|
|
|
|
|
| Humor
is a state of mind that allows and enables openness and
creativity. Humor is an inexpensive tool from which all
businesses can profit. In the sense that humor opens
minds and creates positive shared experiences, there is
always room for humor in the workplace. Humor can be very
serious business.
For humor to work in the workplace, everyone must agree
and define humor. Positive or 'open up' humor is something
funny that has the possibility of engaging everyone at
no one's expense. Negative or 'put down' humor is something that can cause anxiety
and pain at the expense of another. It is important to
realize the differences and only use positive humor in
the workplace.
Famous creativity scholar Edward De Bono points out that
organizations fall into the habit of applying the same
solution for different problems. When people are open we
can escape from habitual thinking patterns and use creativity
to think of unexpected, un-thought of, and new solutions
to old problems.
Every business needs creative problem solving to succeed
and humor opens the floodgates to creativity.
In this Issue
- Workplace Humor - Fearful or Fearless
- Put Down vs. Open Up
- Integrating Fun into the Workday
- Humor is Serious Business
- Do Today
Next Issue
Late June 2006 - Negotiation
Last Issue
April 2006 - Change | 
I'm Dr. Sigmund
Psychie C.E. (Communications Expert). It means that
while I practice the art of psychology, I am not
a psychologist. I have a wealth of experience in
helping people develop powerful communications skillsto
work through complex challenges at
work and home.
Ask me anything related to communications
at work, negotiations, management, and more.
Pass this information
to your colleagues and associates. I can help them too!
Email me your question today!
sigmund@ovson.com 
- Get what you want
- Ask for a raise
- Position yourself in a negotiation
- Work with a difficult person
- Manage multiple groups
- Hire the right employees
|
 |
Dear Dr. Psychie,
We are a group of lawyers having our yearly
office retreat. We have looked at your website and want to
have you facilitate our retreat. We are interested in your
ideas about incorporating humor in the workplace and yet
a bit afraid of unleashing our corporate sense of humor.
Is our fear justified?
Fear of Humor
Dear Fear of Humor,
Your fear is absolutely justified if you don't define and
agree about what 'humor' and 'fun' is right at the beginning. It
sounds like you might have employees with caustic senses
of humor, or 'put down' ideas of what funny means. These
people can destroy any goodwill or good feelings in a very
short time and I can't imagine that would be the take-away
you want from your retreat.
The key for success at the retreat and at the office place
is defining what behavior you want and expect at the beginning.
It is getting everyone to understand the guidelines and to
make a commitment to follow through. Good humor can
set the tone for any meeting and for a retreat, it is especially
important to develop a mood of openness and creativity that
will enhance participation and success. Humor is serious
business! |
You don't need to be funny to have good humor .
Put Down |
Open Up |
A mood or a state of mind |
A mood or a state of mind |
Insulting and painful to
the receiver
"The kitchen is a mess, oh Bob must have been here.
Hahaha. Why doesn't he ever clean up?" |
Engages everyone at no
one's expense
"The kitchen is a mess, hurricane season must have
started early. Let's all figure out a way to keep
the kitchen tidy." |
Caustic, pointed and fixed |
Engaging, inclusive, and
open |
Closed minded |
Openness to the unexpected |
Automatic thinking for
many people. |
Encourages divergent (creative)
thinking. |
|
 |
Dear Dr. Psychie,
At home with my family I am very silly
and playful, yet everything gets done as it needs to. We
do lots of creative projects at home from cooking dinner
to rearranging the furniture. I notice that when I step into
the office I smile less and become much more serious. I feel
less open to sharing my opinions and trying out new ideas.
Is there a way to integrate my light creative nature into
my workday?
-Happy outside
Dear Happy outside,
Why do you think it is easier to be creative at home? Chances
are it's a variety of differences with the biggest one being
the sense of expectation. To you it seems that home
is a place without judgment, where creativity and difference
is applauded. Whereas at work you feel you have expectations
to work "normally" to get things done.
The real challenge for you is to equate getting something
done with being able to be open and share your opinions without
feeling judged.
It might help you to ask in a meeting, "What are your expectations? Is
this meeting asking for creative input or is it just for
information?" Once your expectations are defined,
you can fill them the way they want you.
http://www.ovson.com |
Follow these steps to integrate fun into your workday:
- Decide and set your own mood
- Savor the ability to laugh
- Let go of anxiety and fear
- Use laughter as a goodwill gesture
- Be open
- Create success
Laugh. Laughter is powerful. It changes your state
of being, your perspective, and your chemical makeup.
If you need help:
- Recall something you felt that was so funny
when you were 6 years old. Remember that feeling and
dig it up when needed.
- Watch someone else laugh. Attitude and laughter
are contagious.
|
|
|
| Building Success through Interpersonal Communications |
