A balanced sense of humour

No matter what the attitude is towards the job or work relationships, one would surely agree that an office full of humor is much better than one full of tedium and boredom.  The effective use of humor has been one of the most difficult balances to achieve.  Many bosses have difficulty appreciating the value of humor in the workplace.  This is because most of the time it’s difficult to separate comic relief from bawdy and tasteless humor in the work place.

Finding the right balance of seriousness and positive camaraderie is never easy.  There is no denying that a good laugh in the work place can contribute to a positive work environment.  The challenge is how to do it right.

Displaying levity can help build rapport among managers and colleagues, facilitate open communication and bolster overall office morale.  People with a good sense of humor are also better able to build relationships and ease stressful work situations.  When people enjoy working with each other, they are more productive and willing to help their colleagues.

Having a good sense of humor is key for career advancement as it helps towards working more effectively with team and colleagues, staying motivated and performing better under pressure.

Managers with a good sense of humor are more approachable and can often communicate more effectively with employees.  Communication is made easier if the boss is light-hearted when necessary, and not takes himself too seriously.  Careful, humor can sometimes go too far.  There is a need to balance a good sense of humor while upholding the need to accomplish business goals, inspire outstanding performance and maintain professionalism.

THE DON’TS OF HUMOR AT THE WORKPLACE
1.	Should never be used at inappropriate times
2.	Do not use to demean someone
3.	Never make another person the target of a joke
4.	Never make jokes about race, gender, sex, age, national origin, religious and disabilities
5.	Do not make light of mistakes
6.	Do not berating others

TIPS FOR HUMOR AT THE WORKPLACE
1.	Tailor your approach to each individual
2.	Avoid sarcasm
3.	Create a ‘funny file’
4.	Laugh with others

Most importantly, be willing to laugh at yourself, acknowledge the humor of others.  Show the ability to handle jokes or even poke one a yourself.  This can go a long way towards showing your lighter side.

A culture of fun at work can

improve communication,

reduce stress and

increase productivity.

Tim Hird

Have a good laugh

TheStar, Thursday 4 August 2011