A first-day employee was settling into a new office. Through his open door, he saw a man walking toward him. Desperate to appear busy, he lifted the phone and began to speak loudly about an “important” project. As his visitor waited under the door jam, he finished his fantasy conversation, sighed, and finally asked, "May I help you?"
The visitor smiled and said, "I'm here to install the phone."
January 2005
Everyone loves a good joke; after all, nothing eases tension like a little laughter. The tale of the young businessman above has circulated offices for years to make new employees feel at home in a unfamiliar workplace. Humor has the power to generate feelings of trust and community as well as develop a good rapport with customers, staff and superiors. When used inappropriately or out of place, however, humor can permanently fracture important business relationships. In the workplace, you must be cognizant of your surroundings and clientele when repeating the zinger you heard at the tailgate the previous weekend. Here are a few tips to help you use humor effectively:
Know Your Lines (and Limits)
In a business environment, humor should be employed to lighten moods, ease tension and build rapport, and never for shock value. Our story above illustrates a young man trying his best, but doing the wrong thing - without referencing his background or an other identifying characteristic. Regardless of how funny a joke may be, it's always best to stay away from workplace humor no-no's like ethnicity, gender, and disabilities.
Use Funny as Stress Relief
Like the story of the young employee, there's a joke for every work situation that can be used to ease the pressure found in every work environment. Increasing sales, profitability and workflow isn't a laughing matter, but breaking up the tension in the workplace by hanging up funny cartoons or even sending a joke of the week email can do a lot for office morale. Leading off meetings with a sharp quip can often pull your listeners in, even as they dread what you might have to say.
Know Your Audience
Not everyone chooses to share their sense of humor in the workplace. You can drive a wedge into an important business relationship by attempting to force a grin with wisecracks and bad puns. Keep in mind that every contact you have with customers - in person, on the phone and over email - reflects on both you and your company. Carefully consider the "humor tolerance" of your audience before doing your best Dave Letterman.
What Grow Sales, Inc. Can Do For You
Grow Sales, Inc. has been ascertaining the strengths and weaknesses of the print customer base in the Graphics Arts industry since 1996. With a full range of advisory and marketing solutions, we'll help you ensure your messages-humorous and otherwise-never fall on deaf ears.
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