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Author : 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,
http://www.ExpressionsofExcellence.com
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