Sense of Humor at Work

Having a sense of humor at our workplace is not only appropriate but also essential.  Most of us spend more than half of our waking hours at work, dealing with many kinds of stress. A little sense of humor goes a long way to look at these stressful situations in a different light, and helps maintain a fun environment at work.

Having a sense of humor isn't necessarily the same as being able to tell jokes. It is the ability to see humor in day-to-day situations and appreciate jokes. Some people have the knack of putting others at ease instantly with their sense of humor, which can be particularly helpful in conflict or icebreaking situations when meeting with new people.

The benefits of humor go beyond helping with stress at work. Humor and laughter can bring people together and develop very strong bonds. Robert Provine, author of 'Laughter: A Scientific Investigation', conducted research that says 90 percent of the things we laugh at aren't even remotely funny, and most laughter is not about jokes, but rather, about relationships between people. Many of you may have experienced this phenomenon, where you and a very close friend may find simple banter very funny and have a laugh whereas others may not think it is funny at all. So, a laughter filled work environment might be a good indication that people are comfortable with each other and that they share a very positive and healthy working relationship.

Given these many benefits of humor and fun at work, how do you promote these in your teams? It starts by having a sense of humor yourself, taking some risks and leading by example. When you are in the middle of a serious discussion, make an offhand remark or a joke that might surprise people and bring on a smile. Stick to simple and generic lines and make sure not to offend any one. As long as you pay attention to people's sentiments and don't overdo it, most people enjoy a good laugh. Think and create situational humor that the whole group can relate to. You will be surprised to see the group really stays connected through that shared situational humor for a long time after. If you know someone on your team that has a particularly good sense of humor, provide them the opportunity to show it off.  It only takes a few people start and create a fun environment, as laughter is very contagious. Before you know it, it will rub off on others.

Is 'sense of humor' inherent or can it be developed? The answer is yes to both. Almost everyone has some sense of humor inherently, but everyone can develop it further, by watching others who are good at it, exploring, and experimenting on their own in different situations.

If you have a serious work environment today, try some of these ideas, and soon you may find yourself where "work" and "fun" become synonymous.