· Laughing is one of our first skills, and not limited to just people…animals have a funny bone too.
· Three “types” of humor
laughing AT you, not with you. The cruel side of humor.
one of these things is NOT like the others. Is norm based, and requires a common base.
release of energy, often at inappropriate times/situations.
· Why use it… idea generation, energy creation, teamwork, positive work outcomes.
o Idea Generation…
§ Humor ties two ideas together
§ Challenges status quo and pushes boundaries
§ Helps to encourage deferring judgment
§ Moves you up thinking level
§ Improves productivity
o Energy level…
§ Start with humor, fun is linked with problem SOLVING (whining is linked with problem creating)
§ Pushes up nrg level, more nrg = more creative nrg!
§ Kills yawns.
o Team work…
§ Makes for a more open (defer) and challenging (better) environment
§ Makes for a more smoothly run office
§ Lowers absenteeism
§ Improves job satisfaction ratings
§ Is attributed to higher productivity and better retention rates
§ Better customer service….happy people deal with unhappy people better.
§ Works to help create positive emotional bonds
§ Is a motivator!
o Positive attributes….
§ Makes it easier when dealing with painful/uncomfortable topics (telling someone they suck)
§ Helps resolve tensions
§ Relieves tension
§ Creates unity and cohesion
· Rules for the tools…
o Be appropriate
o Be genuine
o Laugh AT yourself, WITH others
o Be witty/smart
o Mind your tone and timing
o Don’t re-invent the wheel
· Debrief questions
o What did I learn?
o What did I like/gain from this learning experience? Why?
o What did not go so well? Why?
o What lessons can I build on from this experience to bring to my organization/work/life ?
o How can I build on both the negative and positive aspects of this experience?
· Debrief tips
o Keep a record of your debriefing. Know what you’ve learned, and what should be changed.
o Keep questions open-ended, leave room for THEIR answers, their learning.
o Activities should have meaning; we are too busy for fluff.
· The Experts:
O http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0331_050331_animallaughter_2.html
O http://www.wikihow.com/Debrief-to-Promote-Organizational-Learning
O Having a laugh. (2008). Retrieved May 2011, from EBSCOhost: http://proxy.buffalostate.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=31721131&ehost-live
O Crawford, C. (1994). Theory and implications regarding the utilization of strategic humor by leaders. The Journal of Leadership Studies, 53-68.
O Goodman, J. (1983). How to get more smileage out of your life: making sense of humor, then serving it. In P. McGhee, & J. Goldstein, Handbook of Humor Research (pp. 1-21). New York: Springer-Verlag.
O Haig, R. A. (1988). The Anatomy of Humor: Biopsychosocial and Therapeutic Perspectives. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas.
O Holmes, J., & Marra, M. (2006). Humor and leadership style. International Journal of Humor Research, 119-138.
O Lang, J. C., & Lee, C. H. (2010). Workplace humor and organizational creativity. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 46-60.
O Martineau, W. H. (1972). A model of the social functions of humor. In J. P. Goldstein, The psychology of humor (pp. 101-125). New York: Academic Press.
O Pankseppa, Jaak & Burgdorf, Jeff ‘‘Laughing’’ rats and the evolutionary antecedents of human joy? Physiology & Behavior 79 (2003) 533– 547
O Plester, B. (2009). Healthy humour: using humour to cope at work. Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 89-102.
O Roach, D., Tronboy, L., & Cochran, L. (2006). The effects of humor and goal setting on individual brainstorming performance. The Journal of American Academy of Business, 31-36.
O Romero, E., & Cruthirds, K. (2006). The use of humor in the workplace. Academy of Management Perspectives, 58-69.
· Three “types” of humor
- Superiority
laughing AT you, not with you. The cruel side of humor.
- Incongruity
one of these things is NOT like the others. Is norm based, and requires a common base.
- Relief
release of energy, often at inappropriate times/situations.
· Why use it… idea generation, energy creation, teamwork, positive work outcomes.
o Idea Generation…
§ Humor ties two ideas together
§ Challenges status quo and pushes boundaries
§ Helps to encourage deferring judgment
§ Moves you up thinking level
§ Improves productivity
o Energy level…
§ Start with humor, fun is linked with problem SOLVING (whining is linked with problem creating)
§ Pushes up nrg level, more nrg = more creative nrg!
§ Kills yawns.
o Team work…
§ Makes for a more open (defer) and challenging (better) environment
§ Makes for a more smoothly run office
§ Lowers absenteeism
§ Improves job satisfaction ratings
§ Is attributed to higher productivity and better retention rates
§ Better customer service….happy people deal with unhappy people better.
§ Works to help create positive emotional bonds
§ Is a motivator!
o Positive attributes….
§ Makes it easier when dealing with painful/uncomfortable topics (telling someone they suck)
§ Helps resolve tensions
§ Relieves tension
§ Creates unity and cohesion
· Rules for the tools…
o Be appropriate
o Be genuine
o Laugh AT yourself, WITH others
o Be witty/smart
o Mind your tone and timing
o Don’t re-invent the wheel
· Debrief questions
o What did I learn?
o What did I like/gain from this learning experience? Why?
o What did not go so well? Why?
o What lessons can I build on from this experience to bring to my organization/work/life ?
o How can I build on both the negative and positive aspects of this experience?
· Debrief tips
o Keep a record of your debriefing. Know what you’ve learned, and what should be changed.
o Keep questions open-ended, leave room for THEIR answers, their learning.
o Activities should have meaning; we are too busy for fluff.
· The Experts:
O http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0331_050331_animallaughter_2.html
O http://www.wikihow.com/Debrief-to-Promote-Organizational-Learning
O Having a laugh. (2008). Retrieved May 2011, from EBSCOhost: http://proxy.buffalostate.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=31721131&ehost-live
O Crawford, C. (1994). Theory and implications regarding the utilization of strategic humor by leaders. The Journal of Leadership Studies, 53-68.
O Goodman, J. (1983). How to get more smileage out of your life: making sense of humor, then serving it. In P. McGhee, & J. Goldstein, Handbook of Humor Research (pp. 1-21). New York: Springer-Verlag.
O Haig, R. A. (1988). The Anatomy of Humor: Biopsychosocial and Therapeutic Perspectives. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas.
O Holmes, J., & Marra, M. (2006). Humor and leadership style. International Journal of Humor Research, 119-138.
O Lang, J. C., & Lee, C. H. (2010). Workplace humor and organizational creativity. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 46-60.
O Martineau, W. H. (1972). A model of the social functions of humor. In J. P. Goldstein, The psychology of humor (pp. 101-125). New York: Academic Press.
O Pankseppa, Jaak & Burgdorf, Jeff ‘‘Laughing’’ rats and the evolutionary antecedents of human joy? Physiology & Behavior 79 (2003) 533– 547
O Plester, B. (2009). Healthy humour: using humour to cope at work. Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 89-102.
O Roach, D., Tronboy, L., & Cochran, L. (2006). The effects of humor and goal setting on individual brainstorming performance. The Journal of American Academy of Business, 31-36.
O Romero, E., & Cruthirds, K. (2006). The use of humor in the workplace. Academy of Management Perspectives, 58-69.
