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| Humor at Work |
ISSUE 427 - MAR. 7, 2012 |
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Survival of the Funniest?
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"I'm not afraid of dying, I just don't want to be there when it happens." Woody Allen
In a study at Standford University, psychologists found that telling jokes about terrifying, tragic or even horrifying events helped people cope more effectively with their stress than acting in a solemn way, and that optimistic humor served as a better coping mechanism than cynicism.
Part of the study involved people looking at emotionally disturbing photos (car accidents, dental exams and aggressive animals) then reporting their emotional responses before and after being taught how to improvise and reassess the photos in a humorous way.Those who reinterpreted the photos using more positive humor reported substantially lower stress levels.The Stanford researchers also found in a related study that the use of positive humor to re-frame stressful experiences increased people's creativity, verbal fluency and cognitive flexibility.
I'll give the last word to Woody on using humor to deal with difficult events: "The key is to not think of death as an end, but as more of a very effective way to cut down on your expenses."
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Mike's Fun at Work Tip |
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There's a U.S. company that has a caricature drawing done of each new employee who comes aboard. The drawing is then framed and posted outside the employee's office or cubicle. If someone doesn't like the cartoon version of themselves, they can ask for a do-over until the drawing is to their liking, so no one gets saddled with something they're not happy with (such as my grade nine photo, when for some unfathomable reason I thought I'd look awesome with a perm). The drawings help lighten up the workspace and put a human face (albeit a funny looking one) on the business. |
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Quote of the Week |
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"PowerPoint presentations are the peacocks of the
business world - all show, no
meat." Dwight Schrute, The Office
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It's a Wacky World |
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And speaking of PowerPoint, a Swiss man has created a political party known as, and I'm not making this up folks, the "Anti-PowerPoint Political Party." Hoping to morph into an international movement, APPP wants to first secure a foothold in Switzerland, where they will hold a referendum demanding a Swiss-wide prohibition on the use of PowerPoint in presentations.
To keep some wackiness going throughout the month, be sure to preview the offbeat holidays coming your way this March: Wacky March Holidays.
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Inspiring Savings!
Bring Mike in to speak and save! Cost-saving opportunities this June in the following locations:
- Montreal, Quebec
- Penticton, B.C.
Contact our office for details at info@mikekerr.com
Inspiring Reading
Ten lessons from Beryl Call Centers on how to build a fun, inspiring workplace culture:
Humor at Work TV
From the archives, my interview with Zappo's Lead Culture Guide: Humor at Work TV
Funny Watch
Hilarious and instructive video on what NOT do the next time you deliver a presentation:
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Copyright © 2012 Humor at Work. All Rights Reserved.
mike@mikekerr.com
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