We all like good humor, but the truth is that humor is not always good. There is a right time to use it. As a boss, it’s easy to make people laugh – the title of leader guarantees that.
However, it is important that managers know how to differentiate a complacent laugh from a real smile. Good humor can bring people together. But the lack of awareness of what is said can be terrible for the image of a boss.
When levity is used to ease tension or bring people together, it is appreciated. But if it is used to humiliate or intimidate, your boss is confusing humor with arrogance. Winston Churchill said: “humor is serious.” He was correct. Because something is funny for you, it doesn’t mean it is for others.
When a boss laughs at himself, he shows that he is confident and humble and therefore has no problem making jokes about himself. The intelligent manager is one who uses humor to teach.
Get to know 8 tips for using humor in the workplace:
1- Don’t confuse being a boss with being a comedian. Remember that you work to manage people, not to make them laugh.
2- Be careful with the type of humor you use. Don’t be racist, sexist, homophobic; nor in the context of play.
3- Use humor to get people up. Don’t laugh at them, laugh with them.
4- Don’t overdo it. If you realize that you are forcing the jokes, be more serious.
5- Use your sense of humor to make people feel more comfortable in the work environment. Don’t tell jokes that create embarrassing situations.
6- Jokes should only be used in order to make people have fun.
7- Do not use humor to highlight someone, but to acclimate the environment
8- Sarcasm is not an excuse to diminish anyone. Apologizing to “I was kidding” will not change the feeling of the other who suffered from the joke.
