Have you ever been in a situation where a joke you told fell flat? A bit embarrassing perhaps, but you tell yourself that you aren’t to blame – the fault lies with those in the audience.  And in fact, there is a actually a small modicum of truth to this.

There are many reasons why people find something funny: maybe it’s a play on words, a physical gag, or an unexpected situation or comment. Very often, however, the audience’s perspective is rooted in their cultural upbringing. If their background is different than yours, they may not “get” your joke because they didn’t grow up with the punchline. It’s their fault. (Of course, in the extreme case, they may even be offended.)

The solution: put yourself in the shoes of your audience – all of their unique, diverse shoes. The more you’re aware of these differences, the more they will hear what you mean to say – and maybe even laugh at your humor.

While a missed joke may not be a huge issue, what about other communications? When someone doesn’t understand your point, they won’t actively engage. If someone is offended by your communications, they will disengage, or actively obstruct your project.

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