Tom had this problem of getting up late in the morning and was always late for work. His boss was mad at him and threatened to fire him if he didn't do something about it. So Tom went to his doctor who gave him a pill and told him to take it before he went to bed. Tom slept well and in fact beat the alarm in the morning by almost two hours. He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work. "Boss", he said, "The pill actually worked!"

"That's all fine" said the boss, " But where were you yesterday?"

Source: ahajokes.com

February 2010

There's a Time and Place for Workplace Humor

Who doesn't love a good joke? After all, nothing eases tension like a little laughter. The tale of the late-sleeping worker above has circulated through offices for years, making new employees feel at home in an unfamiliar workplace. Humor has the power to generate feelings of trust and community as well as strengthen bonds among customers, staff and superiors. When used inappropriately or at the wrong time, however, humor can permanently damage important business relationships. For instance, that hilarious off-color zinger you heard at a BBQ last weekend might not go over as well with customers or fellow employees.

Here are a few more tips to help you use humor effectively in your workplace:

Make 'em Laugh (But Don't Offend 'em)
In a business environment, humor should be used to lighten moods, ease tension and build rapport--never to stir up controversy. Our story above illustrates a man trying his best to solve a problem and making a mistake. Notice that the joke never references his background or any other identifying characteristics. Jokes that employ ethnicity, gender, religion or related subjects for comedic value have no place in the workplace--no matter how funny they may be.

Laughter as Stress Relief
There's a joke for every work situation, and almost every high-pressure work environment can benefit from a little humor. Increasing sales and bottom-line profits may be serious business, but breaking the tension by hanging up funny cartoons or sending a joke of the week email can improve office morale. Leading off meetings with a one-liner or quip can often pull your listeners in, even if they dread what you might have to say.

Know When to Cut the Comedy
Don't force office humor by resorting to incessant wisecracks and bad puns. Not everyone chooses to share their sense of humor in the workplace, and there's a fine line between telling a few jokes and becoming the office clown. Keep in mind that every interaction you have with customers- in person, on the phone and through email - reflects on both you and your company. Carefully consider the "humor tolerance" of your audience before doing your best Jay Leno.

What Can Grow Sales, Inc. Do For You?
Charting a course for aggressive, intelligent growth can be difficult. Grow Sales, Inc., has been helping printing and other graphic arts companies with their strategic concerns and growth needs since 1996. With a full range of advisory and marketing solutions, we'll help you ensure your communications-humorous or otherwise-never fall on deaf ears.

Back to E-Tips