Tanya Warnakulasuriya places a premium on workplace humour
Our perception of the corporate world is usually associated with images that are serious and in line with their ideals. Quality, integrity, responsibility and professionalism are words which spring to mind. We very rarely associate corporations or workplaces with humour. Why is that?
It is probably because in the business world, it is of utmost importance to be taken seriously. Being a ‘serious contender’ in business means that you matter to your competitors, financiers and investors. And yet, recent research reveals that the most successful companies seem to have developed corporate cultures that encourage open and friendly humour at work.
In Michael Kerr’s fascinating book – The Humour Advantage: Why Some Businesses are Laughing All the Way to the Bank – he notes that businesses which encourage individuals to be themselves have people who are more open with their humour, and this openness seems to generate innovation, collaboration and healthy teamwork.
In companies which harp on the need to be taken seriously, employees tend to suppress their humour. This closed modus operandi can lead to poor communication, misunderstanding and fragmentation, or stifled performance at work. As Kerr notes, this often backfires and “people who take themselves overly seriously are often, ironically, taken less seriously by those around them.”
That said, humour at work needs to be the right kind. Sarcasm, ridicule or belittling remarks that are said ‘in fun’ are simply bullying tactics disguised as humour – they should not be tolerated. As a general guide, good humour is something that unifies and uplifts people. Bad humour separates them. There is no humour in making someone feel bad, just for a laugh.
So why is humour so important in the workplace?
The research speaks for itself. From a personal career viewpoint, Harvard Business Review reports that executives who can demonstrate a sense of humour tend to climb the corporate ladder more quickly. This is further corroborated by a recent survey by Robert Half International, which found that 91 percent of participating executives believe that humour is important for career advancement, whilst 84 percent feel that people who have a good sense of humour are better at their jobs.
Many organisations are beginning to actively seek good humour as a positive trait in their employees. A Bell Leadership Institute study found that the two most desirable traits sought in leaders are their work ethic and a good sense of humour.
At the organisational level, it makes perfect sense to encourage humour in the workplace. People enjoy working with others they like. Applied properly, humour is a great way to win friends and influence people. Teams that play well together, work well together.
Humour is also a great stress reliever; and as we’re sadly finding out, the majority of stress in people’s lives tends to come from the workplace – so enjoying some light humour is a great way to keep working people healthy.
Humour helps in building trust. This is because good humour needs authenticity. It is also humanising, and the perfect medium through which managers and workers can come together, to realise that they seek common goals. Managers who use humour are seen to be more approachable – and this, in turn, boosts morale. Thus, the workplace becomes a pleasant environment.
Good use of humour can also improve customer relations. There’s nothing more pleasant for a customer than dealing with a friendly, good humoured operative. And good humour, if used skilfully, can go a long way towards diffusing the anger of an unhappy customer.
“Ha + ha = aha!” says Michael Kerr, emphasising that humour is a key ingredient of creative thinking. People tend to be more inspired when they are relaxed and see things in new ways. In an upbeat atmosphere, interaction increases, and the feeling that there are fewer risks to thinking outside the box causes effective brainstorming and creates new ideas.
When the atmosphere at work is jovial, absenteeism reduces – because people like coming to work! This improves the work ethic, and the ensuing enthusiasm can be contagious. Which is precisely what is required for a new culture to take root in the workplace.
So how do you bring more humour to work?
It’s not easy to suddenly become a funny person. American comedian Steve Allen says that a regular diet of enjoying something funny – by reading, watching or interacting with funny people – would inevitably help you find your funny bone.
“Humour will find you… (and) you will develop a sensitivity to the environment and circumstances that enable you to use humour in a situation that a more serious person will miss,” he assures.
