humor

The Importance of Humor at the Office

By in Living Well 1 Comment Tags: , , , ,

Humor_at_Office

Trying to incorporate humor into the workplace can be a risky endeavor. Something that’s funny to one person could possibly be viewed as inappropriate by another person. But according to author Peter Navarro, the benefits far outweigh the risks. Working in an office where people laugh together can have a lasting, positive effect on employees’ productivity and efficacy, and boost their feelings of job satisfaction. According to Navarro, incorporating humor into the workplace results in the following:

  • Improved teamwork – Coworkers who joke around together are also more likely to feel connected to each other, communicate more, trust each other more, and work with each other more effectively. Employees are more likely to feel like they have their colleagues’ friendship and support.
  • Reduced stress – Laughter is a great stress reliever. According to the Mayo clinic, it soothes feelings of tension, releases endorphins, improves your mood, decreases your heart rate, and even relieves feelings of pain. So laughing with your colleagues is definitely beneficial.
  • Enhanced creativity – Humor can help people to relax – and relaxation gives people the freedom to be creative. When employees feel stressed or pressured, it’s very difficult to “think outside the box.” But in a workplace environment in which humor and laughter are part of the culture, it’s much more likely that employees will feel free to take chances and be truly innovative.
  • Increased customer satisfaction – Happy employees provide better customer service. The happiness that they feel spills over to the customers, and makes every interaction more engaging and effective.

…

Navarro, P. (n.d.). Humor is fundamental to a healthy workplace — but not without its risks. Recruiter.com. Retrieved from: https://www.recruiter.com/i/humor-is-fundamental-to-a-healthy-workplace-but-not-without-its-risks/

Emailing Coworkers – Is It OK to Joke Around?

By in Communication No Comments Tags: , ,

Laughing_at_email_joke

We all use email to communicate with our coworkers. It’s so convenient! It’s quick, easy, and doesn’t require you to leave your office or pick up the phone.

And if you’ve been working in a certain office for a while, your emails have probably gotten a little informal. You might include an occasional smiley face. You might even be inspired to include a joke or two. But should you? Is it OK to joke around in your emails?

The answer really depends on five things:

  1. How well do you know the person you’re emailing? If you have a close relationship with the person, then a joke is probably OK. If you’re less familiar with the person (and you’re not entirely sure how the joke will be received), then it’s not a good idea.
  2. Would the person you’re emailing send you a similar joke? If so, then your joke is probably fine. If not, you should leave it out.
  3. Is your joke even slightly inappropriate? If so, don’t email it. It could end up being forwarded to someone who feels offended by what you wrote. And that could ultimately cost you your job. It’s definitely not worth it!
  4. Would your boss be upset if he or she read your joke? If so, don’t send it to anyone.
  5. Are you making light of a serious topic? If something upsetting has happened at the office or you have difficult news to convey, a joke might not be appropriate. When you’re having a difficult conversation, it’s usually best to do so in a serious manner.

 

McCord, S. (n.d.). 6 quick questions to ask yourself on that “funny” email before you hit send. The Muse. Retrieved from https://www.themuse.com/advice/6-quick-questions-to-ask-yourself-on-that-funny-email-before-you-hit-send?ref=recommended

The Benefits and Dangers of Humor at Work

By in Humor, Learning No Comments Tags: , ,

Telling_a_Joke

Do you want your coworkers’ respect? Try telling a joke!

According to a recent study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, people who tell jokes at work are viewed as being more confident, competent, important, and intelligent than their more serious counterparts. People like and admire their funny coworkers.

And apparently, it’s also great when managers use humor. When managers are willing to joke around, their employees tend to be more cohesive, productive, relaxed, and creative.

But beware! You can’t just tell any old joke and expect to reap the rewards. It has to be an appropriate joke. Researchers found that when people tell offensive or off-color jokes, their status can immediately plummet. After just one inappropriate joke, they’re held in lower regard than people who never attempt to tell jokes in the first place.

So feel free to joke around, but make sure to do it in the right way. If you tell an appropriate joke, people will appreciate it. Even if they don’t find it funny, they’ll still view you as an intelligent, confident person.

 

Shellenbarger, S. (2017, January 24). The joke that makes or breaks you at work. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-joke-that-makes-or-breaks-you-at-work-1485273069

 

Shakespeare in the Language of Bureaucracy

By in Humor, Language No Comments Tags: , , , ,

Shakespeare3

The Plain English Foundation has some terrific examples that show what plain language looks like. It also has information that explains what plain language isn’t.

Here are some of the characteristics of bureaucratic government language listed on their web site:

  • Long, complex words
  • Long, unwieldy sentences
  • Impenetrable jargon
  • Passive voice
  • Unnecessary verbiage
  • Padding and pointless detail

It gets funny when it offers a version of Shakespeare’s Sonnet, Shall I Compare Thee To a Summer’s Day, in the language of bureaucracy.

Shakespeare

Bureaucratic English
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?  It is proposed that comparisons be drawn between the recipient and a period of not less than 24 hours commencing on or after 1 June but prior to 1 September, i.e., summer (refer TAB 1 regarding the UK calendar).
Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Following full consultation with relevant stakeholders, the writer is of the view that a greater number of practical and beneficial qualities are inherent in the recipient than the aforementioned seasonal period.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,  It has been noted in the course of the writer’s research that turbulent air streams do, on occasion, agitate developing blossoms in the month of May, to the detriment of their physical appearance.
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.  It has been further noted that seasonal advantages are oftentimes terminated in an overly precipitous manner.

 

 

Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarians Take Over

By in Humor, Language 1 Comment Tags: , , ,

Panda

Writers who are pressed for time sometimes make hilarious mistakes — particularly when they are writing headlines.

It is important to check your writing to make sure that your sentences are unambiguous.

Here are a few examples of ambiguity:

  • Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
  • Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
  • Milk Drinkers Are Turning to Powder
  • Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarians Take Over
  • Dealers Will Hear Car Talk at Noon
  • Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
  • New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
  • Try Our Curry – You’ll Never Get Better
  • Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin Case
  • Reagan Wins on Budget but More Lies Ahead
  • Foreigners Are Hunting Dogs
  • Marijuana Issue Sent to Joint Committee

 

 

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