The workplace can be boring at times, but it can also be incredibly fun if you know how to implement humor in the right way. Here are five ways to involve more HUMOR in the workplace!
Putting HUMOR Into Action
- H – Host fun activities and events
- U – Use humor in communication
- M – Make fun of yourself sometimes
- O – Open-door policy for your team
- R – Recognize humor when it happens
See Related: 7 Types Of Leadership Explained
#1. Host Activities And Events For You
Everyone knows the struggles of working a nine-to-five. Even if your occupation doesn’t fall in line with traditional working hours, working every day in the same place can get tiring.
Repetition can make things a bit boring. And that’s okay! But that’s also why spicing things up in the workplace can be exceptionally critical.
The Power Of Laughter At Work
Humor is an essential aspect of workplace culture that can have a significant impact on employee morale and job satisfaction. Without it, it can be challenging for workers to find comfort and happiness at their workplaces.
One of the most important reasons to implement humor in the workplace is for the sake of company culture. A positive and lighthearted workplace can improve communication, collaboration, and productivity. And these aspects are foundational to a positive company culture.
So, when it comes to a little humor, it’s important to find ways to effectively capitalize upon it. As a workplace leader, you can’t be idle and expect something to happen on its own accord.
You need to be active! Or at least hire a corporate emcee to bring some fun to the office!
Host Events To Keep Your Team Entertained And Laughing
One of the best ways to ensure that humor is prioritized is by hosting fun activities and events for your team. Company events give your team a chance to unwind and take a break from the daily grind while laughing it up with their co-workers.
To ensure your corporate event is a success, hiring the perfect corporate emcee to keep the troops entertained is a good idea. For example, a corporate emcee can successfully set the tone for the entire event while giving everyone a chance to laugh out loud.
As a master of ceremonies myself, I’ve seen countless times how a great emcee and speaker can truly bring laughter out of even the most tight-lipped workers. It’s a surefire way to bring laughter into the mix and give your team memories they’ll cherish forever!
Don’t forget to also opt for some fun team-building activities. Some classics include scavenger hunts, icebreakers, and virtual game nights for those remote workers.
These types of activities will help your team feel engaged and like they are part of a complete unit.
#2. Use Workplace Humor In Daily Communication
Humor isn’t something you can use a couple of times and then call it a day. In fact, it needs to be totally engrained into the very fabric of your workplace!
Taking time and effort to make comedy a daily part of your workplace is important. And a great way to do that is by using wit in communication.
Communication alone is a very critical part of working in an office. It happens all day, every day, and it is the foundation of a successful workplace.
Whether it’s small talk before the workday starts or group chats in Slack, workplace communication is all around us. So why not add a bit of humor to it?
Using comedy or wit in emails, meetings, and other forms of communication can help to break up any existing tension in the workplace. Of course, it’s normal for things to build up sometimes, but humor can help create a more relaxed and positive atmosphere.
Just make sure you’re using humor effectively and appropriately. Don’t be offensive or insensitive, and remember your audience. The same kinds of jokes you share with your Friday night friends might not be the same kinds you should tell your coworkers in a professional workplace.
Bonus: The Difference Between Inspiration & Motivation In Public Speaking
#3. Make Fun Of Yourself Occasionally
Humor is all about using the right kind of content. If you want your team to benefit from genuine laughter, use humor that will tickle their senses!
Workplace humor can help to improve employee retention and make a good name for your company. People like to work in a fun office! Plus, workers who enjoy their work environment and feel valued and supported are more likely to stay with the organization long-term.
It’s important for workplace leaders to be in on the wisecracks. If managers and supervisors make it hard for humor to blossom, it’s easier for a fun and relaxed environment to fall apart.
So, it’s up to you to help your team enjoy humor in the workplace.
Using Self-Deprecating Humor At Work
One way to encourage workers to practice humor is by making fun of themselves. Self-deprecating humor is a classic way to get people laughing. After all, if you can’t laugh at yourself, you can’t expect the people around you to laugh at all!
The key is not to take yourself too seriously.
Instead, be willing to laugh at your own mistakes and shortcomings. This will help to create a more open and approachable environment where your workers feel comfortable being themselves.
Just make sure to use this kind of humor in the right way. Don’t take it too far, and don’t sabotage your organization. It’s good to be able to make fun of yourself, but don’t insult yourself, either!
#4. Open-Door Policy So People Can Come To You
Humor thrives when people feel comfortable sharing in the fun. So when they have new jokes and one-liners, it’s important for employees to feel like they can let them loose!
However, it’s essential for workers also to understand where to draw the line. Jokes are great, but offensive or inappropriate humor at the expense of others shouldn’t have a place in your office.
Instead, encourage employees to share funny stories or jokes with each other. And also have an open-door policy where they can come to you with any concerns or ideas for improving the workplace.
Genuine humor can only thrive when your workers feel comfortable with where they are. Plus, it helps create a more collaborative and supportive workplace.
When it comes down to it, fostering positivity through humor can create a workplace that workers want to be a part of. Something this amazing can have an incredibly beneficial impact on the entire organization.
#5. Recognize Humor When It Happens
If you want people to keep doing something at work, you likely recognize it and make it a prime example of what to do. For example, coworkers working hard to finalize a project or a member that goes above and beyond always warrants some sort of shout-out.
Positive reinforcement and recognition are powerful tools, both in and outside of the workplace. So, if you’re looking to make laughter stick around, take the time to recognize employee humor.
Recognizing employees who bring laughter and good feelings to the workplace is important. It also encourages them to continue doing so! This type of recognition can also help create more positivity within the organization.
Wrapping Up
Implementing positivity and comedy at work is one of the most important things you can do as a workplace leader. It’s always good to give your workers a reason to smile!
Keep Reading: 7 Important Ways To Connect With Your Audience
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Adam Christing has been called “The Tom Brady of emcees.” He has hosted more than 1,000 company meetings, special events, gala celebrations, and more. He is the author of several books and founder of CleanComedians.com. For more event tips, follow Adam Christing on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
