Cenek Report

With tension levels in many work settings running at unprecedented levels due to the current economic conditions spanning the globe, the critical role of humor as an organizational relaxant can not be overstated.  Yes, there’s no better time than now for keeping the ‘stuffed shirts’ at bay. The ability of humor to defuse tense situations is well documented – and needs very little proof for the reasonably informed.  What’s often overlooked, however, is the role that humor can play in advancing a host of various organizational outcomes, including boosting productivity, workplace satisfaction, creativity, and innovation.  Certainly Southwest Airlines and Ben and Jerry’s understand the inherent power of humor in the workplace, and have made it one of their core values.

 A recent article by Eric Romero that appeared in the Tavistock Institute’s journal, Human Relations, highlighted the ability of humor to promote psychological safety, which is the “shared belief that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking.”  Groups having a higher level of psychological safety have less defensiveness among members, and have a higher ability to make decisions based on data as opposed to politics.  We also know that the most charismatic leaders are very skilled at using humor to coalesce groups, and typically have no hesitation in using humor of the self-deprecating variety.  The bottom line: most workers spend a significant portion of their lifespan in the workplace.  Work can and should be fun.