You’ve likely heard the old saying, “Laughter is the best medicine”, which rings true even at the office. A good laughcan increase productivity, teamwork, and job satisfaction. Many people tend to believe that if they are funny at work, they will not be taken seriously. The use ofhumourat work can be a difficult barrier to get through, as joking around may be thought of as goofing off. However, co-workers can be much more efficient in a humour-filled workplace, where teams can combat stress, boost morale, and be more creative and innovative by tapping into their inner-comedian.
If you doubt the benefits of adding humour to your workday, consider the following:
Your health– People who have a greatsense of humour may get sick less often and recover more quickly from illnesses. This is because laughter stimulates the immune system, decreases stress hormones, and increases endorphins.
Reduces effects of stress– Laughter provides you with control over your emotions and will help you rise above a crisis situation. It can give you a different perspective on things and allow you to distance yourself from the problem you are dealing with, to effectively think of a viable solution. Humour is a catalyst for creativity and can help spark new ideas.
Bonds teams–Humour can break down stereotypes and promote a sense of unity in any workplace, as it creates a shared history that reminds employees that they are playing for the same team. Teams that laugh together, work well together.
When adding laughter at the office, try and be sensitive to your co-workers feelings. Humour in the workplace can often get out of hand because what you might think is a hilarious anecdote may end up being offensive to someone else. Keep jokes light and positive!
Sandra Summerhayes & Associates, an independent consulting agency that focuses on employee, team and organizational development, designs and delivers training sessions and seminars for various organizations throughout Ontario. Her team works closely with businesses to help them improve their working environments by identifying departmental gaps and then creating and executing action plans. For more information about Sandra Summerhayes & Associates visit www.sandrasummerhayes.com.
