10 Reasons Why Humor Works in Business

Tricky thing this funny business. Have you ever been in a board meeting and thought you were at Yuk Yuk’s. Ever been to an insurance seminar and milk squirted out of your nose because you were laughing so hard? Have you been to the companies quarterly bashing and the CEO starts off with his best Pee Wee Herman impression?  How about sitting on a whoopee cushion, slyly put there by your supervisor right before your annual review? No? Me neither, but I bet you wouldn’t forget it. Here, I’m going to supply you with 10 reasons humor in business is a good idea. This isn’t about what type of humor is appropriate. I’ll let you figure that part out. And I’m not going to list the different “technical rules” of comedy. Funny is funny damn it. It’s like pornography; you know it when you buy it.

1. Discards the Ego. Self deprecating humor takes a good chunk of humility to perform. It also puts everybody on the same page because laughter is contagious. Now that everybody is in a similar mood you may speak honestly with most preconceived negative perceptions dulled or diminished.

“As to the Seven Deadly Sins, I deplore Pride, Wrath, Lust, Envy and Greed.  Gluttony and Sloth I pretty much plan my day around.”  -Robert Brault                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

2. Creates Active Listening. When humor is used people tend to sit up straighter listen more attentively, observe and feel more at ease. They are readily available to give suggestions, feedback and ideas.

“Humor is perhaps a sense of intellectual perspective: an awareness that some things are really important, others not; and that the two kinds are most oddly jumbled in everyday affairs.” -Christopher Morley

3. Dealing with Uncertainty. Helps people handle a situation where power and status have a significant roll. Reduces the anxiety of the process.

“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.  That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile way and you have their shoes.” ~Author Unknown

4. Empathy. You’ll get a better understanding about where someone is coming from with humor. You will relate to there point of view better than a stoic, opinionated stance.

“Just because I don’t care, doesn’t mean I don’t understand” – Homer Simpson

5. Flexibility of Thought. Humor will enhance your problem solving ability. Humor and creative thinking go hand and hand.

“The kind of humor I like is the thing that makes me laugh for five seconds and think for ten minutes.”- William Davis

6. Risk Taking. Even though business is at times a very serious matter, taking things to hard can be a detriment to your decision making. Having a sense of humor will help you fear loosing less.

“Humor is something that thrives between man’s aspirations and his limitations. There is more logic in humor than in anything else. Because, you see, humor is truth.” -Victor Borge

7. Trust. When you’re being funny you’re presenting the unreserved you. People are more apt to believe what you are saying, which is essential in business dealings.

“Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.” -Mark Twain

8. Collaboration. The process when two or more people share a creation. Opening up an understanding of sorts that humor unlocks.

“Good humor is one of the preservatives of our peace and tranquility” –Thomas Jefferson

9. Maximum Likelihood Criterion. I actually don’t know what this means. I found it in the big book of business phrases, but I bet funny could fix it.

“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” –George Carlin

10. Innovation. By definition innovation means something new and different. If something is funny it has to be new and different. It takes away the old slide rule way of looking at things and gets you thinking outside of your socks.

“Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?? I’m halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh man….I could be eating a slow learner.” –Lyndon Johnson

All right, now it’s your time to shine. What are some of the funny interactions you had in the business world? Any good jokes? Slap them on the comments section.