Laugh and the Work World Laughs With You

by Craig Harrison

	Laugh and the Work World Laughs With You.

Many of today's work environments are rife with moody bosses and co-workers, repetitive tasks and unpredictable market pressures. Stress abounds. Managers often tell me they can't afford the time or cost for my humour 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, humour and fun can increase productivity, encourage creativity, enhance team building, and thus improve esprit de corps.

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 how to create an environment which is safe and friendly, and use humour to help maintain a healthy balance between the pressure and seriousness which comes from high stakes jobs and a competitive marketplace. Remember that humour starts from within. Being able to laugh at your own foibles goes a long way toward creating a healthy work climate in which to flourish.

The following are activities and strategies for you as individuals, workgroups and managers. Be creative and use these ideas to stimulate your own remedies to workplace stress.

- Adorn your work area with cartoons, headlines or funny photos which bring a smile to your face and visiting co-workers'. Whether you're surrounded by your favourite Pez dispensers childhood, or wry cartoons that speak to your tastes, let your work area comfort and humour you while taking some of the edge off the standard office decor.

- Tap a co-worker to be your humour-partner. Bring a daily joke to share. Commiserate about funny workplace events. Keep each other buoyed with good cheer. When the chips are down your humour partner can chip away at your depression, and vice versa.

- Don't think cubicles limit your humour options. I've 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 tampering with your work area? Don't get angry.protect it with yellow "Crime Scene" tape!

- Subscribe to a humour website to be e-mailed a free daily or weekly humorous story, joke and anecdote. Sites such as www.netfunny.com or www.oraclehumor.com are two examples.

Are You Laughin' At Me? One manager, known for his moodiness, acknowledged it with a "Mood-O-Meter" outside his door. Both he and his employees took turns forecasting his mood: from fire-breathing to variable clouds to periodic eruptions.proceed at your own risk. Don't underestimate the power of self-effacing humour for making yourself more accessible and liked.

Room for Laughter. Some companies designate a room, work area or corner of their office as a romper room, where frolicking and silliness is allowed. Whether yours has a punching bag, games, a dartboard or foosball, it's a room for letting off steam and taking a break from the grind.

Whine Not. Everyone loathes whiners yet we all need to blow off steam periodically. One group of creative trainers and their manager decreed Thursdays to be effective whining days. They self-policed themselves the rest of the week, making sure not to whine. Yet even their Thursday gripes had a departmental sanction and somehow seemed healthier. After all, they belly ached together. A ripple effect actually improved the morale of departments adjacent to theirs!

Meting Out Humour. Many professionals approach meetings with trepidation. A dash of humour can make a difference. For regular meetings earmark one or two minutes each meeting for a humorous interlude. In one workgroup a "humour hand" rotates from meeting to meeting. Employees take turns setting a lighter tone to the meeting, insuring everybody is engaged. 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 Humour. Not all humour is good humour. Humour that hurts, ostracizes or is cruel will have a detrimental effect on others and you. Strive for humour that is inclusive, creative and captures our human essence. By now you know that sexist, racist, ageist jokes and crude humour are not only inappropriate, but can lead to sanctions, termination or even lawsuits. Be sensitive when telling jokes involving terminations, reductions in force (RIFs) and personal tragedies. Their hurt can linger long after the fact. . When in doubt.leave it out!

Appropriate humour can make hard tasks easier, collaborations fun and certainly make workdays go faster. Laugh, and the work world laughs with you!

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About The Author:

Since the age of eleven when he went door-to-door selling Used Jokes, Craig Harrison has been connecting with customers through humour. As a professional speaker and corporate trainer Craig Harrison's Expressions of Excellence provides sales and service solutions through speaking. Contact him at (888) 450-0664, through his website. LINK