Humor is one of our six core values. In this article, we explore the importance of humor in the workplace and how it can help build effective teams.
How many times a day do you laugh? Does the answer depend on whether you’re working or not? According to a Gallup poll, smiling and laughing at work is a sign of an engaged employee, and engaged employees are much more likely to maintain a positive mood throughout the entire week.
For leaders, this is food for thought.
On an average Tuesday, 95% of engaged workers experience happiness compared to only 75% of disengaged workers. And, as you know, teams that are happily engaged in their work and workplace are much more likely to contribute positively to their organization and its goals.
But what’s the source of all that smiling and laughter?
The answer is manifold. Employees feel engaged with their work for all sorts of reasons, from being treated with respect to having a clear understanding of their objectives. But in this article, I’m going to highlight one particular cause of happiness in the workplace: humor.
What Is Humor in the Workplace?
According to the Oxford dictionary it’s “the quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech.” So, does that mean we have to go around the workplace cracking jokes all day to our staff?
Definitely not.
To paraphrase Andrew Tarvin, the CEO of Humor That Works, all jokes are forms of humor, but not all forms of humor are jokes. That’s a relief because I’m certainly not the best joke-teller in the world and I don’t relish the idea of kicking off every team meeting with “Did you hear the one about…”
But it does raise the question, what is humor?
I always thought that humor was something—anything—that induces laughter. From a stand-up comic or a witty meme to an episode of Frazier. But in the workplace, Tarvin suggests that it can be more subtle than that. He says, “Anything that relaxes the body, gets people to breathe, causes a smile, or elicits happiness is humor.”
In other words, you don’t have to be a comedian to introduce a little humor at work. As a leader, you can simply indulge in a little gentle ribbing, utter a quip or lighthearted remark, or make a clever observation or well-timed understatement.
But why bother?
“Fun is one of the most important – and underrated – ingredients in any successful venture.”
– Richard Branson, British Entrepreneur
Making Happiness in the Workplace a Business Goal
“Laughter is an instant vacation,” said American comedian Milton Berle once. I totally agree. A good laugh always lifts my spirits and increases my energy levels. And that’s why I made humor one of my company’s six core values:
Humor – Together we can enjoy the journey.
I endeavor to bring a spirit of humor and playfulness to my leadership and the work that we do at Open Gate Consulting. Being part of an optimistic and fun-loving team and celebrating mutual successes is—I believe—a great way to boost our creativity and productivity, not just our mood.
Happily, I’m not alone in thinking that humor can really help all of us at work.
Tarvin is so convinced that humor is a must-have in the workplace that he built his company around that entire premise. To date, Humor That Works has helped more than 250 organizations around the world to achieve success and happiness in the workplace using humor.
Even Stanford Graduate School of Business offers a course called “Humor: Serious Business,” which aims to help students develop an appreciation of the role of humor in the workplace.
And that’s no joke!
The Benefits of Humor as a Leadership Tool
Of course, most of us feel instinctively that humor at work is generally a positive thing. However, there have been numerous studies over the years which demonstrate that humor not only provides a more enjoyable working environment but also increases productivity and reduces absenteeism. It can even be viewed as a leadership strength.
In a Robert Half International survey, 91% of executives said they believe a sense of humor helps to advance their career. Another study by Bell Leadership Institute found that “humor is a vital tool of leadership” and that leaders “who can combine a strong work ethic and sense of humor may have the leading edge in their organizations.”
Here’s a rundown of the main benefits that humor can bring to your leadership:
- helps you diffuse conflict and ease tension
- strengthens team bonds and improves overall morale
- makes you more likeable, relatable, and approachable
- signals confidence, competency, and control
- helps you manage stress and enjoy your work more
Sadly, not all humor is positive. In fact, applied thoughtlessly or maliciously, it can have the opposite effect.
“Think of it this way, if your team lead was too busy to smile once a day, would you think the company is doing well?”
-Andrew Tarvin, CEO of Humor That Works
How Using Humor at Work Can Go Wrong
Humor can be tricky. Everyone has a sense of humor, but not everyone finds the same thing funny. I can chuckle at Schitt’s Creek all day long, but my husband can’t even manage a smile.
My preference for particular sitcoms doesn’t cause a problem because he just goes and sits in another room. However, employing inappropriate humor at work could land me in significant hot water. Saying afterwards that “It was just a joke” wouldn’t help me escape either.
But what sort of humor should leaders consider inappropriate?
Basically, anything that can be construed as hurtful or personal. For example, pointed barbs about age or work performance. Or little put-downs or calculated insults about appearance or character. No matter how ‘amusingly’ you phrase these types of comments, they’re not funny to the recipient or their colleagues.
Fortunately, there are some general rules you can follow to ensure you don’t cross the line between humor and insult.
You’re not a funny manager if you:
- tease someone about their age, gender, race, or heritage
- make light of a tragic situation like death, divorce, or serious illness
- joke about someone’s body or sexual orientations
- taunt someone about sex, religion or politics
In short, avoid making someone the butt of your jokes and remember that timing is everything. If you don’t, you’ll soon have a negative and polarizing atmosphere at work. You may even find yourself accused of harassment.
The Art of Not Taking Yourself Too Seriously as a Leader
Knowing what isn’t funny at work is one thing. Knowing how to be funny at work is another. There are lots of tips out there on this topic, so if you feel unsure about your humorous qualities, do a little internet research. You could start with this Insperity article: “Humor in the workplace: what’s funny, what’s not.” I love the suggestion that we should only make jokes as deep as our relationship with the listener. What a great point.
However, there’s one type of humor that I want to draw your attention to in this article because it’s pertinent for leaders: self-deprecation. This is where you say funny things at your own expense. Put another way, you are the target of your own humor.
Why is this particular form of humor appropriate for leaders? According to Tarvin (who is quickly becoming my go-to for all things about humor in the workplace), self-deprecation helps those in higher positions show others that they don’t take themselves too seriously.
To be clear, I’m not talking about making comments that belittle your accomplishments. Saying things like “Oh, anyone could do that” too often gets very tiring for those around you. You’ll sound insincere and you won’t instill confidence in your team. Too much self-deprecating humor signals a lack of self-confidence – whether true or not. A healthy balance is key.
But if you show that you’re unafraid to be the butt of your own jokes from time to time, you’ll appear friendly and approachable. It’s a way of saying, “Hey, I may be the boss but I’m still human like you guys!”
Humble humor jokes also show how self-aware you are, and self-awareness is an important leadership quality in anyone’s book.
Conclusion
Humor can be an extremely effective leadership tool—if you know how to wield it. It will help you develop trust in your team, and it will signal confidence and competency. It will even help you have more fun at work. Seriously!