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GREAT LEADERS DON'T Leaders don't need to be comedians, clowns or buffoons. A well-told joke or story might be just the thing to give the office a lift, but is not a requirement. Great leaders take pains to learn the art of telling a joke really well, yet they know that telling jokes is not necessary nor is it the only way to lighten things up; nor is it the same thing as having a sense of humor. Seeing what's funny is more important than being funny. A ready, warm smile can be more effective in setting people at ease than telling them the latest joke. The most effective leaders I know are astute about humor and sensitive to when and how to lighten up. A sense of humor is the ability to find the less serious side of a situation; comedy is not required. SENSES OF HUMOR In fact, they know that people do not really have 'a' sense of humor, but are more likely to have several senses of humor depending, in part, on their mood, tastes, beliefs, intellect, and life experiences. They know it is a case of 'different jokes for different folks', so they are more likely to find the lighter side of a situation than to tell jokes. Great leaders get to know their employees so they can tickle each one's funny bone rather than imposing their own sense of humor on everyone. Is there anything sadder, more humiliating, or toady-er, than a group of employees faking laughter at their egotistical boss who cannot tell a joke to save his life? Great leaders know that satisfaction, celebration, recognition, and appreciation can all be accomplished with a light touch. They dispense praise frequently along with an easy smile. They know that the sounds of laughter around the office or on the shop floor are often signs of teamwork, camaraderie, creativity and productivity. They know that work groups that develop 'inside jokes' are speaking their private language, a valuable cohesive factor for teams. MORALE & PRODUCTIVITY "Great leaders know that if employees don't find some fun about their jobs on a regular basis, morale will sag, followed in short order by productivity and customer service. They know that encouraging positive humor and discouraging toxic humor will increase job satisfaction, communications and customer rapport, and will ward off charges of a harassment or a hostile work environment. They use humor and a light touch to reward and to deftly harmonize and smooth over certain conflicts. They use the light touch to boost optimism and allay anxieties. They encourage good-natured banter and discourage zingers and put-down humor. "Great leaders (the most effective) have an androgynous sense about humor. There tend to be definite gender differences with regard to the development and expression of humor. Leaders must understand that there is a double standard in the workplace when it comes to humor. A woman telling a joke is likely to be viewed less favorably than a man telling the same joke. Women need to capitalize on the advantages that accrue to the person with a good sense of humor, but
they must not copy the way men tend to be humorous. "Along with a sense of humor, great leaders develop a keen sensitivity to humor. They recognize that a joke or humor is not a cure-all. They know when not to use humor. Although they might encourage advanced planning for fun (holidays, birthdays, sales successes), they eschew coercive fun and enforced jollity in favor of spontaneity. They use humor that lifts people up and does not put people down. They use humor that draws people together in their commonalities, not humor that divides people by comparing or competing. They avoid sarcasm and never engage in ridicule. They are careful not to use language that might be offensive. They encourage work groups to laugh with each other not at each other. GREAT LEADERS DO "Within a strong set of guidelines about humor, great leaders support their work groups in not only appreciating what the boss finds funny, but finding and expressing their own senses of fun and humor, too. Of a bad leader, people say, "We hate him!" Of a good leader, people say, "We love him!" Of a great leader, people say, "We did it ourselves!"
Steve Wilson: Psychologist, Organizational Consultant, Founder of World Laughter Tour, Inc., Columbus, Ohio. http://www.stevewilson.com http://www.worldlaughtertour.com 1-800-NOW-LAFF
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