Laugh and the world of work laughs with you
Many of today’s work environments are plagued by crabby bosses and co-workers, repetitive tasks, and unpredictable market pressures. Stress abounds. Managers often tell me they can’t afford the time or cost of my humor workshops; How can they afford not to address workplace stress?
We know clinically that laughter and play have medicinal qualities, offering physical, psychological, and physiological benefits as well. In the workplace, humor and fun can increase productivity, foster creativity, enhance team building, and thus improve team spirit.
While we may not be able to control everything that happens to us in our jobs and work environments, we do have control over how we choose to react. I coach others on how to create an environment that is safe and friendly, and I use humor to help maintain a healthy balance between the pressure and seriousness that comes from high-stakes jobs and a competitive marketplace. Remember that humor starts from within. Being able to laugh at your own weaknesses goes a long way toward creating a healthy work environment in which to thrive.
The following are activities and strategies for you as an individual, work group, and manager. Be creative and use these ideas to stimulate your own work stress remedies.
– Decorate your work area with funny cartoons, headlines or photos that bring a smile to your face and to the faces of your co-workers. Whether you’re surrounded by your favorite childhood Pez dispensers or tongue-in-cheek cartoons speaking to your tastes, let your work area comfort you and make you laugh while taking a little edge off standard office decor. .
– Touch a co-worker to be your humor partner. Bring a daily joke to share. Commissioner on fun events in the workplace. Keep each other up in good spirits. When the chips are low, your humorous partner can undermine your depression, and vice versa.
– Don’t think that cubicles limit your humor options. I have seen shower curtains, umbrellas, and other devices used effectively to set a light or semi-serious tone. For some, creativity flourishes behind their cubicle’s shower curtain. People manipulating your work area? Don’t get mad… protect it with yellow “Crime Scene” tape!
– Subscribe to a humor website to receive a free daily or weekly humor story, joke, and anecdote by email. Sites like http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/ or [http://www.oraclehumor.com/] are two examples.
You are laughing at me? A manager, known for his bad mood, recognized him with a “Mood-O-Meter” outside his door. Both he and his employees took turns forecasting his mood: from fire spits to variable clouds to periodic eruptions…proceed at his own peril. Don’t underestimate the power of modest humor to make yourself more approachable and likeable.
Space for laughter. Some companies designate a room, a work area, or a corner of their office as a romper room, where games and goofing around are allowed. Whether yours has a punching bag, games, a dart board, or a foosball table, it’s a space to let off steam and take a break from the grind.
wine not. Everyone hates whiners, but we all need to let off steam periodically. A group of creative trainers and their manager decreed Thursdays to be effective whining days. They controlled themselves the rest of the week, making sure not to whimper. However, even his Thursday complaints had a department sanction and somehow seemed healthier. After all, their bellies ached together. A domino effect improved the morale of the departments adjacent to yours!
Delivering humour. Many professionals approach meetings with trepidation. A dash of humor can make all the difference. For regular meetings, set aside a minute or two each meeting for a humorous interlude. In a work group, a “hand of humor” rotates from one meeting to another. Employees take turns setting a lighter tone in the meeting, making sure everyone participates. An anecdote, verbal or physical activity focuses the group on the task at hand and brings colleagues together in a spirit of fun.
When not to use humor. Not all humor is good humor. Humor that hurts, ostracizes, or is cruel will have a detrimental effect on others and on you. Strive for inclusive, creative humor that captures our human essence. By now you know that sexist, racist, age-biased jokes, and crude humor are not only inappropriate, they can lead to sanctions, termination, or even lawsuits. Be sensitive when telling jokes involving layoffs, RIFs, and personal tragedies. Your pain may linger long after the fact. . When in doubt… leave it out!
Appropriate humor can make difficult tasks easier, collaborations fun, and certainly make work days go faster. Laugh, and the world of work laughs with you!