LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

Tom Peters, a business guru who is frequently one step ahead in business thinking, says this about the importance of humor at work: "The number one premise of business is that it need not be boring or dull. It ought to be fun. If it's not fun, you're wasting your life." Peters believes that infusing the workplace with more humor, will increase creativity, teamwork and ultimately productivity. The reality is that the best people are attracted to working environments where there is an element of fun. If good people are placed in an environment that is impersonal, cold and unfriendly for an extended period of time, that is how they will eventually behave is his contention. Studies show that 84 percent of employers believe employees with a sense of humor do a better job. Another study showed that of 737 CEOs surveyed, 98 percent preferred job candidates with a sense of humor to those without. It's important to note that a good sense of humor need not include the capacity to tell a funny joke or the ability to fire off witty remarks. The essence of developing a good sense of humor is not taking oneself too seriously and keeping a positive attitude. How to implement an office sense of humor? One way is to poke fun at oneself. A little bit of self-deprecating humor can provide a necessary relief from tense situations. Conversely, an excess of this type of humor may make other people uncomfortable and lead to serious low self-esteem issues. Another type of humor is put-down humor. This type of humor involves teasing, sarcasm and ridicule and it tends to be a popular form of humor around the water cooler. If aimed at politicians, actors, etc. it is harmless and can help to form social bonds. Be careful, though, if aimed at fellow workers, it can become a form of social aggression and will backfire. Better, is to use bonding humor and observational humor to lighten the stress. Bonding humor is to tell a funny, clean joke or witty banter. Think of "fun to be around" type of people. Bonding humor can provide a sense of togetherness. Be certain to include everyone in on the joke, so it doesn’t isolate individual employees. Observational humor is the healthiest of all. People who use this type of humor have a unique outlook on life. They are always able to see the bright side of things and they don't take themselves too seriously. This enables them to deal more easily with daily stress in their life at work and at home. Bill Cosby, Russell Peters and Bob Newhart are masters of observational humor. Observational humor is the only type of humor which can be enjoyed alone. As a result, studies linking humor with health have tended to concentrate on this type of humor. Humor has the power to do many positive things to our bodies. It's responsible for elevating our mood, breaking up boredom and fatigue and giving us more resilience. It also boosts our immune system, reduces stress, relaxes muscles and lowers our blood pressure. Your humorous personal health also has positive repercussions at work. Because of humor’s social nature, those people with a healthy sense of humor are less overwhelmed in tough situations, more cheerful and less rigid. They are also able to use laughter to diffuse hostility and encourage cooperation when working in a team and completing projects. People who laugh well together work well together. "A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done." President Dwight D. Eisenhower knew about leadership, first as a general and then as president. As a leader, isn’t the goal really, to get things done? In these times when there is so much uncertainty, and times are tough; getting things done in a harmonious manner will get you ahead much faster. HUMOR HELP IS HERE So now you're interested in lifting your laugh-ability factor, or maybe finding your inner funny bone. Here are a few tips on how to do this at work. Stifle sarcasm: It has too much potential to be taken the wrong way in a work environment. Tell a joke - Don't just memorize the latest joke making the rounds on email. Tailor your jokes to the individual or group and keep them clean. If in doubt, think your nine year-old’s joke book. The occasional comment: Making a funny comment to diffuse tension during a meeting is a great idea, but don't overdo it. Join a friendly neighborhood: Hang around funny friends. Spend time with those who are upbeat and avoid negative people whenever possible. Chuckle with the team: You can be seen as having a great sense of humor without ever telling a joke. Just listen to those around you and share in their laughter. Reminders: Remind yourself to have fun everyday. Place humorous cartoons and quotes in your personal workspace. Be mindful of subject matter and the object of the humor. Sporadic personal putdowns: This can put others at ease and you don't risk offending anyone. Be sure to keep a light mood and don't make it a habit. Now you're off and laughing to make your world a more harmonious, healthy and less stressful place. Laugh. Often. Keeping your sense of humor is a process. It is not a place to get to, but an ongoing journey. You are always developing your humor. People change, circumstances change. After all, who foresaw joking about salary reductions and layoffs? If you want help improving or reviving your sense of humor, feel free to contact me now. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com