17/09/2026
You tell the joke.
You pause.
You wait for the laughter.
And then… silence.
A few polite smiles. Someone shifts in their seat. You move on, quietly wondering what went wrong.
Was the joke bad?
Perhaps.
But perhaps the problem wasn't the joke at all.
Perhaps the audience simply didn't find the same things funny.
Humour may be universal, but it is not identical across cultures. What feels playful, clever or harmless in one setting can be confusing, inappropriate or even offensive in another.
And this is where good communication requires more than knowing how to tell a joke.
It requires cultural intelligence.
Culture influences humour, but it doesn't define individuals. A person's profession, age, experiences, language, relationships, institutional culture and personal preferences can all shape how they respond.
So before you ask:
“Is this joke funny?”
Ask:
“Will this audience understand it?”
“Will they interpret it the way I intend?”
“Who is the target?”
“What is the power relationship in the room?”
“Does this joke rely on a stereotype?”
And perhaps the most important question:
“Can I deliver my message successfully without this joke?”
Humour can build rapport, reduce tension and make a message memorable. But it can also become a distraction—or create a moment of discomfort that outlives the laugh.
The goal of professional speaking isn't to prove that you are funny.
It is to make your message clear, credible and memorable.
Because a good joke gets a laugh.
A good communicator understands why the audience laughed.
And a great communicator knows when the joke doesn't belong.
Read the room. Respect the context. Then decide whether the joke belongs.
Read our latest article:
Not Every Audience Laughs the Same: A Guide to Cross-Cultural Humour
