Inspiring Workplaces: Don't Forget to Laugh

Published: Wed, 08/12/20

Humor at Work

ISSUE 835 - Aug. 12, 2020


		Don't Forget to Laugh

	Time for a sun-drenched edition of random insights and musings... A study by New Voice Media found that 44% of consumers switched companies due to poor customer service; 53% of customers felt unappreciated; and 53% felt a phone call is the most effective way to make things right when there's a problem. Laughing is a proven way to jog your memory. So the next time you can't find your keys, start laughing. (And if you never find them, laugh even harder. I mean, it beats crying.) Some companies have a bold customer service promise, but what would an internal customer service promise look like? What if you and your colleagues committed to a workplace culture promise or a teammate service promise? Are you practicing "unlaughter" when you need to? Unlaughter is a newish term in humor research circles, used to describe the power of an audience (even an audience of one) to choose to not laugh when someone makes an offensive joke. Martin Seligman, author of Learned Optimism, suggests one of the most powerful ways to boost your happiness is to do a "gratitude visit": Write a 300-word testimonial to someone who made a positive difference in your life, then read it to them in person. This meaningful act has a significant, measurable impact on happiness that lasts more than 3 months! If you want to improve the odds of someone returning an email or voice message, leave them the set-up part of a joke, then tell them they have to get back to you to hear the punchline.

		Mike's Fun at Work Tip

Create your Burlesque Alter Ego Name to use for your next meeting. Take the first syllable of your first name and multiply it by two, then add a "la", and then add the last thing you ate. So, using my name, my burlesque name would be: Mi Mi La Taco!
		Word of the Week

"Sarchasm": The gulf between the author of a sarcastic wit and the person who just doesn't get it. Sarchasm.
		It's a Wacky World

In case you missed this viral story, it still cracks me up. A Taiwanese couple in their 80s who run a laundry service have become an online sensation by modelling abandoned clothes customers have forsaken in their laundromat on Instagram. Chang Wan-ji, 83, and his wife Hsu Sho-er, 84, have racked up nearly 600,000 followers on Instagram over the last month as their attitude-filled fashion portraits have gone viral. They have even been featured in the Taiwanese edition of Vogue and Marie Claire.

Every Other Wednesday
We had a great conversation last week with Camille Washington, the head of culture for FedEx International. Next up, on August 12th (today!) The Culture Club will talk about what it takes to create a "Jerk-Free Workplace." Register Here for Free - if you can't make it, registrants will still have access to the recording! 11:00 a.m. MST/1:00 PM EST, 45-min.

If You're Serious About Creating a Service-first, Fun, Inspiring Culture... then you need to invest in the Culture Leadership Online Academy. The early bird discount is still on, and there are big savings for group registrations. If you're not sure this is right for you and your team, drop me a line and let's schedule a chat: mike@mikekerr.com

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