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When humour isn't so funny...
There’s no doubt that humour can be a powerful tool in the workplace.
But is there a danger to seeing (and sharing) the funny side of things?
“The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter “. So said Mark Twain. And for me this famous quote captures the essence of humour in the workplace. That is, like all weapons, it is critical to know when and how to use them otherwise you can cause irreparable damage.
There are tremendous benefits associated with the use of well-placed humour. Seeing the funny side of corporate life can help build relationships and engage with your team and/or customers. It can build team morale. It can also diffuse tension in difficult situations. And let’s face it; laughter just makes work more fun!
Is there a danger to using humour at work? Like any tool, technique or methodology, overuse can be a problem. But what are the specific problems that might arise from being funny?
At the most basic level, you might offend somebody, and depending on the nature of the humour, you could even be breaking the law. Many companies include a module on this topic in their compliance training to help you avoid this problem.
There are other, less obvious, pitfalls. Humour can be a major distraction when discussing serious topics. And it can undermine your point of view on a specific issue if you want to express a deeply felt opinion. It’s not limited to individual issues either. Essentially it can undermine your overall credibility amongst your team, your peers and/or your leaders.
So, how can you decide when and how to use your sense of humour at work? Consider your personal brand, for example. How well developed and understood is your brand? And what role do you want humour to play in either developing and/or reinforcing that brand?
It’s important to be yourself at work – but you don’t have be all of yourself all of the time. It’s a question of using your intuition to determine when “being funny” is appropriate and when it isn’t. If you want people to take you seriously, you have to be serious at the right time!
It might be a process of trial and error to find the right balance for you in your organisation. Spend time and effort noticing others reactions to your behaviour and then you’ll be able to use humour as a valuable weapon in your success. |
