’s when organisers often trot out an energiser – the artificial activity designed to re-energise your people that we hate even more than the afternoon malaise.
But bringing energy back doesn’t require gimmicks or forced fun.
Laughter changes the room’s chemistry. Not the staged, uncomfortable kind – real laughter that comes from genuine human connection. I’ve learned this through both professional success and memorable mishaps.
Take the time I arrived at a conference to deliver a keynote speech, only to discover I’d forgotten to pack my shoes. Picture it: full business suit, bare feet. Standing in front of a room of cancer survivors, I felt mortified until one participant smiled and said, “We don’t care what’s on your feet – we care what’s in your head.”
Their warmth and laughter transformed my embarrassment into a moment of real connection. Fortunately, it was an audience of cancer survivors – they didn’t care what feet I turned up in.
This experience taught me something valuable: authentic moments, even uncomfortable ones, create better connections than staged attempts at humor.
What Works
- Shared Experience Humor People bond over common experiences. Simple observations about conference life – the search for power outlets, the coffee quality, the mysterious room numbering systems – create natural laughs because they’re real.
- Self-Deprecating Stories (Without Self-Pity) Sharing genuine mishaps helps people relax. It shows we’re all human. The key? Tell these stories with warmth, not embarrassment.
- Natural Breaks in Formality Sometimes the best moments happen when we step away from slides and scripts, allowing genuine interaction to spark energy.
What Bombs:
- Forced Fun Manufacturing “fun moments” makes everyone uncomfortable. Trust falls, anyone?
- Pre-Planned Jokes Scripted humor falls flat. Always.
- Sarcasm or Edgy Humor Professional spaces need inclusive humor that builds bridges.
Making It Work in Your Conference
Start With Movement: Get people up on their feet, engaging with each other. Physical movement naturally leads to smiles and lighter energy.
Create Shared Experiences: One of my favorite conference energizers involves getting participants to create their own unique laughs and lead others. It sounds strange – but it works. The creativity and slight awkwardness bonds people instantly.
Read Your Audience: Different groups need different approaches. Technical professionals might appreciate precise observations. Healthcare workers often connect through caring ironies.
Real Impact
Last year, I ran a laughter session for carers of autistic children. The conference included crucial information about preventing burnout, but my session gave them practical tools to lift their spirits during challenging moments. The feedback showed that learning to find humor in daily situations helped them maintain resilience.
Warning Signs Your Conference Needs More Energy:
- Participants checking phones every three minutes
- The post-lunch coma has set in
- Your brilliant insights get met with blank stares
- Side conversations start drowning out the speaker
Remember: Natural laughter creates authentic connections. Those connections drive engagement. Engagement leads to learning.
Your conference doesn’t need to descend into silly walks. But allowing space for genuine, warm humor can turn tired participants into energized learners.
Most importantly, this approach needs authenticity. No rubber chickens – just real human moments that remind us we’re all in this together.
So if you want to energise your audience and have them raving about your organising skills – book a laughter session for your next event.
Cris Popp was made a Laughter Ambassador in 2005, by the founder of the world-wide laughter yoga movement Dr Madan Kataria. Cris was recognised for his contribution to laughter yoga as a stress buster and energiser for workplaces and conferences.
Cris is the founder and director of Laughter Works, https://laughterworks.com.au/ where he continues to receive outstanding feedback for his workshops, seminars and keynotes, including many five-star Google reviews.