Because education is too important to be taken seriously

In the very early years of Independent Thinking, I was doing supply in schools and also working for my local district council.

One day they sent me off to London on a communication course run by some chap from BT.

Yes, it was as interesting as it sounds.

Bad Joke

However, part way though something very interesting happened.

Everyone laughed.

What had happened was the presenter had told a joke.

It wasn’t even a good one.

But everyone laughed all the same.

I realised then that people are desperate to laugh in training sessions.

Laughter v Tension

It relieves the tension. It relieves the boredom. It connects us as humans going through a shared (dire) experience. It’s a relief.

If people will laugh at anything, I remember thinking, imagine how they will feel if the presenter is even half funny.

Of course, humour is subjective and what is deemed funny changes as society changes (or maybe funny is funny but what is deemed appropriate to share evolves?).

But the power of laughter to transform an audience in a conference or training session remains the same.

As does the desire of the delegates to experience that opportunity to relax, connect and breathe through laughter.

Laughter, Learning and Dopamine

Apart from the various health benefits of laughter (ask any gelotologist), there are also learning and memory benefits.

Doing something we enjoy, such as laughing, releases the neurochemical dopamine.

One of the effects of this marvellous natural drug is that it helps us better remember what was happening just before the dopamine hit and just afterwards too.

(For more on dopamine and learning check out The Little Book of Big Stuff About the Brain by our Associate and paediatric neurologist, Dr Andrew Curran. The new edition has just been released.)

All of which means that, when it comes to choosing a keynote speaker, yes you need someone who knows their stuff, but someone with the knack of making an audience laugh is vital too.

Make 'Em Laugh, Make 'Em Think

At Independent Thinking, when it comes to keynotes and INSET, we have tapped into the power of laughter for over thirty years with our mantra of “Make ‘em laugh, make ‘em think”.

(Although if it’s Nina Jackson you’re listening too, then it’s more like “Make ‘em laugh, make ‘em cry, then make ‘em think”.

Whether it’s Dave Keeling, a former stand-up comic, talking about overcoming fear and building confidence or Martin Illingworth’s wry northern wit as he explores what makes for great teaching or Roy Leighton raising a laugh while building peace or Jim Roberson's larger than life work on rapport or Stephanie Davies, who worked the comedy circuit with John Bishop and now runs a company sharing the power of laughter with the world of business, or a uniquely Liverpudlian take on Restorative Practice from Mark Finnis or Hywel Roberts, one of the funniest tellers of tales there is, we know the power of laughter to create powerful, inspirational and memorable experiences in any conference or school hall.

And yes, that includes the challenge of the ‘graveyard slot’ just after lunch - bring it on!

Bob Monkhouse Said It Best

We’ve long held the belief that education is too important to be taken seriously - whether that’s in the conference room, the staff room or the classroom.

If you agree and are looking for a knowledgeable and inspiring education speaker who can also raise a titter or two then please get in touch on 01267 211432 or drop us an email.

Perhaps, like us, you’ve watched sadly as the laughter has been sucked out of education in the name of standards, in England at least?

Perhaps you’ve felt guilty at the sound of laughter coming from your classroom or staff room?

Perhaps, you’ve met speakers who the late great funnyman Bob Monkhouse would sort of recognise – “They laughed when I said I’d become a keynote speaker… they’re not laughing now”?

If so, we look forward to helping you find the inspirational and knowledgable keynote speaker you need with that all-important dopamine factor. 

You can get hold of Dave Keeling's funny little book, Independent Thinking on Laughter with 20% off and free UK p+p when you use the code ITL20 at the checkout. [ITL]

Watching Hywel Roberts in action I seem to recall!