Benefits of Using Humor in the Workplace
The health of a workplace can have a large effect on team morale and motivation. Humor can help create a healthy workplace, since it may unify the team, release tension and help keep problems in perspective. Learning about the benefits of adding humor to the workplace may assist you in helping your team receive such benefits.
In this article, we discuss some benefits humor can bring to your workplace.
What is humor in the workplace?
Humor in the workplace is any interaction, situation or document that is funny and can include any lighthearted remark or joke. This can include offhand jokes in the break room or written into a presentation, or it might be a GIF embedded in an email.
It's important to be professional and considerate when using humor in the workplace so that all employees feel respected and valued. If done well, humor can be a good way to make work more enjoyable, productive and stress-free.
16 benefits of humor in the workplace
Here are some benefits that humor can bring to your workplace:
1. Creates better employee-boss relationships
Humor can contribute to more comfortable relationships between team members and managers by allowing conversation outside of work topics and helping both people get to know each other. This can allow managers to delegate tasks more easily and garners the respect of their team. For example, when assigning a difficult task, a manager may use humor to improve their team’s perception of the task and show solidarity.
2. Makes interviews easier
Humor can make candidates and interviewers feel more at ease by lightening the mood during interviews. It can also help candidates understand the elements of the organization’s culture and help show the interviewer how they might fit into that culture. For example, a joke during an interview about the importance of work-life balance may help highlight that element of the organization’s culture.
3. Encourages people to read emails
The likable and friendly tone that humor creates can motivate people to read all the way through emails. It can also create connections and relationships between different regional or national branches of a company, or those working at home and in the office. It's important to phrase humor carefully in emails so that readers don't misunderstand jokes.
4. Increases meeting involvement
Humor can increase meeting involvement by making the atmosphere more casual so that employees feel more comfortable speaking up or asking questions. Some employees may prefer to engage in group discussions when they can include humorous remarks. This can improve brainstorming sessions, group feedback meetings and collaborative sprints.
5. Increases memory of presentations
Using humor in presentations, whether it's a spoken joke about the material or a GIF included in the slides, can make a presentation more memorable. A clever or funny turn of phrase might be easy for employees to remember, reminding them of a fact or update just when they need it. For example, you may repeat the same funny phrase throughout a presentation to reiterate an important point.
6. Contributes to persuasion
Because humor may increase likability, it can make a negotiation situation more relaxed and help others see new information positively. This may help them accept new information, agree to a compromise or understand other points of view. For example, you begin a negotiation with a joke to show your intention to have a casual conversation.
7. Helps set positive norms
A leader can use humor as a leadership tool, setting office norms for what is appropriate to joke about and letting others know that some fun is acceptable. Because leaders set a precedent for social behavior in the office, it's essential that they keep in mind what kind of a workplace they want to have and make appropriate jokes. For example, HR managers may hold a meeting where they discuss the types of jokes and comments that are acceptable at the workplace.
8. Helps create empathy
When jokes are inappropriate or hurtful, it can be an opportunity to create empathy in the workplace. Conversations about what is helpful and harmful to others can show employees new perspectives and may inspire new policy or help articulate company values more clearly. For example, you may create a training that shows examples of the types of jokes that are empathetic toward others' emotions, diverse characteristics, beliefs and ideas.
9. Builds team unity
Workplace humor can help build team unity and recognize common obstacles. In a lighthearted environment, people can be more comfortable suggesting solutions to challenges when they feel there's an audience for what they have to say. Humor helps coworkers trust each other by getting to know each other. It can create a safe atmosphere where people feel comfortable being themselves.
10. Bridges cultural divides
Humor can be a fun way to build relationships with people from other cultures or backgrounds. Jokes can bring people together or be a lighthearted way to explore the differences between habits and customs. It's essential to be sensitive to backgrounds, use humor with good intent and be aware of when others are uncomfortable.
11. Shows what people have in common
Humor can be a fun way to find out what you share with others. Having in-jokes can help coworkers build relationships even if they don't work together frequently or share many other characteristics. When employees feel comfortable enough to make jokes in the workplace, they can feel comfortable expressing themselves in other ways as well, like sharing innovative opinions and voicing dissent.
12. Promotes humility and equality
Self-deprecating humor can make leaders more approachable in the workplace and can contribute to a sense of equality. When humor is used to deal with mistakes at work, it can help all employees to understand that mistakes are not disasters, promote healthy processing and bring the problem-solving stage sooner. It can also encourage employees to adopt a more humble and forgiving mindset when each teammate's value does not depend on their success.
13. Make a good impression
Employees and sales representatives who are friendly and funny give a good impression of your company to customers and clients. This can also encourage strong long-term relationships when others are eager to work with your team. Using humor throughout your company can help you build a friendly, contemporary brand. Humorous advertisements can draw in customers and help them remember your product.
14. Creates an impression of control
Making jokes about a situation can indicate that someone is confident and calm. When managers use humor, they can strengthen their leadership position on the team and promote the respect of others. Appropriate jokes can set customers at ease and make it easier for them to accept delays or setbacks.
15. Attracts new employees
Having a fun corporate environment can attract like-minded employees who are willing to participate and contribute. This can further strengthen the team and make the positive work environment more sustainable. For example, you may use a funny recruiting slogan to attract employees that have a similar sense of humor.
16. Creates a lasting impression
Humor can help you make a lasting impression professionally. It can help you set apart your business to customers, or even help a candidate make a good impression on a job interview. In some situations, using humor can suggest that you are out of touch or insensitive, so it's important to consider your audience and your jokes in high-pressure situations.