Robert Frost said, “The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and doesn't stop until you get to the office.” If given the option of going to work or doing something FUN, what would you choose? Most people would choose to do something FUN. However, what if work was more FUN? :SugarwareZ-299:
In a survey by Robert Half International, 84% of the CEO's and Human Resource Directors surveyed indicated that people with a sense of humor do a better job. A study done by Hodge Cronin and Associates reported that 98% of the 737 CEO's interviewed said they would prefer to hire someone with a sense of humor over someone without.
Southwest Airline's progressive CEO Herb Kelleher said, “If work was more FUN, it would feel less like work.” Companies like Southwest and others are realizing the value in creating an enjoyable workplace. The beauty of their vision is that they can create a FUN work environment and remain profitable companies. So how, specifically, can humor and FUN have a positive impact on the workplace? Let's look at the concept from several perspectives.
Humor provides balance to the stress of work. When we laugh in the midst of stress, we are keeping the humor at arm’s length and not allowing the stressful situation to get the best of us. It’s as if the humor is providing us with a suit of armor, a buffering effect, which protects us from stress. With reorganizing, downsizing, outsourcing and all the other negative “ing's” that are occurring in today's workplace, we could use some balance from “ing's” like laughing and smiling. Humor is one weapon that can be used to defend against this stress and change. As Eighteenth Century French writer Francois Marie Voltaire said, “The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the more power they have to harm us.” Humor helps us to focus away from the negative by using something very positive. The beauty is this may be easier than you think.
Recently, I did a workshop for a group of U.S. District Court clerks. One of the gripes they had about their jobs was rotating the responsibility for opening the daily mail. None of them liked it because it was so boring and time consuming. In a brainstorming session, they came up with the idea of hiding something fun in the mail every day, maybe a coupon for a candy bar, an ice cream cone or a movie. That simple process made the work more enjoyable and they didn’t dread it anymore because there was a fun “prize” at the end. Who knew that a Snickers bar could transform your work experience!
Even some of the most tedious tasks can be fun. I used to run a quality improvement committee and people hated it. So one meeting, I actually sang my report to the tune of Gilliagan’s Island, and it had a dramatic effect on how everyone saw the meeting. From that point on, every time I gave my report I did it differently, but in a fun way. The tone made people look forward to the meeting. They knew it was going to be enjoyable—and as an added bonus, they were likely to be there on time, which made the meetings more productive.
Allowing humor to happen creates a wonderful barrier to protect us from the penetration of work related stress.
It’s the attitude in your perspective. Humor and FUN have a naturally positive effect on the way we see things. Humor encourages us to see the world from a different perspective. The very nature of humor is that it forces us to see things differently. If you dissect a joke, you’ll see that we’re taken down one path with the premise and then taken in a totally different direction with the punch line. It is that change of perspective that generally makes us laugh.
Comedian Steven Wright once asked, “How can there be self help groups?” The humor in this seemingly incongruent question lets us step away and see the situation with new objectivity. If we can look at adversity the same way, it becomes less threatening and not so “close.” Humor’s perspective can help us to develop a psychological distance from potentially stressful situations so that we can deal with them more rationally. It is a tool people can use to see around stress, to become more creative, to communicate more effectively, and to make work more fun—all benefits to the work environment but not typically associated with humor.
Stay well connected. Humor is also a wonderful socializing tool that connects us with others. Research has found that people are attracted to individuals who are perceived to have a sense of humor. It breaks down resistance and reduces tension between us. Have you ever noticed how we look around at others when we are laughing? Laughter creates this connection by allowing us to share in the foibles of the human condition and understand that we’re all in this together.
In the work environment, we must work with others and we must find ways to work together in order to reach our goals and the vision of the organization. In essence, teams that laugh together stay together. We see people with a sense of humor as more approachable and less threatening. If we can create opportunities to laugh together at work, we’ll see the benefits in our outcomes and bottom line.
FUN-damentals for leaders.
Even management and leadership can be enhanced with FUN and humor. Have you ever sung a report at a committee meeting? Have you ever stood on a table to encourage colleagues to see problems from a different perspective? Have you ever juggled in front of your staff? If not, then perhaps you take your role as a leader quite seriously, which isn’t bad in itself. If you take your job too seriously though, staff may view you as uptight and unapproachable. A “lighter” approach to your work, on the other hand, conveys a sense of control, flexibility and understanding, all critical for survival as leaders. But you must be a good at your job before you can add FUN to the role.
Effective leaders and managers help employees develop and reach their greatest potential—and thereby benefit a company’s mission. One way to do that is to create a more enjoyable place to work. And, it can be done while still maintaining an environment of credibility and productivity. Here are a few suggestions to keep the FUN in work:
Be a humor role model. If you want your staff and other employees to lighten up and manage their stress more effectively, you need to set the example. Allow yourself to laugh at your mistakes and encourage your employees to have fun in their work. Share funny leadership experiences with your peers and make sure you are having fun in your job. Supporting humor starts at the top and trickles down. If the leadership doesn’t back the idea, staff will never be successful.
Hire the right people. The hiring philosophy of Southwest Airlines is to hire for attitude, then teach the skill. The “People Department” and all the leaders at Southwest recognize the power of attitude for making their culture work. If you are hiring people with great skills but poor attitudes, their attitude may be detrimental to the work environment. Ask a candidate, for example, how they like to have fun or how they use humor. Look for positive attitudes and coping skills in everyone you hire.
Create a FUN work environment. As a leader, you have influence over your work environment. If would like to add more FUN to the workplace, consider using humor in the following:
Presentations
Public places like bulletin boards, cubicles and doors
Meetings
Memos, newsletters and emails
Parties, recognition events
The more FUN you add, the more your staff will want to be there. The more they want to be there, the more they will contribute to the work environment.
When I became a manger, I took over for a department in which there had been tremendous tension. I wanted to make a good impression yet I felt inadequate as this was my first management position. So, at my first staff meeting, I gave every staff member a red clown nose, asked them to put it on, and told them to look around the room at their colleagues. It was a magic moment in which a burst of laughter relieved the tension. It was a simple idea but the message was powerful – let’s not take ourselves too seriously.
Whether you want to improve your management skills, become a better leader or just have more FUN at work, an appreciation of the value of humor can help you accomplish your goal. Benjamin Franklin said, “The Constitution guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. But you have to catch it on your own!” It’s up to you.
When others aren’t laughing. Sometimes, there are people in your organization who may not appreciate a humorous approach. One of my first jobs was working at a hospice organization, which was certainly a serious work environment for those of us on the staff. Yet, knowing the healing power of laugher, I soon began sharing humor at staff meetings, passing around funny cartoons and encouraging an atmosphere of levity.
My boss said to me one day, “I think you’re taking this humor thing a little bit too far.” Now that I am a professional speaker and humorist, I’ve learned that my boss’s comment is shared by a lot of people in the workplace today. In fact, audience members routinely ask me, “What do you do if those you work with do not have a sense of humor?”
Even though I don’t believe there are many people in the world totally devoid of a sense of humor, I do believe there are a lot of people that are perceived to be. When you would like to add more fun and humor to your work environment and your colleagues or your supervisor is “humor challenged,” that’s a problem. Since I’m assuming you won’t resign just because others don’t have a great sense of humor, here are a few suggestions for working with an Un-Funites.
1.Have a humor “Sit Down”. In the HBO series “The Sopranos,” when the heads of families have a beef with one another, they have a “sit down” to discuss the issue and find a solution that everyone can live with (or not!). I believe you will find similar success if you discuss humor with others. Ask how he or she sees humor in the workplace. Explain your perspective. See if you can agree on the value of humor for employees, the work environment and for your constituents or customers. You’d be amazed at what could happen if you simply bring it up.
2. Start slowly. One of the biggest mistakes I see with those who support humor is that they go over the top with their humor, thus alienating potential supporters. Making coworkers sing songs, wear clown noses or laugh on cue may not initially be the best way to integrate humor in the workplace. Consider sharing a bit of humor at the start of a meeting or putting a fun outgoing message on your voice mail as a first step. Invite coworkers to watch a humor video or listen to a humor audio tape over lunch as a way to slowly integrate humor into your work.
3.Always be respectful with humor. No matter how you use humor, it must always be respectful. This does not mean you can’t poke fun at others, but you must always display an underlying atmosphere of respect. When I emcee a fundraiser or awards ceremony, I honor the award recipients and dignitaries in attendance. However, I may also poke fun at them but only if I know them well or have gotten their permission ahead of time. If you show that you respect others, you can have fun without offending or alienating them. This is the “heart” of humor and allows us to connect with others.
4.Always do a good job. Last year I did a presentation for a hospice in the Midwest. The CEO of this hospice welcomed the group and then introduced me. As she walked onto the stage, she received a standing ovation before she even opened her mouth. I’ve never seen such respect and admiration for someone in a top leadership role. Clearly this group knew that she was good at her job and they showed their appreciation with their applause. When you do a good job, people respect you. When people respect you, you can have fun at what you do. If, on the other hand, you are not doing a good job, the use of humor may work against you. Your boss or staff may feel you don’t take your work seriously and then you will lose their respect and support.
Humor is a great resource for the workplace. It reduces stress, enhances communication and makes the environment more enjoyable. Your greatest ally in bringing humor to work is your boss and your colleagues. If they are not humor advocates, you may not be able to change them. But you can change your attitude and your approach. If you can bring integrity to the way you promote humor, you stand a good chance of convincing others that humor at work is workable.
Let it begin with you. Whether you add a funny story or quote to a presentation or you include a cartoon on the cover of your memos, you are making the workplace pleasant. You could even go so far as to include an item on humor as part of your staff performance evaluations - now is that progressive or what? Most of all, when you make these work processes more FUN, you will be affecting attitudes. Once you affect attitudes, you can unleash a new level of productivity and commitment.
Humor forces us to see a new perspective and trains our brains to look at the world differently. If you allow yourself to engage in humorous activities on a regular basis, your perspective will be broadened as well.
A woman in one of my workshops was pulled over for speeding. When the police officer approached her car and flipped open his ticket pad, she looked up at him and said, “I'll have a cheeseburger and fries.” The officer quietly closed his ticket pad, walked back to his car and didn't give her a ticket. She took a risk by using humor in a stressful situation and it paid off.
Humor is a solid investment in every work setting. Oscar Wilde said, “Life is much too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it.” Indeed, work and life are no less serious when we are having FUN but we can sure tolerate a lot more seriousness when there's a bit of FUN involved.
(This article appeared on the November 2004 cover of the Employers Group "People & Productivity" newsletter and is included here by permission. Representing nearly 5,000 California businesses-and their 2.1 million employees-Employers Group is the nation's largest and oldest human resources management association and is regarded as the leading voice for HR departments across the state.)
In a survey by Robert Half International, 84% of the CEO's and Human Resource Directors surveyed indicated that people with a sense of humor do a better job. A study done by Hodge Cronin and Associates reported that 98% of the 737 CEO's interviewed said they would prefer to hire someone with a sense of humor over someone without.
Southwest Airline's progressive CEO Herb Kelleher said, “If work was more FUN, it would feel less like work.” Companies like Southwest and others are realizing the value in creating an enjoyable workplace. The beauty of their vision is that they can create a FUN work environment and remain profitable companies. So how, specifically, can humor and FUN have a positive impact on the workplace? Let's look at the concept from several perspectives.
Humor provides balance to the stress of work. When we laugh in the midst of stress, we are keeping the humor at arm’s length and not allowing the stressful situation to get the best of us. It’s as if the humor is providing us with a suit of armor, a buffering effect, which protects us from stress. With reorganizing, downsizing, outsourcing and all the other negative “ing's” that are occurring in today's workplace, we could use some balance from “ing's” like laughing and smiling. Humor is one weapon that can be used to defend against this stress and change. As Eighteenth Century French writer Francois Marie Voltaire said, “The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the more power they have to harm us.” Humor helps us to focus away from the negative by using something very positive. The beauty is this may be easier than you think.
Recently, I did a workshop for a group of U.S. District Court clerks. One of the gripes they had about their jobs was rotating the responsibility for opening the daily mail. None of them liked it because it was so boring and time consuming. In a brainstorming session, they came up with the idea of hiding something fun in the mail every day, maybe a coupon for a candy bar, an ice cream cone or a movie. That simple process made the work more enjoyable and they didn’t dread it anymore because there was a fun “prize” at the end. Who knew that a Snickers bar could transform your work experience!
Even some of the most tedious tasks can be fun. I used to run a quality improvement committee and people hated it. So one meeting, I actually sang my report to the tune of Gilliagan’s Island, and it had a dramatic effect on how everyone saw the meeting. From that point on, every time I gave my report I did it differently, but in a fun way. The tone made people look forward to the meeting. They knew it was going to be enjoyable—and as an added bonus, they were likely to be there on time, which made the meetings more productive.
Allowing humor to happen creates a wonderful barrier to protect us from the penetration of work related stress.
It’s the attitude in your perspective. Humor and FUN have a naturally positive effect on the way we see things. Humor encourages us to see the world from a different perspective. The very nature of humor is that it forces us to see things differently. If you dissect a joke, you’ll see that we’re taken down one path with the premise and then taken in a totally different direction with the punch line. It is that change of perspective that generally makes us laugh.
Comedian Steven Wright once asked, “How can there be self help groups?” The humor in this seemingly incongruent question lets us step away and see the situation with new objectivity. If we can look at adversity the same way, it becomes less threatening and not so “close.” Humor’s perspective can help us to develop a psychological distance from potentially stressful situations so that we can deal with them more rationally. It is a tool people can use to see around stress, to become more creative, to communicate more effectively, and to make work more fun—all benefits to the work environment but not typically associated with humor.
Stay well connected. Humor is also a wonderful socializing tool that connects us with others. Research has found that people are attracted to individuals who are perceived to have a sense of humor. It breaks down resistance and reduces tension between us. Have you ever noticed how we look around at others when we are laughing? Laughter creates this connection by allowing us to share in the foibles of the human condition and understand that we’re all in this together.
In the work environment, we must work with others and we must find ways to work together in order to reach our goals and the vision of the organization. In essence, teams that laugh together stay together. We see people with a sense of humor as more approachable and less threatening. If we can create opportunities to laugh together at work, we’ll see the benefits in our outcomes and bottom line.
FUN-damentals for leaders.
Even management and leadership can be enhanced with FUN and humor. Have you ever sung a report at a committee meeting? Have you ever stood on a table to encourage colleagues to see problems from a different perspective? Have you ever juggled in front of your staff? If not, then perhaps you take your role as a leader quite seriously, which isn’t bad in itself. If you take your job too seriously though, staff may view you as uptight and unapproachable. A “lighter” approach to your work, on the other hand, conveys a sense of control, flexibility and understanding, all critical for survival as leaders. But you must be a good at your job before you can add FUN to the role.
Effective leaders and managers help employees develop and reach their greatest potential—and thereby benefit a company’s mission. One way to do that is to create a more enjoyable place to work. And, it can be done while still maintaining an environment of credibility and productivity. Here are a few suggestions to keep the FUN in work:
Be a humor role model. If you want your staff and other employees to lighten up and manage their stress more effectively, you need to set the example. Allow yourself to laugh at your mistakes and encourage your employees to have fun in their work. Share funny leadership experiences with your peers and make sure you are having fun in your job. Supporting humor starts at the top and trickles down. If the leadership doesn’t back the idea, staff will never be successful.
Hire the right people. The hiring philosophy of Southwest Airlines is to hire for attitude, then teach the skill. The “People Department” and all the leaders at Southwest recognize the power of attitude for making their culture work. If you are hiring people with great skills but poor attitudes, their attitude may be detrimental to the work environment. Ask a candidate, for example, how they like to have fun or how they use humor. Look for positive attitudes and coping skills in everyone you hire.
Create a FUN work environment. As a leader, you have influence over your work environment. If would like to add more FUN to the workplace, consider using humor in the following:
Presentations
Public places like bulletin boards, cubicles and doors
Meetings
Memos, newsletters and emails
Parties, recognition events
The more FUN you add, the more your staff will want to be there. The more they want to be there, the more they will contribute to the work environment.
When I became a manger, I took over for a department in which there had been tremendous tension. I wanted to make a good impression yet I felt inadequate as this was my first management position. So, at my first staff meeting, I gave every staff member a red clown nose, asked them to put it on, and told them to look around the room at their colleagues. It was a magic moment in which a burst of laughter relieved the tension. It was a simple idea but the message was powerful – let’s not take ourselves too seriously.
Whether you want to improve your management skills, become a better leader or just have more FUN at work, an appreciation of the value of humor can help you accomplish your goal. Benjamin Franklin said, “The Constitution guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. But you have to catch it on your own!” It’s up to you.
When others aren’t laughing. Sometimes, there are people in your organization who may not appreciate a humorous approach. One of my first jobs was working at a hospice organization, which was certainly a serious work environment for those of us on the staff. Yet, knowing the healing power of laugher, I soon began sharing humor at staff meetings, passing around funny cartoons and encouraging an atmosphere of levity.
My boss said to me one day, “I think you’re taking this humor thing a little bit too far.” Now that I am a professional speaker and humorist, I’ve learned that my boss’s comment is shared by a lot of people in the workplace today. In fact, audience members routinely ask me, “What do you do if those you work with do not have a sense of humor?”
Even though I don’t believe there are many people in the world totally devoid of a sense of humor, I do believe there are a lot of people that are perceived to be. When you would like to add more fun and humor to your work environment and your colleagues or your supervisor is “humor challenged,” that’s a problem. Since I’m assuming you won’t resign just because others don’t have a great sense of humor, here are a few suggestions for working with an Un-Funites.
1.Have a humor “Sit Down”. In the HBO series “The Sopranos,” when the heads of families have a beef with one another, they have a “sit down” to discuss the issue and find a solution that everyone can live with (or not!). I believe you will find similar success if you discuss humor with others. Ask how he or she sees humor in the workplace. Explain your perspective. See if you can agree on the value of humor for employees, the work environment and for your constituents or customers. You’d be amazed at what could happen if you simply bring it up.
2. Start slowly. One of the biggest mistakes I see with those who support humor is that they go over the top with their humor, thus alienating potential supporters. Making coworkers sing songs, wear clown noses or laugh on cue may not initially be the best way to integrate humor in the workplace. Consider sharing a bit of humor at the start of a meeting or putting a fun outgoing message on your voice mail as a first step. Invite coworkers to watch a humor video or listen to a humor audio tape over lunch as a way to slowly integrate humor into your work.
3.Always be respectful with humor. No matter how you use humor, it must always be respectful. This does not mean you can’t poke fun at others, but you must always display an underlying atmosphere of respect. When I emcee a fundraiser or awards ceremony, I honor the award recipients and dignitaries in attendance. However, I may also poke fun at them but only if I know them well or have gotten their permission ahead of time. If you show that you respect others, you can have fun without offending or alienating them. This is the “heart” of humor and allows us to connect with others.
4.Always do a good job. Last year I did a presentation for a hospice in the Midwest. The CEO of this hospice welcomed the group and then introduced me. As she walked onto the stage, she received a standing ovation before she even opened her mouth. I’ve never seen such respect and admiration for someone in a top leadership role. Clearly this group knew that she was good at her job and they showed their appreciation with their applause. When you do a good job, people respect you. When people respect you, you can have fun at what you do. If, on the other hand, you are not doing a good job, the use of humor may work against you. Your boss or staff may feel you don’t take your work seriously and then you will lose their respect and support.
Humor is a great resource for the workplace. It reduces stress, enhances communication and makes the environment more enjoyable. Your greatest ally in bringing humor to work is your boss and your colleagues. If they are not humor advocates, you may not be able to change them. But you can change your attitude and your approach. If you can bring integrity to the way you promote humor, you stand a good chance of convincing others that humor at work is workable.
Let it begin with you. Whether you add a funny story or quote to a presentation or you include a cartoon on the cover of your memos, you are making the workplace pleasant. You could even go so far as to include an item on humor as part of your staff performance evaluations - now is that progressive or what? Most of all, when you make these work processes more FUN, you will be affecting attitudes. Once you affect attitudes, you can unleash a new level of productivity and commitment.
Humor forces us to see a new perspective and trains our brains to look at the world differently. If you allow yourself to engage in humorous activities on a regular basis, your perspective will be broadened as well.
A woman in one of my workshops was pulled over for speeding. When the police officer approached her car and flipped open his ticket pad, she looked up at him and said, “I'll have a cheeseburger and fries.” The officer quietly closed his ticket pad, walked back to his car and didn't give her a ticket. She took a risk by using humor in a stressful situation and it paid off.
Humor is a solid investment in every work setting. Oscar Wilde said, “Life is much too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it.” Indeed, work and life are no less serious when we are having FUN but we can sure tolerate a lot more seriousness when there's a bit of FUN involved.
(This article appeared on the November 2004 cover of the Employers Group "People & Productivity" newsletter and is included here by permission. Representing nearly 5,000 California businesses-and their 2.1 million employees-Employers Group is the nation's largest and oldest human resources management association and is regarded as the leading voice for HR departments across the state.)
