HUMAN RESOURCES Transition to Business By Paul Falcone
The Big Benefits of Laughter in the Workplace July is the month celebrating the Declaration of Independence, and every employer wants to hire new staff members that are independent, accountable, high performing, and achievement focused. Do you know one of the best ways of getting there? Laughter. Seriously. Humor drives camaraderie, teamwork, and trust better than just about anything else. And when workers feel comfortable in their skin and supported by one another, they perform at a higher level naturally. They say “Laughter is the best medicine” for a reason. A healthy workplace culture known for humor and lightheartedness produces incredible benefits, including: • Creating an atmosphere of levity and a sense of perspective that can dissolve tension and, in turn, protect us from stress at work and improve our physical and mental health • Keeping your team connected and bonded, especially when you’re facing challenging times, so that people are more inclined to have others’ backs
“Laughter is the best medicine”
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• Making team members more open to change, as the very act of laughing releases feel-good chemicals that enhance concentration and creativity • Driving greater innovation because workers who relax around each other and benefit from a playful culture are less concerned about making mistakes and open to taking risks—a foundation for finding more creative and innovative solutions A hint of self-deprecating humor can also be a useful tool for leaders and other employees to make themselves more approachable. In fact, when leaders and employees share a certain level of self-effacing banter, employees tend to gain even more professional respect for leaders—a counterintuitive finding for leaders who are afraid to show weakness. Moreover, research suggests that people who engage in more conversational humor with colleagues feel happier and experience higher job satisfaction. But how do you incorporate humor into the corporate world?
