Humor at work | Andrew Tarvin | TEDxOhioStateUniversity
What is humor in the workplace?
Any lighthearted comment or joke can be considered humor in the workplace. This could be informal jokes told in the break room, written in a presentation, or even a gif included in an email. When using humor at work, it’s crucial to be respectful and professional so that everyone feels valued. When used effectively, humor can increase one’s enjoyment of their work.
Benefits of humor in the workplace
Here are some advantages that humor can have at work:
1. Create better employee-boss relationships
By allowing conversation to diverge from work-related issues and fostering a sense of mutual understanding, humor can help employees and managers develop more comfortable working relationships.
2. Make interviews easier
By lightening the mood during interviews, humor can put both candidates and interviewers at ease. Additionally, it can assist the applicant in comprehending the nature of the workplace and demonstrate to the interviewer how they might fit in.
3. Encourage people to read emails
People may read emails all the way through because of the likable and approachable tone that humor creates. Additionally, it can foster connections and relationships between various regional or national branches of a business, as well as between those who work both remotely and in an office. In order to prevent readers from misinterpreting jokes or taking them seriously, it’s important to carefully craft your humor in emails.
4. Increase meeting involvement
Through creating a more relaxed atmosphere that encourages employees to speak up or ask questions, humor can increase meeting participation.
5. Increase memory of presentations
A presentation can be made more memorable by using humor, whether it be in the form of a spoken joke about the subject matter or a gif included in the slides. Employees may find it simple to recall a clever or humorous turn of phrase that reminds them of a fact or update just when they need it.
6. Contribute to persuasion
Because humor makes people likeable, it can relax a negotiation situation and encourage others to view new information favorably. This might make it easier for them to accept new information, accept a compromise, or comprehend alternative viewpoints.
7. Help set positive norms
A leader can use humor as a tool for leadership by establishing office norms for appropriate joke-telling and communicating to others that having fun is acceptable. It’s critical for leaders to consider the type of workplace they want to create and use humor appropriately because they set the standard for social behavior in the workplace.
8. Help create empathy
When jokes are offensive or hurtful, there may be a chance to foster empathy at work. Discussions about what is beneficial and harmful to others can give employees new perspectives, inspire new regulations, or clarify the company’s values.
9. Reduce stress
By bringing about a sense of humor and providing workers with a mental break from thinking about a problem or tense situation, humor can help reduce stress in the workplace.
10. Improve physical health
Laughter can release serotonin, which helps regulate mood, and help break down the hormones that the body produces when it is stressed.
11. Help cope with challenges
An effective coping strategy for difficulties at work can be humor. Laughter about difficult issues can make workers realize that they are not alone in their struggle to overcome these obstacles.
12. Builds trust
By getting to know each other, humor fosters trust between coworkers. It can foster a secure environment where people feel free to be themselves.
13. Builds team unity
Since most workplace humor is related to work, it can foster teamwork and help identify common challenges. People may feel more at ease offering solutions to problems in a lighthearted setting when they believe their ideas will be heard.
14. Reduce conflict
By allowing people to express their emotions without becoming angry, humor can help reduce conflict in the workplace. A joke can also ease tension or make someone feel better who is upset.
15. Bridge cultural divides
Building relationships with people from different cultures or backgrounds can be enjoyable through humor. Jokes have the power to unite people or serve as a fun way to examine cultural differences. It’s crucial to be considerate of other people’s feelings, use humor with good intention, and be aware of other people’s discomfort.
16. Shows what people have in common
Finding out what you have in common with others through humor can be enjoyable. Even if coworkers don’t frequently collaborate or share many other traits, sharing inside jokes can foster relationships.
17. Energize the workplace
You might be more motivated to stay attentive and engaged at work if your coworkers are humorous. Humor can also encourage fast-paced conversation and attentiveness.
18. Reduce the impact of a challenge
Making jokes about a problem can make it seem less intimidating and strengthen social ties that encourage ingenuity and the development of solutions.
19. Encourage honesty and self expression
Employees can feel comfortable expressing themselves in other ways, such as sharing original ideas and voicing dissent, when they feel at ease enough to joke around at work.
20. Promote humility and equality
Self-deprecating humor can help leaders seem more approachable and promote a sense of equality in the workplace. When humor is used to deal with mistakes at work, it can encourage healthy processing, help all employees understand that mistakes are not disasters, and move the problem-solving stage along more quickly. When a teammate’s value is not based on how well they perform, it can also encourage workers to adopt a more humble and forgiving attitude.
21. Increase spontaneity
Jokes can make a work environment feel more spontaneous and help with any boredom caused by routines like manufacturing processes or bureaucratic processes.
22. Prevent burnout
A quick break from work for a joke or conversation can keep people in a positive frame of mind and avoid professional burnout or overload.
23. Reduce turnover
If the workplace is lively and friendly, workers might be less likely to leave.
24. Reduce absenteeism
If workers enjoy their jobs, they may look forward to going to work each day and take fewer paid or unpaid leaves of absence. A team’s ability to laugh together can make its members want to hang out with it.
25. Increase productivity
The use of humor at work can boost output because it lifts spirits and fosters a cooperative atmosphere where everyone feels empowered to contribute.
26. Encourage original ideas
According to some theories, humor is sparked by odd comparisons or unexpected results. It might be simpler for creative staff members to make the logical connections and original thinking necessary to come up with solutions and ideas if they have the habit of thinking humorously.
27. Increase profits
When workers are more likely to show up for work, stay put, and use their creativity while doing so, the business will benefit and profit will increase.
28. Enhance brand reputation
Building an approachable, modern brand can be facilitated by the use of humor throughout your business. Funny commercials can attract viewers and help them remember your brand.
29. Make a good impression
Customers and clients have a positive impression of your business when dealing with friendly and entertaining employees and sales representatives. When others are eager to join your team, this can also promote long-lasting relationships.
30. Create an impression of control
Making jokes about a situation can show someone is self-assured and composed. When managers use humor, they can increase their influence on the team and gain others’ respect. Jokes that are appropriate can put customers at ease and help them accept delays or setbacks.
31. Attract new employees
A fun workplace culture can bring in like-minded workers who are eager to participate and contribute. This could strengthen the group even more and prolong the productive environment.
32. Create a lasting impression
Humor can help you make a lasting impression professionally. It can help you distinguish your company from competitors to customers or even help job candidates shine in an interview. It’s important to think about your audience and your jokes in high-pressure situations because using humor in some circumstances may suggest that you are out of touch or insensitive.
