| Humor at Work |
ISSUE 654 - Nov 9, 2016 |
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The Power of Self-Enhancing Humor at Work |
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I once worked with a woman who constantly put herself down with her humor until I offered her some coaching to help her still laugh at herself, but without belittling herself in the process. Research shows that there's a huge difference between self-defeating humor and self-enhancing humor, even though both styles
reflect an ability to laugh at ourselves. Self-defeating/self-disparaging humor in a work setting is sometimes used as a defense mechanism to mask negative feelings or to please others by making oneself the butt of all jokes. Self-defeating humor is linked to a lack of confidence, low self-esteem and higher levels of anxiety.
Conversely, self-enhancing humor allows us to laugh at ourselves and at our blunders, but without demeaning ourselves. Self-enhancing humor is linked to higher levels of confidence, self-esteem and optimism. Studies time and time again show that when people laugh at themselves, especially leaders, other people view them in a more positive light. A study from Seattle University, for example, looked at a boss delivering three variations of the same humorous story to three different
groups. In the first story the punchline included everyone in the company, in the second story the audience was the butt of the joke, and in the third version the boss made him self the punchline.
The result? By an overwhelming margin the third group - where the boss was the punchline - rated that boss as the most trustworthy, likable and caring of the three leaders.
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Mike's Fun at Work Tip |
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A simple and somewhat silly idea from one of my clients: They have given names to every one of their office plants, complete with a little name tag to identify burly Bruce or thorny Thelma. They said it's a simple way to make guests and employees smile, and it encourages everyone to appreciate the plants and even become better caretakers! (After all, how could you let Thelma go thirsty!?)
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Quote of the Week |
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"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things!" Canadian humorist Dave Broadfoot
(RIP Dave and thanks for the laughs - I had the pleasure of meeting Dave and was proud to be a fellow member of the Canadian Speakers Hall of Fame alongside him.)
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It's a Wacky World |
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Some accidental humor found on patients' charts...
- Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.
- By the time this patient was admitted his rapid heart had stopped and he was feeling much better.
- On the second day her knee was better, and on the 3rd day it disappeared completely.
- The patient is a 79-year-old widow who no longer lives with her husband.
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Copyright © 2016 Humor at Work. All Rights Reserved.
mike@mikekerr.com
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