Do you know what this is called?

At a recent conference, I sat in a packed, sold-out room to watch an award-winning presenter. The topic was important. But the entire 60 minutes was delivered in one emotional register: blinding rage.

People started slipping out the back door while others started checking their phones to escape the heaviness. By the end, the room was wrung out.

Doing a serious topic in a serious way from start to finish is called putting a hat on a hat. If you are already wearing a hat, imagine how ridiculous you’d look if I marched up and jammed a second hat right on top of it.

Yet presenters do this often.

On my morning walk, I often pass a house painted in cheery yellow, just the right shade to brighten your day without requiring sunglasses.

Designer Kate Watson-Smyth, whom I follow on Substack, says, ‘I do love a bit of wit in architecture and design, which can take itself all a bit too seriously. This is a reminder that in addition to keeping the rain off and the wolf from the door, our homes should also make us smile.’

No matter how serious your topic, every audience needs relief.

Share a story, add some light humour, change the pace, ask a surprising question or show an image that makes people smile.