Jest Practices:
Best Practices for Humor in the Workplace
by Craig Harrison
Most agree that humor in the workplace can have beneficial effects. Yet not
all humor is good humor. The challenge: how to interject appropriate humor and
fun into our serious jobs without hurting others or seriously undermining the
company. When used appropriately, humor can work for you.
Humor that Uploads Also Uplifts
Humor has the power to make people feel special. When you include people in
fun it simultaneously improves morale, reduces stress and facilitates team
building. With the prevalence of telecommuting and workgroups scattered
geographically, the challenge of furthering working relationships, bonding and
building camaraderie is real. At one San Francisco Bay Area company a workgroup
staged an elaborate Remote Baby Shower. The expectant mother, who was
out-of-state, called in for a pre-arranged conference call with her workgroup.
When she did...surprise! Everyone was having a party in her honor. They uploaded
digital photos of a decorated conference room and each other, and e-mailed sound
files with well wishes. Everyone shared in the good cheer. This creative use of
technology brought employees closer to each other, figuratively if not
literally.
Humor That Brings People Together
Workplaces are full of opportunities to use humor for the benefit of all.
Milestones are a natural place to employ humor. Dress like the recipient as a
tribute during a surprise birthday party. Other celebrations to mark
anniversaries, project completions or similar accomplishments are perfect
opportunities to utilize humor. Even surviving certain projects is cause for
celebration and fun.
Holidays are another natural time to employ humor. Halloween is a time for
contests to see who can best decorate conference rooms; for other companies the
anniversary of their founding is cause for celebration. Silly speeches, skits
and spoofs abound.
And the Award Goes To...
Staging award ceremonies is a great way to have fun, recognize each other
and revel in the shared work experience. Whether the categories mimic those
found at the Oscars, Emmys or Tonys, or are derivative, esprit de corps rises
when the team laughs at itself and each other. Best Supporting Actor, Best
Impersonation of an Inanimate Object, Best Special Effects, Most Likely to
Secede, or Lifetime Achievement Award.
Humor Is The Winning Ticket
Pranks can alternately be uplifting or uprooting. A desktop publisher, on
April Fools Day, adorned his co-workers cars' windshields with mock yellow
parking tickets, complete with envelopes for remittance. Upon closer inspection,
these true-to-life replicas of tickets had whimsical offenses of significance to
the recipients. The departmental joker's ticket cited him for "excessive use of
farce" and the hard charging corporate counsel's infraction charged him with a
"Failure to Yield." Of course the initiator of the gag was later cited for
impersonating an officer. Everyone laughed at the spoof once they realized it
was a joke. Judge Judy's signature at the bottom of the ticket gave it away.
Pole Position
A fast growing company didn't have enough office space for full cubicles for
its new hires. One unfortunate hire's assigned cubicle had a giant pole in its
midst. To her credit she never complained. Co-workers felt for her. One night
they hit the streets, collecting various fliers from telephone poles in their
neighborhoods. The next day when the new hire reached her cubicle, the offending
pole was now covered with notices about missing pets, renters seeking
apartments, cheap movers for hire and even local GRE study groups. Not only did
the employee know her co-workers felt her frustration, it bonded them as well as
they pulled together to help one of their own.
One Person's Humor is Another Person's Horror
When targeting humor consider targeting yourself. Everyone has a different
idea of what's funny and what's not. Many a well intentioned prank or joke has
backfired. One co-worker sent another a prank letter impersonating a local media
figure. The recipient mistook it for real, interpreted it as harassment and
called the FBI. Oops!
The Benefits of Self-Effacing Humor
When we make fun of ourselves it actually demonstrates our healthy outlook,
showing we don't take ourselves so seriously. As a result, we're regarded as
more approachable and down to earth. Don't make fun of yourself excessively.
Such humor loses its effectiveness with overuse.
Everyone from politicians to CEOs to Southwest Airlines flight attendants use
self-deprecating humor - humor that makes fun of themselves - to get people
laughing at, and consequently with them. You can too.
While gallows humor may feel appropriate during layoffs and cutbacks, strive
to employ humor that uplifts and taps universal themes for best results. Here's
to laughter!
CRAIG HARRISON is a speaker, trainer and consultant who
makes communication and customer service fun and easy for his clients. To hear
his voice, call (888) 450-0664. Otherwise you can visit his website
http://www.expressionsofexcellence.com or send e-mail to
Excellence@craigspeaks.com.
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