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Humor in the Workplace
By Sid | May 1, 2007
Lighten up! Okay, that may be hard advice for anyone who hears that phrase on the job, but humor in the workplace is more than possible and without getting served a pink slip either. A good laugh now and then will do wonders for you, as smiling and laughing lowers your stress levels (a godsend in the sales industry), wins you a friendly reputation, and helps your usually tense coworkers and bosses unwind (and thus not take their frustrations out on you). Humor on the job does plenty for your career, but there are some things to know before becoming the office comedian.
Keep in mind that there are some jobs where humor isn’t a good idea. There’s always exceptions to every bit of advice you’ll hear, so have the good judgment to know when your workplace shouldn’t involve humor. One of the biggest rules with fun in the workplace is to avoid controversy when you’re joking around on the job. It’s stifling, but no one can deny that the current atmosphere of most businesses just isn’t friendly towards controversial or racy humor. Stay away from joking about politics, race and religion, for starters.
Sex is another dangerous topic, though it may be easier to make jokes about sex without offending others, so long as you’re aware of the exact definition of sexual harassment in your workplace and stay well within the lines of decency. Never poke fun at other people within your organization, as you’re trying to win friends among the people you work with, not alienate them. If you can’t help yourself, be extremely careful with exceptions to the rules and be cautiously creative if you must have some fun with the topics you should avoid.
Tossing out some jokes about the ups and downs of your industry is a safe way to add humor to the workplace. You’ll have the advantage of knowing exactly what your coworkers have to face every day, and it’s far better to help release tensions and lower stress levels by getting them to laugh about situations they encounter often, as opposed to everyone becoming cranky at dealing with the quirks of their daily routine.
One consideration for workplace comedy is choosing the right time and place to joke around. Naturally, the best time for some humor is when you’re not working, but still around the people you work with, such as a coffee break, lunch, or during the commute. You can also try to be funny on the job, but when you’re working, it’s a good idea to use humor much more sparingly than you normally do. A tactful wisecrack now and then won’t hurt your career, but if you don’t show some professionalism and good taste, you’re asking for trouble.
Using humor in the workplace lets you help tension levels drop, and your coworkers will feel better about working with you, which is sure to give your career a boost. Start slowly, and add a few harmless jokes here and there to provoke a few smiles. You may find the results surprisingly relaxing and everyone will feel better because of your efforts.
Topics: The Workplace |