Should You Use Humour in Your Training Sessions?

Using Humour in Training Delivery: When It Works and When to Avoid It 

Training delivery that keeps learners engaged whilst maintaining professionalism can be a delicate balance. Many trainers wonder whether using humour in training delivery is appropriate, and if so, how to incorporate it effectively. The answer isn't straightforward, as humour can be a powerful engagement tool when used well, but may also risk undermining your credibility if misjudged. 

Understanding when and how to use humour in your training sessions can help you create more memorable learning experiences whilst maintaining the professional standards your learners expect. 

The Potential Benefits of Humour in Training 

Research from the field of educational psychology suggests that humour may support learning in several ways. A comprehensive review published in Frontiers in Psychology examining five decades of research found that instructional humour can potentially increase social relationships between trainers and learners, improve clarity of instructional information, and promote retention and mastery of knowledge. 

Neuroscience research reveals that humour systematically activates the brain's dopamine reward system, and cognitive studies show that dopamine is important for both goal-oriented motivation and long-term memory. A meta-analysis of 40 years of educational humour research indicates that non-aggressive, relevant, appropriate humour appears to be a helpful learning tool. 

When used appropriately, humour in training delivery can: 

• Help create a relaxed learning environment where participants feel more comfortable asking questions and engaging in discussions 
• Make complex or dry subject matter more accessible and memorable 
• Build rapport between trainer and learners, which may encourage more active participation 
• Provide mental breaks during intensive learning sessions, potentially helping with information retention 
• Humanise the trainer, making them appear more approachable and relatable 

The key word here is "appropriately." Not all humour translates well into professional training environments, and what works in one context may fall flat or cause offence in another. 

Understanding Your Audience and Context 

Before incorporating humour into your training delivery, consider the specific context of your session. Different audiences and subject matters require different approaches. 

For compliance training covering health and safety regulations, participants expect gravitas. Whilst you might use light moments to maintain engagement, the overall tone needs to reflect the seriousness of the content. Similarly, training on sensitive topics such as safeguarding, mental health, or discrimination requires careful consideration about whether humour is appropriate at all. 

By contrast, soft skills training sessions covering topics like customer service, communication techniques, or time management may offer more natural opportunities for light-hearted moments. The subject matter itself may lend itself to relatable scenarios that can be presented with gentle humour. 

Consider also the seniority and experience level of your participants. Senior executives attending strategic leadership training may respond differently to humour than graduate trainees in their first professional development session. Industry culture matters too. Creative industry professionals might expect a more relaxed delivery style than those in heavily regulated sectors like finance or healthcare. 

Types of Humour That Can Work in Training 

Not all humour is created equal when it comes to professional training delivery. Some approaches are generally safer and more effective than others. 

Self-deprecating humour, when used sparingly, can make you more relatable as a trainer. Research has identified self-disparaging humour as one of the appropriate types of instructional humour in educational contexts. Acknowledging your own learning experiences or minor mishaps can help participants feel more comfortable with their own questions or uncertainties. However, this approach requires balance. Too much self-deprecation may undermine your credibility as an expert in your field. 

Observational humour about common workplace scenarios can be highly effective. When learners recognise themselves or their colleagues in your examples, it creates connection and demonstrates that you understand their world. This might include gentle observations about typical office situations, technology frustrations, or the challenges of implementing new processes. 

Relevant anecdotes from your professional experience can provide both humour and learning value. A well-timed story that illustrates a key point whilst including amusing elements can be memorable and educational. The humour in these situations often comes from the recognition of shared experiences rather than constructed jokes. 

Some trainers successfully use visual humour through carefully selected images or cartoons that relate to the training content. This approach can provide relief during dense material without requiring verbal joke-telling skills. 

Humour to Avoid in Professional Training 

Certain types of humour have no place in professional training environments, regardless of how well you think you know your audience. However, it's important to note that research shows humour effectiveness is not unequivocal, and some studies have found that instructional humour may not enhance learning performance and may, in some instances, impede the process of knowledge acquisition. 

Humour based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age is never appropriate. Beyond being potentially offensive and discriminatory, it can create hostile learning environments and expose both you and your training organisation to serious reputational and legal risks. Research confirms that inappropriate usage of humour by trainers can decline learners' self-esteem and create a hostile classroom environment. 

Sarcasm rarely translates well in training contexts. What you intend as light sarcasm may be interpreted as dismissiveness or condescension by learners. This is particularly true in written materials or recorded sessions where tone of voice and facial expressions aren't as clear. Younger learners may find irony, sarcasm, and exaggeration particularly difficult to understand. 

Controversial political or social commentary, even when intended humorously, can alienate portions of your audience and distract from learning objectives. Training sessions should be inclusive spaces where all participants feel comfortable, regardless of their personal beliefs. 

Inside jokes or references that only some participants will understand can create divisions within your group. Every learner should feel equally included in the training experience. 

Humour at the expense of participants, even if presented as "banter," crosses professional boundaries. This includes singling out individuals, even with their apparent consent, as it may make others uncomfortable about being targeted next. 

Reading the Room: Adapting Your Approach 

Even when you've planned appropriate humour for your session, delivery matters enormously. The ability to read your audience and adjust your approach in real time is perhaps more important than the specific humour you've prepared. 

Pay attention to non-verbal cues from your participants. Are they smiling and engaged, or do they look uncomfortable or confused? If your attempt at humour doesn't land, acknowledge it briefly and move on rather than trying to explain the joke or force engagement. 

Virtual training sessions present additional challenges for incorporating humour. Research examining humour in online learning environments found that humorous elements created a significant difference and improved behavioural engagement for course materials, discussions, and assignments. Without the immediate feedback of in-person delivery, it can be harder to gauge reactions. In online settings, humour often works best when it's visual rather than verbal, and when you pause to allow reactions rather than rushing through material. 

Consider timing carefully. Humour can be effective at the start of a session to establish rapport, or after intensive content to provide mental breaks. However, using humour immediately before or after critical safety information may undermine the importance of that content. 

Developing Your Authentic Training Style 

Rather than forcing humour into your delivery because you think you should, focus on developing an authentic training style that suits your personality. Some trainers naturally incorporate humour and use it as a core engagement tool. Others maintain learner interest through passionate delivery, compelling examples, or highly interactive exercises without relying on humorous elements. 

If humour isn't natural to your personality, don't force it. Learners respond well to authenticity, and a genuine, enthusiastic trainer who doesn't use humour can be far more effective than someone delivering awkward jokes that don't suit their style. Research indicates that not everyone is naturally humorous, so trainers shouldn't force it, as watching someone struggle to be funny can be an awkward experience and defeat the purpose. 

That said, even naturally serious trainers can benefit from lightness at appropriate moments. This might simply mean smiling more, sharing genuine enthusiasm for the subject matter, or acknowledging the lighter moments that arise naturally during discussions rather than trying to create humorous situations. 

Ensuring Quality Standards Across Your Training Delivery 

Whether you incorporate humour or not, maintaining consistent quality standards in your training delivery helps build trust with learners and commissioning organisations. CPD accreditation for your courses can provide independent validation of quality standards, demonstrating to potential clients that your training meets recognised professional development criteria. 

Accredited training can help you stand out in a competitive market, as organisations increasingly seek verified quality when selecting training providers. The CPD certification process requires providers to demonstrate structured learning outcomes, appropriate assessment methods, and professional delivery standards, which can strengthen your overall training design regardless of your stylistic approach. 

Practical Steps for Implementing Humour Safely 

If you've decided that humour has a place in your training delivery, implement it thoughtfully. Start small, particularly if you're developing your style. A few well-placed light moments are more effective than constant attempts at humour that may exhaust your audience or distract from learning objectives. Research suggests that using humour too frequently could reduce its beneficial effect by diluting its salience, and studies have shown that even three or four jokes in a single lesson can be highly effective in helping learners retain information. 

Test new material with colleagues before using it with paying clients. What seems funny in your head may not translate well in delivery, and peer feedback can help you identify potential issues before they affect your professional reputation. 

Document what works and what doesn't for different audiences and topics. Over time, you'll develop a repertoire of approaches that you know are effective with specific types of learners or subject matter. Always have a plan B. If you've built humour into your session plan but the audience isn't responding, you need alternative ways to achieve the same objectives without relying on that engagement tool. 

Remember that your primary purpose is facilitating learning, not entertaining. Humour should support your learning objectives, not replace them. Every element of your training delivery, including any humorous moments, should ultimately serve the goal of helping participants develop new skills or knowledge. 

The most effective training delivery balances engagement with professionalism, authenticity with structure, and personality with purpose. Whether humour features prominently in your style or appears only occasionally, the key is ensuring it enhances rather than detracts from the learning experience you're creating.