How to Use Humor at Work

Want to become a better leader? Bring the funny.

I’m Glenn Taylor with Skybound Coaching and Training, and in this video we’ll talk about how you can use humor as a leader.

Believe it or not, humor is a powerful communication tool in the workplace. It helps you connect better with others, reduce tension or stress, and increase your influence.

Now, when I talk about using humor in the workplace, it’s not about needing to perform or act like a stand-up comedian. Instead, it’s about making people smile or laugh in simple everyday ways.

Here are some things you can try out today:

#1 Share What’s Already Out There:
For some of you, it may be daunting to just think up funny stuff on the fly. But you don’t have to be the humor creator. You can share a video, gif, cartoon, or meme that relates to a work topic or adds some levity to a presentation. Of course, be thoughtful about what you do and don’t share since we are in a work setting.

#2 Start Meetings with Funny Icebreakers:
Begin your next group conversation with a bit of humor. In a recent virtual training, I asked participants to think of a movie character they’d love to play for a day and change their name in Zoom to that character. We had everyone from Moana to Baby Yoda to Jason Bourne, which got people laughing.

#3 Use the Element of Surprise:
A lot of times, humor is expressed in the form of a surprise, so deliver your message in a way that people don’t expect. One way to experiment with this is using “The rule of 3.” Meaning, when you’re listing information, say two things people expect and then a third that’s different or surprising. For example, if I were to say “In today’s video, I’ll cover some background information, a few strategies, and then summarize the meaning of life.”

#4 Stay Plugged-In to Pop Culture:
Even if you don’t love pop culture, staying aware of what’s trending is important. It gives you good fodder for adding a funny quip or reference into your conversations with colleagues. And if you’re a total pop culture newbie, here are some easy ways to get started: Sign up for a newsletter like NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, watch SNL videos or segments by your favorite talk show host, or check-out Twitter or YouTube to see what’s trending.

Ok, that’s it for now. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and I’ll see you in the next video.

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