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By ELIZABETH PEZZULLO
We all know laughter is good for the soul. But it's also good for the workplace. According to clinical psychologist Steven M. Sultanoff, humor has become a corporate asset because it eases communication, builds relationships, reduces stress and generally re-energizes workers.
Sultanoff cites a survey showing that about 15 percent of workers are fired for incompetence, while a whopping 85 percent are let go for being unable to get along with their colleagues.
Even human-resources types say humor is one of the key attributes in a desired employee.
Humor is gateway to communication
Laughing and a good sense of humor provide a nonthreatening environment for workers and bosses. Consider the frazzled secretary, Sultanoff says. Co-workers are making constant demands and she's also got a boss to keep happy. All of this along with a constantly ringing phone. So she puts a sign on her desk: "I have only two speeds, and if this one isn't fast enough then I'm sure you're not going to like the other."
This is a nonthreatening, nonconfrontational way to get her point across in a subtle and good-humored way.
Humor builds relationships
Humor can go a long way in creating staff cohesion and a sense of team effort at work.
Bulletin boards, e-mail, intra-office memos, voice mail, etc., all offer mediums through which we can share humor with co-workers. Office jokes taking the seriousness of work lightly provide us with the opportunity to become more connected with others.
Humor reduces stress
Work and stress seem to go hand in hand. And in case you hadn't noticed, stress is one of the leading causes of illness. Illness leads to absenteeism, something no employer wants. Feelings such as depression, anger and envy, as well as muscular, respiratory, cardiovascular and skeletal maladies, occur when stress isn't alleviated. It's just this simple: When we laugh we feel physically better, and, after laughter, we feel lighter and more relaxed.
Humor can make you better at what you do
Humor provides a diversion from one path to another. We find things funny when they are incongruous or mismatched. Thinking shifts, and, in fact, breaking a serious mind-set leads to increased productivity and creativity.
Humor provides energy
If you've ever sat through a lecture where lots of jokes and anecdotes were used, you've witnessed firsthand how such devices can re-energize you and increase your attention span. Workers shouldn't be averse to posting funny one-liners or cartoons on an office bulletin board (provided they're in good taste and won't offend anyone).
Let's face it, with as much time as we spend at work, if you want to survive physically and mentally, you better learn to laugh.
To reach ELIZABETH PEZZULLO:
Email: epezzullo@freelancestar.com
