Humor in the workplace
Here is a good article on the importance of humor in the workplace.
One of the benefits the author cites is that it fosters creativity by getting people to, if even for a bit, snap out of the trance of work and think about things differently. Laughing can help release stress too.
Another interesting point is about power. According to the article, you can shift the power scheme by being funnier than the boss. Some might not appreciate it or put up with it, but that humor is a tool in office politics is an interesting idea and something I had never thought of before.
I also like the distinction he makes between telling a joke and being funny:
I don’t deal in jokes, which sounds weird for a humor specialist. My recommendation is always prefer a story over a joke — especially a true story that happened to you. A joke is highly artificial. If you tell me a joke, I know it didn’t happen to you, and I know you didn’t make it up. It has nothing to do with you or me.
I feel the same way. Most people that tell jokes are socially awkward or 11.
Oh and also? Humor specialist?
