Humour and Laughter

A lot of these concepts we have dealt with in my blogs so far are such serious stuff, aren’t they?
Living and working life “at cause” doesn’t mean we have to always be serious and forget about having fun.

Laughter is one of life’s “free indulgences” known to release “feel good” endorphins which are also good for our health. In his book “Laughter, Sex, Vegetables and Fish” Dr John Tickell suggests those are four things we could never overindulge in.  One of my friends and associate coaches Colin Davies, focuses specifically on laughter in his coaching. Have a read of one of his points at: http://www.colindaviescoaching.com/content/Laughter/Laughter_pays.html if you’re interested.

If I ever feel down, I like to call certain people that I know are always good for a laugh. After such calls I always feel better. (I’m still working on improving that reputation for myself – I’m German born remember?)

So relax. Be yourself. Smile – it is one of your greatest gifts – for yourself and to others around you.
“Get a life” is a great Aussie term. Australians love a larrikin and love a good laugh.
I think a great influence of our cultural heritage from the UK is the use of the “one liner”. Often spiced with cynicism or sarcasm, it can be extremely pointed and hilariously funny.

However, one of the few simple “rules” that have worked for me is that I always try to avoid humour at the expense of someone else – particularly in front of others, and particularly in a business context. Whilst that can be very funny, it works against the principles of honouring and respecting the other person in terms of practicing diplomacy.

The other rule is that it is a must to learn to be able to laugh at oneself.

I love sharp witted banter. I subscribe to the idiom “sarcasm is the lowest form of wit” and I also believe that cynicism isn’t far removed from that. I believe if such a quip is deemed necessary to make a point or if you have chosen to use it to “loosen things up”, that it is appropriate to “ask” or “warn” the person up front that they “will allow you the indulgence” before you do. That can “tone it down” a little.

Humour and laughter can really “lighten things up”, can’t it? Apart from being a lot of fun and putting people at ease it can also be used very effectively in meetings and negotiations when “things get a bit tense”. In my negotiation skills grooming and training I also teach the use of humour as a great tool at the very beginning of a meeting or negotiation, to get people in a more relaxed frame of mind, that often aids in rapport building. In the training context, it is proven that people also learn better and remember more if they learned it with humour.

Isn’t it funny that when we look for the lighter or funnier side of things we cannot but see the more positive side of things at the same time?

What are you known for? Where do you sit on the spectrum of the serious “stickler” on the one end, or the “jester” who tries to make all things funny on the other? Both can be quite off putting if always at the extreme, can’t they?

So in this coming week, why don’t you “put yourself on notice” and become more aware of humour and laughter around you? Perhaps allow yourself to be drawn more to where it is occurring? Why not practice injecting some humour or laughter into the conversations with those around you in your home or workplace or where you catch up with people?

I can almost guarantee you that you will have a better week, and those around you will improve theirs at the same time.

Tags: Feel Good