Oct 30, 2019
Most people use humor as a great
way to break the ice and keep things light and fun in the
workplace. However, through cultural differences, personality
types, and life experiences, the use of humor can become offensive
or make people uncomfortable. Where do you find the right balance?
Jim and Jan discuss the importance of humor in the workplace and
how to use your emotional intelligence to develop the right amount
and type of humor for a company’s culture.
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Key Takeaways
[2:15] Jan tells a joke. Brace
yourselves!
[4:00] Most people want to work
in a place where there is some humor or some form of light
heartedness, but different cultures find different levels of humor
acceptable and it can be difficult to tell how far is too far even
when the intention is innocent.
[7:40] As a leader, it’s your
job to create a comfortable environment, but how do you know
whether something offends somebody or not?
[12:30] What does the internet
have to say about humor in the workplace? Jim didn’t find anything
particularly helpful. The information out there is very
limited.
[15:55] If a topic is going to
make people feel awkward, maybe it’s best to stay away from it.
Your jokes should make people feel comfortable. For example, you
should probably stay away from practical jokes in the
workplace.
[20:50] Jim and Jan would love
your thoughts on this subject! Please feel free to reach
out.
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Quotable Quotes
- “You never know in the workplace these days what’s
going to offend and what isn’t.”
- “This person said that they can’t say anything without
offending somebody. They’ve got to be PC.”
- “Sarcasm isn’t an excuse to belittle someone.”
- “I would rather live in a world where we have a little bit of
humor and occasionally say I’m sorry sincerely than to be on guard
all the time.”
8 Tips for Using Workplace Humor -
Forbes
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