Inspiring Workplaces: Five Points to Ponder Before You Put Humor to Work

Published: Wed, 11/12/14

Humor at Work

ISSUE 560 - Nov. 12, 2014


			Five Points to Ponder Before You Put Humor to Work

	If you want to brand your business (or yourself) with humor or add some humor to a presentation or to your customer service mix, here's a checklist of sorts to consider: 1. First, Do No Wrong. Great advice for doctors or would-be corporate jesters. Make sure the humor you use is laughing with people, not at people. Laugh at yourself, not in a, "I'm a loser" kind of way, but in a way that lets people know you don't take yourself overly seriously. Stay clear of political, ethnic, gender or sex-based humor. Remember that having permission to use more humor at work is not permission to act like a jackass or a jerk. It doesn't give you license to offend or humiliate people, or disparage their character. It's about being more human, having a bigger heart, and demonstrating greater humility. 2. Be Authentic. Humor can break down barriers and build trust, provided the humor used creates and reflects authenticity. As Jerry Seinfeld once said, "The whole object of comedy is to be yourself. The closer to that you get, the funnier you will be." This applies at a corporate level as well. Customers are savvier than ever and more cynical than ever. They'll see through halfhearted attempts at humor that seem to be nothing more than manipulative and insincere window dressing. 3. Be Congruent With Your Brand. The humor you use at a corporate level must fit your style. If you have a classy brand, then your humor, for the most part, should be classy. If you want to be known as an edgy company, then use edgy humor. Make sure the humor contributes to and reflects the brand image you want to project. 4. Be Relevant. The more relevant the humor is to your business, the more memorable and effective it will be. Humor for the sake of humor can be a fabulous tool, but relevant humor that ties into your unique challenges, issues, products, local attractions, branding, and industry is far more effective. 5. Embrace a Spirit of Fun. It's more important to embrace a spirit of fun than to be funny. Embracing a spirit of fun suggests a lightness, a willingness to play, and a spirit of inclusiveness. A spirit of fun brings people together and sparks creative thinking. And a spirit of fun recognizes a central point in all of this: It's about enjoying and celebrating the journey.

		Mike's Fun at Work Tip

We just celebrated Remembrance Day in Canada/Veterans Day in the U.S., so what are you doing in your workplace to honor your workplace heroes and veterans? One company has an annual party where they invite back their retirees and honor them for the great work they did over the years. Another has their own take on Hollywood's "Walk of Fame" to honor their soon-to-be-departed retirees. Still another has a mentorship program where they match retirees with employees. Many companies record interviews with retirees to help capture the history of the company. And one company has an alumni program that organizes social events and support for retired employees. If you want to build a strong culture and legacy, then pay tribute to the people who got you to where you are today.
		Quote of the Week

(From the archives, and yes, I repeat it every so often because it so captures the essence of what we're about here at Humor at Work!) "If you are working in a company that is not enthusiastic, energetic, creative, clever, curious and just plain fun, you've got troubles, serious troubles!" Tom Peters
		It's a Wacky World

Some more wacky traveler complaints received by Thomas Cook Holidays that once again confirms there's just no pleasing some people! - "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food." - "There were too many Spanish people there. The receptionist spoke Spanish, the food was Spanish. No one told us that there would be so many foreigners." - "Although the brochure said that there was a fully equipped kitchen, there was no egg-slicer in the drawers." - "We had to line up outside to catch the boat and there was no air- conditioning." - "No-one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared."

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Toronto: Dec. 3-10, 2014

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Inspiring Watching

The "Cancun Connection" folks might be especially interested in this video: Humor at Work an Inspiring Recipe for Business Success at this Restaurant

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