The importance of being illogical Martyn Dorey Senior
The importance of being illogical Martyn Dorey Senior Consultant PSolve
Introduction Based on work by – John Vorhaus –The comic toolbox – Kim Jonson - Truth in comedy – Risk working party Apply techniques to – Speech writing, column writing – Verbal communication If you try these tools….
Exercise 1: Image Michael Howard Boris Johnson Someone innovative Hubris Barrister Good with people Self lightly Churchill Hitler Surgeon Work lightly Work Seriously Leader Follower Industry Captain Self seriously Psychotic Part time comedian Simon Cowell Actuary
Dale Carnegie How to win friends and influence people (24 points) Fundamental techniques in handling people – Give honest appreciation – Make a fault seem easy to correct – If you must criticise talk about your own mistakes first Ways to make people like you – Smile – Be a good listener – Talk in terms of their interests How to win people to your way of thinking – No one wins an argument – Dramatise your message Be a leader
Jokes ≠ levity When we are relaxing, we’re at our best We’re listening recycling information and making connections Levity is about connecting to people Humour arises out of situations Jokes that do not connect are primitive
Exercise 2: Do something you’ve never done before What have we learnt Surprise is a source of levity Break old habits – Learn to paint – Play a new instrument – Run a soft skills session on levity
Truth & Pain Revealing a truth, particularly an emotion creates surprise Is it enough to be a surprise?
Truth & Pain What’s the truth? What’s the pain? When would you deploy this humour? 100 men go to heaven. . St Peter at gates. . How do you make God laugh? A man falls off a cliff…
Audience Perspective Sex, death, religion, common elements to levity What do you get when you cross a Jehovah’s witness with an agnostic? Someone who rings your doorbell for no particular reason. Truth - strive for religious enlightenment Pain - some never get there Jehovah's witness wouldn’t buy the truth If you are an audience, rather than take offence can you identify the comic perspective
Audience Perspective “How many solipsists does it take to change a light bulb? ” Who wants to know? Integrate Connection=F(Comedy, Audience knowledge, Processing speed)
Audience Perspective- a cautionary tale An actuary said to a Trustee board Here’s the news, ‘your schemes under-funded. Basically you’re fucked. ’ Who laughed & why? (Knowledge, T&P, Processing speed) Don’t make accidental jokes
Sense of humour I sent a v. rude email to my stag party, and was subsequently suspended. Was it that HR didn’t have a sense of humour? They didn’t have the sense of humour of my stag party Who can tell a joke about being French? Generally anyone except a Frenchman Who can tell a Jewish joke? Ruby wax.
Can anyone be humorous? Develop a sense of what’s funny Will to risk, what’s funny Comic genius 0. 40 0. 30 Actuary Too much pain 0. 50 Not enough truth Levity 0. 20 0. 10 0. 0 1. 5 3. 0 4. 5 6. 0 7. 5 9. 0 10. 512. 0 13. 5 Risk
Exercise 3: Humour hit rates What’s the truth & the pain of being an actuary? Generate 10 actuarial firm names
The comic premise Skewed points of view Peanuts Anyone – “I haven’t had sex in a year” – “Celibate? ” – “No, Married” What are the characters? – – Real world Comic world “I Work in Truro” “Blimey that’s further than Timbuktu? ” “Actually it’s about three hours” “Yes, Quite right Timbuktu's more Bristol. ” Structured minds find this approach easier Develop tension by increasing conflict between the real world and the comic world
The comic character Key to levity, can you deploy or convey a comic character? A character is a vehicle to deliver a comic premise Levity Strength of character Filter any subject using BOLD EXAGERATION Take it to the end of the line
Comic character Virginal schoolboy Newborn Baby Extreme actuary Testosterone poisoning Deaf shouting attack Filter the world
Exaggeration Exaggeration allows people to recognise you are adopting a comic perspective & a comic character Joyful Manic Thrill seeker Adrenaline junkie Boring Train spotter Dogmatic Scary
Comic character: Traits I like him he’s like me Flaws Positive human qualities Exaggeration Flaws Positive human qualities Comic perspective
Exercise 3: Conflict Global Interpersonal Inner
Exercise 3: Conflict Global (bad airplane food) Interpersonal ( Hostess an old girlfriend) Inner (Agoraphobic) Think of an actuarial comic premise?
Comic toolbox Clash of context – Nun inheriting a convent – A pickup truck with a Laura Ashley interior – What’s a clash of context for an actuary Juxtaposition – Honest Larceny – Genuine fake – Drowning in the fountain of youth
Comic toolbox Wildly inappropriate response – Mourning Widower: “She was a wonderful wife” – Family friend: “And great in bed”
Comic toolbox Comic opposites – Vicars and Tarts – Nun and a prostitute – An actuary and …
Comic toolbox Telling the truth – “You’ve got the attention span of a two year old. ” – Actuarial truth The only thing we know is our assumptions will not be borne out Telling a lie – “I only want you for your mind” – Actuarial lie You will live precisely 52. 3 more years
Comic Toolbox Tension & release, “positioning the payoff” = Passive writing/speaking style. Put the key word last Right : – If the universe is expanding why can’t I find a place to park Wrong: – Why can’t I find a place to park if the universe is expanding Wrong: – Tell God your plans if you want to make him laugh
Comic Toolbox The rule of three Set up, set up, payoff Introduction, validation, violation Three classic tunes Handel’s Messiah Mozart’s Requiem Bon Jovi’s Slippery when wet Coffee Tea Ricin Why not 4?
Comic Toolbox Mix with the inappropriate response… Three things you should never say to a grieving widow: – He looks so peaceful – He’s gone to a better place – He was great in bed What three things should you take to an actuarial exam?
Comic toolbox: Doorbell effect Doesn’t work without a warm up. We’re absolutely fine unless the doorbell rings I’m a nervous wreck
Comic toolbox Eyebrow effect Doing a valuation …. . Building fell down
Comic toolbox: avoid clichés Marry in haste repent at leisure Recruit in haste repent in Reigate A fool and his money are soon partying Making financial sense of the future….
Give your audience information I’m not saying…. . but…. I’m not saying that my boss doesn’t support my work with the profession, but right now he thinks I’ve nipped out for a coffee.
Comic toolbox Jeopardy Tension + Release = Levity Combine with exaggeration It’s the last 2 p I’ve got You’re the last friend I have in the whole world It’s not much but rhythm is all I have left
Last thoughts Everyone fears the fraud police Don’t fall in love with your humour It’s OK to offend part of your audience if you connect with another Leaplets Make notes/records of humourlets – Bleeding edge… Shaving edge I don’t have a razor sharp mind, but it’s enough to shave with in the morning. – Kolmogorov-Smirnov test a vodka based statistic Motivation creation revelation
Dale Carnegie Enlighten Mock Inform Degrade
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