That joke is not very funny — or maybe you thought it was — but it is common to walk around our office and hear laughter. I will often poke my head into a meeting where people are laughing and jokingly say, “Hey, this is a workplace, no laughing.” Fortunately, they know I am kidding because we specifically identify “fun” as an important value that we embrace.
Teams are much more effective when they enjoy being together. Humor is a social lubricant that strengthens the immune system while also providing significant psychological and emotional benefits.
Research by very smart people — like you, the reader — has identified a long list of benefits that arise from humor in the workplace. It improves communication, productivity and employee motivation, while lowering the risk of burnout and spontaneous employee combustion — something generally viewed as negative. Humor also increases brain power, learning and creativity. It’s fun and makes people happy, as fun often does. Finally, bosses with a sense of humor are more highly respected; employees view them as both more intelligent and better leaders — sometimes employees will actually listen to them. Who doesn’t want all that?
Some people reading this article, on the assumption they have made it this far, are thinking, ain’t no way, I would rather have a tooth pulled. Having a tooth pulled is an option, but you can only do that so many times. For many, humor does not come naturally and for four of you readers, according to my research, not at all. However, bosses are not required to be comedians, but they do need a sense of humor and to be open to fun. This might require stepping outside your comfort zone — or, possibly, brain surgery.
A leader who wants to interject the benefits of humor into their workplace should do the following:
Acknowledge that humor is beneficial Leaders should embrace the benefits of having fun and develop a sense of humor that benefits their team. Don’t let insecurity or any other type of angst, like fear of your head exploding, hold you back. Insecurity is one big reason leaders can’t embrace humor; they worry about possible unintended consequences of having fun at work — like everyone will stop working altogether and just tell jokes. Other leaders worry that if they “lighten up,” productivity will drop or, worse, people will actually enjoy being there. However, humor is beneficial and improves productivity; embrace it like a big bear hug.
Don’t feel pressure to be funny Leaders do not need to be funny, but they do need a sense of humor. A spirit of fun at work drives productivity, loyalty and retention; your employees won’t want to leave a great work environment, especially if you occasionally buy lunch.
Be brave Allowing humor in the workforce will push many leaders outside their comfort zones, but that’s OK, it’s growth. Lucille Ball reportedly said, “I am not funny. I am brave.” The best leaders are brave, and who doesn’t want to be loved like Lucy? She even had a television show called I Love Lucy. To get a full feel of the possibilities, substitute your name in place of “Lucy” in the show title, and you will get the idea.
Don’t be funny at other’s expense Our Correct Craft team knows that it is good to be teased by me; it is a great sign that you are well-liked and unlikely to get fired that week. However, like at the Grand Canyon, there are lines not to be crossed. Never tease an employee in a way that demeans them or makes them feel uncomfortable. And it is the employee who gets to decide their comfort level, not the leader. Plus, some employees are very uncomfortable with any attention, so don’t make them feel uneasy.
Be willing to poke fun at yourself Warren Buffet is one of the most successful businesspeople, and I recently read that self-deprecating humor is his superpower. I’d like a superpower, wouldn’t you? Research indicates that leaders who are willing to be self-deprecating are rated more trustworthy than other leaders — because your team already knows you are not perfect, likely not even close.
Walking with a couple of folks from our team on Miami Beach, I did something awkward and embarrassing, and that’s not hyperbole. Despite my embarrassment, I decided to embrace my stupidity. Not long after the incident, at an employee meeting, I was asked a question that provided the right opportunity to share my stupid act with our team, and I did. Everyone got a good laugh at my expense, and that’s OK. Usually, teams appreciate the humanity and vulnerability that is displayed when leaders can poke fun at themselves.
Enjoy organic levity Most of the time, humor is not planned — it just happens. When it does, relax and let your team enjoy it. Those moments will help develop bonds that are hard to break and will be helpful when we need each other’s support, which is likely later today.
Keep it suitable for work Hopefully this goes without saying, but here it is anyway: Some humor is inappropriate for the workplace. Our job as leaders is to let humor motivate our team members, not offend them. If you don’t already know this, you probably shouldn’t be a boss, but just to be clear, stay on the safe side.
A common phrase is “people won’t remember what you know or how good you were, but they will remember how you made them feel.” Last month, I wrote about stoic leaders and not letting emotions drive our decisions. There is nothing inconsistent about not letting emotions drive our decisions while also working to ensure our team has fun. It will help them feel great about your leadership and their company. Team members who feel good about their boss will enjoy work more, and the benefits of that are hard to calculate, even for the best accountants, like our guy Zach.
As I was finishing this article, a friend of mine called. Apparently, he was fired from his job at a bank. A woman came in and asked if he would check her balance; he pushed her over. That’s all folks. Have fun leading.
Bill Yeargin is CEO of Correct Craft and the author of five books, including the best-seller Education of a CEO.
This article was originally published in the June 2023 issue.
