Why Humour in the Workplace is Important
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Joking around in the workplace has traditionally often been frowned upon. But as more and more employers, managers and HR departments are learning, the benefits of humour in the workplace are many. This is particularly true when it comes to building engaged teams and culture.
Read on to learn some of the reasons why humour is important in the workplace and some tips on how to use humour constructively at work while avoiding some common pitfalls.
4 Benefits of using humour at work
Telling jokes comes naturally to some people, while for others using humour in the workplace may be a more daunting prospect. Regardless of which camp you fall in, there are several compelling reasons why judicious use of humour can help your workplace become happier and more productive. Here are four benefits of humour at work.1. Humour helps morale
Employee morale is a big topic for leaders, but at the end of the day how happy employees are when they’re at work plays a big part. As you’d expect, a workplace that feels fun and friendly to be in is one that will encourage happy employees. Morale is directly linked with motivation, so it’s in every manager’s interests to encourage high morale. If a little levity smooths that path, all the better! Encouraging humour and laughter is an obvious way to increase positive feelings at work. In addition, humour in the workplace can also reduce stress by insulating against stressful factors and building greater resilience in teams.2. Humour helps your health
It’s often said that ‘laughter is the best medicine’, and it is certainly true that laughing has been linked with both short and long term health benefits. Laughter stimulates the heart and lungs, increases blood flow around the body and increases feel-good endorphins released from the brain. It can also increase your ability to cope with difficult situations or break the ice to prevent a potential conflict.3. Humour breaks down barriers
It’s perhaps not surprising that most of us feel more comfortable sharing a joke with a co-worker than our boss; the risk of a superior taking your humour the wrong way is greater than someone with no power over you. But a shared joke actually establishes common ground and lessens the perception of difference between people. Research shows that where someone is telling a compelling story, the storyteller and their listeners are mirroring one another’s brain patterns and fostering connections that strengthen their bond.4. Humour helps your career
The research on this is compelling: in a Robert Half International Survey, a staggering 91% of executives who responded felt that a sense of humour was important for career advancement, and 84% agreed that someone with a good sense of humour does a better job. Humour makes you appear calm and in control of a situation, and able to look at it with perspective, imbuing you with a greater air of authority. Whether you’re in a leadership position or looking to make the transition from manager to leader, a well timed piece of humour can only help your chances.Other benefits of humour at work include:
- Increasing engagement in meetings
- Information that is communicated with humour can be more memorable
- Helping to break the ice in formal settings
- Encouraging creative thinking and problem solving
- Helping to diffuse conflict