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8 Tips for Understanding Humor in the Workplace
Yes, we can still joke in the workplace. No one wants a sterile, humorless work environment; that would be no fun. Yet, clearly, some don’t seem to know where the line is.
Consider using these eight tips to help employees learn how to be their most playful selves, while safely navigating today’s complex workplace.
1. Remember that laughter is good for you. According to research:
a. Every time you have a good hearty laugh, you burn up 3 1/2 calories.
b. Laughter lowers stress hormones — particularly cortisol (which can lead to belly fat).
c. Laughing increases oxygen intake, thereby replenishing and invigorating cells. It also increases the pain threshold, boosts immunity, and releases endorphins, a chemical 10 times more powerful than the pain-relieving drug, morphine.
2. Laugh your way up the ladder. In a Robert Half International poll of 1000 executives, 84 percent said that workers with a sense of humor do a better job. Other studies show that the most successful individuals tend to be those with high EQ’s. These are folks who understand emotions and know how to work well with others; they also know how to use humor well.Want to climb the corporate ladder faster? Exercise your laugh muscles more.
3. Use humor in stressful situations. By all means, do use humor to lighten up the mood, relax the tension, and turnaround a situation that is going downhill fast. Using humor in tough situations often works magic!
Too much stress and anxiety can cause "flooding," which is what happens when the brain is overwhelmed with too many stress chemicals.When this happens, our performance begins to weaken, from a diminished capacity to think, listen and communicate effectively.
This is why creativity experts tell us to find ways to relax, laugh, and enjoy ourselves before trying to solve complex problems. This "play time" gives our brains a feel-good chemical bath that will help to keep all pistons firing!
4. Remember that humor can be a double-edge sword. Laughter has the power to heal—and to hurt.If your amusing comment is meant to bring people together and lighten up a mood, then go for it. If it is meant to single out or disparage any person or group, then refrain from using it.
Also, avoid sarcasm. Frequent use can be an indirect way of expressing anger and hostility. Working with sarcastic people can be tiring and off-putting to co-workers, lowering morale and teamwork.
5. Be aware of hot buttons and sensitive topics. We all have hot buttons—and we should treat each others’ with care. Teasing Robert about his cow lick or Nancy about her accent may seem cute to us, but after decades of hearing the same comments, they might be really tired of hearing them.
Like all sensitive topics, such as alcoholism, poverty, height, weight and physical appearance, it is best to stay far away from them.
6. Be aware of the law. It is always wise to stay away from joking about any demographic groups or classes protected from discrimination by law. These classes vary by state but generally include: gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disabilities and mental illness.
You may think that your ethnic joke is harmless, but there is a good chance that someone else will disagree. Not only could it lose you some friends ("Hey, that joke about Chinese restaurants is not funny!My grandmother is Chinese!"), you might also be breaking workplace laws and risking suspension, fines and even getting fired.
Speaking of the law, remember to also refrain from suggestive and sexual jokes. There is a wide spectrum of how people perceive and react to these, and you might be tripping someone else’s senso-meters.Inadvertently, you might also be helping to create a hostile work environment.
7. Speak up when you are offended. When we are offended or hurt by someone’s joking, there are simple ways to help us turn the situation around and get us back on the right track. Sometimes, even just a look or just a few words will do. It doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated.Try something as simple as, "Ouch!" or "Hey!" or "Yikes!" or "I am not comfortable with that" or "Please don’t do that." If that doesn’t work for you, sometimes just your body language alone will do:silence, a simple shake of the head, a frown, a raised eyebrow.
8. We should acknowledge it when we offend others. No matter how well meaning we are, we can never anticipate all the ways that our words may hurt someone else. This is a natural part of our human experience.
If this happens to you, there is no need to panic or get defensive or overly apologetic. Just try something simple to acknowledge the hurt. Try something like, "Oops!" or "I am sorry." or "Thanks for telling me." or "Sorry, that didn’t come out right!"
Of course, if you are not sure why the person is offended, it is important to find out what happened. In cases like this, you might try something like, "Oh, I am sorry! I can see that you are upset. That was certainly not my intention.Can you please explain it to me (so that I don’t do it again)?"
Words to this effect will show that you are someone of good will and that you really care about the other person. It is situations like this that can turn out to be real gifts. In fact, they sometimes give us our most profound insights about the world and can give us a clearer view into the hearts, minds, and spirits of those around us!
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