Can humour make you more memorable?

I've spent the past few years teaching thousands of people how to perform stand-up comedy. One thing I've noticed is that humour can help people reveal parts of their personality that others might never otherwise see.

And I think that's important, because being memorable isn't necessarily about being the funniest, loudest or most confident person in the room.

Sometimes it's about giving people something interesting to remember you by.

On The Science of Being Funny, I spoke with Ema Franklin, a tech marketer who has hosted thousands of people at global technology conferences and recently completed one of my Sydney Comedy School stand-up courses.

A few weeks after her graduation show, Ema won a heat of the Sydney Stand-Up Comedy Championships, despite having performed stand-up only two or three times.

We explored how humour can make people more memorable, build connections and help them stand out professionally.

How does humour make you more memorable?

During our conversation, Ema reflected on why the audience might have voted for her.

She talked about sharing personal stories, revealing unexpected things about herself and being willing to let people see parts of her life that might otherwise remain private.

What I found interesting was that audience members remembered details she hadn't expected them to remember.

I see this frequently when I'm teaching comedy.

People can spend a lot of time worrying about whether their jokes are funny enough. But what often makes a performance interesting is the information the comedian reveals about themselves.

A small story, an unusual opinion or an unexpected reaction can tell an audience a surprising amount about someone's personality.

And the same principle applies outside comedy.

Whether you're networking, introducing yourself or meeting a senior colleague, humour can help you reveal something about yourself that makes the interaction more memorable.

What should you reveal about yourself?

One challenge I see in my comedy classes is that people aren't always comfortable sharing information about themselves.

Some arrive feeling guarded or worried about being judged. Others are happy to share almost anything.

Part of my job is helping them find the right balance.

I often encourage students to explore how they feel about things.

What makes them happy? What frustrates them? What do they find ridiculous?

These reactions reveal personality.

Two people might experience exactly the same situation but react completely differently. Sometimes it's that reaction, rather than the situation itself, that makes a story interesting.

You don't need to reveal your deepest secrets to be memorable. Sometimes a small, funny observation about everyday life is enough.

Do you need to be naturally charismatic?

Ema asked me whether I can recognise students who are likely to become successful comedians when they first walk into my classes.

It's an interesting question because confidence in everyday life doesn't necessarily translate into being good at stand-up.

I've taught outgoing, energetic people who struggle on stage. I've also taught quieter, more reserved people who turn out to be fantastic performers.

In fact, I sometimes think stand-up particularly suits introverts. They can be observant, self-aware and willing to work through their material.

I've also seen people develop their charisma.

Someone who initially struggles to express themselves can become much more comfortable sharing stories, showing personality and connecting with an audience.

Humour can play an important role in that process.

Can humour help you connect with people?

Something I particularly liked about Ema's performance was how much fun she appeared to be having.

She smiled, shared personal stories and seemed genuinely delighted to be on stage.

I think that helped the audience enjoy themselves too.

I've seen comedians perform excellent material without appearing to enjoy themselves. And I've seen performers with less polished jokes win over a room because they're warm, engaging and clearly having fun.

Being memorable isn't always about delivering the cleverest joke. Sometimes it's about how people feel when they're around you.

Humour can help people relax, feel included and become more comfortable in your presence.

Those qualities are useful whether you're performing comedy, giving a presentation or meeting someone for the first time.

Can humour make you more influential at work?

Towards the end of our conversation, I asked Ema whether being memorable could also make someone more influential.

She thought it could, particularly when humour makes complicated or technical information more relatable.

In her technology marketing work, she uses humour in presentations and interviews to make technical subjects more accessible.

I think there's an important connection here.

If people remember you, understand what you're saying and enjoy interacting with you, that can help you build stronger professional relationships and communicate your ideas more effectively.

That doesn't mean trying to be funny all the time.

But it does mean being willing to show personality, share something about yourself and occasionally take a small risk.

One thing I regularly tell my comedy students is to find their comedy character, lean into it and have fun.

I think that's useful advice well beyond the comedy stage.

Useful links

Listen to The Science of Being Funny on Spotify: Can Humour Make You More Memorable?

Learn comedy with Sydney Comedy School: https://www.sydneycomedyschool.com.au/