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Did you that know humour when used tactically, can be a powerful leadership tool?

To be honest, this skill is often overlooked. Instead, the qualities that come to mind are those of powerful, charismatic, and decisive.

Research shows that leaders with any sense of humour are seen as 27% more motivating and admired than those who don’t joke around.

Their employees are 15% more engaged, and their teams are more than twice as likely to solve a creativity challenge — all of which can translate into improved performance.

I can vouch for this based on my personal experience with different bosses throughout my career.

Many of them have found a place in different blog posts.

Some were the heroes who took their teams to great heights. They helped lighten the mood when the pressures of deadlines made us want to sink into earth.

Others brought the morale down by going into Big Brother Cat mode.

They say laughter is the best medicine and these leaders knew how to get a smile or a laugh out of their teams. They did it with finesse and made us feel better.  Their humour was clean and politically correct.

Nothing offensive was said and nobody was targeted. We laughed because the leader had a style that helped us feel an affinity with them.

That’s because they used humour to humanize themselves in our eyes. It’s called the Pratfall Effect.

The Pratfall Effect is a psychological phenomenon that claims we distance ourselves from people who appear to be perfect. We are significantly more attracted to competent people who appear to have a minor, relatable flaw.

They didn’t try to become clowns or indulge in buffoonery, but melted the tension so we kept our perspective instead of turning into headless chickens. The subtle message we received was that everything was under control and not to panic.

They used humour to signal their confidence and emotional intelligence.

Using humour, they got a view into their teams norm’s and values and built even stronger teams despite the nature, competency and skills of different team members.

In doing this, these leaders became more memorable and for all the right reasons.

How does one bring humour into the workplace without overdoing it?

I found some great advice in the article, How to be funny at work, which is worth repeating.

The first thing is to remember that each one of us is funny in our own way. It’s possible to both hone your sense of humour and learn to deploy it more effectively.

We often resist showing our sense of humour and worry that our jokes or stories will fall flat.

Here’s some good news. Research indicates that people appreciate almost any kind of levity, provided it’s not hurtful or offensive. And it’s not hard to stay on the right side of that line.

The next step is to get to know your own and others’ humour styles. The article identified 4 humour styles.

The article also recommended building signature stories that showcased your personality and sense of humour.

In other words, Effective leaders know how to use humor to their advantage.

This humour isn’t just for leaders, even colleagues and co-workers appreciate a good sense of humour.

Humour helps to connect people, building rapport, alleviate tension and foster a positive culture. A Robert Half survey found that 91% of executives believe a sense of humour is important for career advancement; while 84% feel that people with a good sense of humour do a better job.

Join their ranks by studying these tips for remaining professional while you tap into your funny side.

5 Benefits of Leading with Humor:

1. Enhance job performance. Laughter can be profitable because it triggers brain chemicals that help you to concentrate and think creatively. A study by the University of Warwick found that introducing comedy into the workday increased productivity by 12%.

2. Boost your reputation. Other research has found that leaders who use humor are viewed as being more competent and credible, and they receive higher ratings from their subordinates. Lightening up could help you stand out.
3. Reduce stress. Heavy workloads are one of the major reasons job stress has increased steadily in recent decades. Having opportunities to relax makes it easier to accomplish more.
4. Strengthen relationships. Humour is often a social activity. You learn things about your coworkers that may not be listed on their resume, and you create happy memories that deepen your bonds.
5. Protect your health. There are also many benefits for your physical and mental wellbeing. For example, humour can help relieve pain, boost your immune system, and lessen depression and anxiety.

7 Useful Tips for Using Humour at Work:

Some of these tips might sound familiar but are worth repeating.

1. Stay safe. Many standup comedians try to be controversial, but you need to watch out for your job security. Steer clear of sensitive topics like politics, religion, and any kind of stereotypes.
2. Pace yourself. Surprise your colleagues with a witty remark now and then. If you joke around from sunup to quitting time, it will be difficult for them to take you seriously when they need to.
3. Consider your audience. Different industries and companies have their own cultures. Pay attention to how others react in order to gauge whether you’re amusing them or offending them.
4. Liven up meetings. Zoom fatigue is a real thing. Make your presentations more memorable by setting them to music or throwing in a few pop culture references.
5. Share content. You can send your team entertaining video clips and news stories, even on busy days. It only takes a few minutes to search for content about penguins and cheese rolling.
6. Tell stories. Humour can be especially meaningful when you tie it into an appropriate narrative. Strengthen your connection by revealing something about your personal life. Find a case study that backs up your point.
7. Play games. Make office tasks more like your favorite video game by awarding points and rewards for submitting your timesheets when they’re due. Keep a jigsaw puzzle in the break room for anyone to work on when they’re passing through for a cup of coffee.

Final words

As a leader, you can make your team laugh without getting into trouble with the HR department. You’ll be making your employees happier and your business more successful.

Want to polish your Leadership Skills? Check out Karmic Ally Coaching’s Complete Leadership Toolkit.