The Hump Day Humor at Work E-zine
Humor at Work: The Attraction Power of Humor
Humor research suggests that people who have a greater sense of humor are viewed as being more attractive because, from a Darwinian perspective, having a healthy sense of humor advertises to potential mates that you have a greater intellect and are in better health than your humorless neighbors! (I’ve suspected this for some time.) And as recounted in the book “How Pleasure Works” by Paul Bloom, men and women significantly increase their attractiveness ratings in photos simply by smiling.
Okay, so maybe you’re not on the lookout for a potential mate, but if you want to improve your likability with the rest of your team mates and customers, then smiling more and sharing a sense of humor is a rather simple, fun way to go. Of course, since organizations have personalities you could also apply this at the organizational level. After all, creating a fun brand such as Apple, Zappos.com or Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, also helps convey a healthier, more creative and attractive image.
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Mike’s Fun at Work Tip
Create a fun vision board in a prominent hallway or room at work that creatively represents where you want your workplace to be a year from now. Use fun, outrageous photos, inspirational quotes, article clippings, awards, messages from clients etc.- anything that conveys a positive message about the values you embrace and how you see your workplace at its ideal best.
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Quote of the Week
“I learned that when I made people laugh, they liked me. This is a lesson I’ll never forget.” Art Buchwald ================================================================
It’s a Wacky World
This Thursday, April 21, is the day you’ve been waiting for. Yup, it’s official “High-Five” Day! So break out the hand sanitizer, do some practice flexes today, and get ready to high five the day away.
(Sure, it’s a bit cheesy, but it’s better than “Knee Bump” day, an archaic Belgian holiday that never really caught on here.)
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Copyright Michael Kerr, 2011 www.humoratwork.com
Humor at Work: Great Workplaces Create Great Ambassadors
In a survey by the David Alpin Group, one of the top reasons
employees cited for quitting their jobs was an unhealthy or
undesirable workplace culture. Yet, in the same survey, managers
failed to recognize this as a top factor. The failure to understand
the importance of culture costs organizations dearly. Moreover,
a study by Bill Fromm and Jim Heskitt of Harvard Business School
found that companies that distinguish themselves in how they hire,
train and treat their employees experience growth rates 60-300%
higher than their competitors. That’s a lot of moola folks!
Conversely, unhappy employees who quit are often more than happy to
share their experience with the world these days through Facebook,
their own blog, or with a You Tube video rant (not that this is the
wisest option, but it is sometimes the reality).
So always remember that your own employees are your top marketers,
recruiters and ambassadors for your organization. Treat them well,
create an insanely fun, innovative and inspiring culture and they’ll
evangelize for your organization – bringing great recruits and great
customers your way in droves!
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Mike’s Fun at Work Tip
75% of all fortune cookie messages get read out loud. So if you want
to add some fun to your next meeting, employee event, conference
OR if you want to promote yourself to your clients in a memorable
and fun way, contact one of the many on-line companies that will
create customized fortune cookies for you stuffed with your own
messages inside. (Just some food for thought for you.)
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Quote of the Week
“It has always surprised me how little attention philosophers have
paid to humor since it is a more significant process of mind than
reason. Reason can only sort out perceptions; humor is involved in
changing them.” Edward de Bono
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It’s a Wacky World
Tomorrow, April 14, is “International Moment of Laughter” day,
so take a moment to laugh at someone who’s a different nationality
than yours. No wait. I don’t think that’s the right idea. I think
you’re supposed to take a moment to laugh no matter where in the
world you are, because as Steve Allen once said, “If you suppress
laughter it goes right to the hips!”
And on an interesting side note, LOL was just added to the Oxford
English dictionary. So LOL tomorrow. At least FAM (For A Moment).
Humor at Work: Fools at Work Boost Business’s Image
Fool’s Hard at Work
In case you missed it, here’s a quick recap of a few of the
April Fool’s pranks pulled by businesses last Friday.
Interesting to note that many of the businesses who took the
time to prank the public got free, positive media coverage
out of it, and that most are businesses already associated with
a positive, personable brand – perhaps because they recognize
the power of having a great corporate sense of humor!
- Eastman Kodak offered pain-free photo tattoos
- LinkedIn allowed users to connect with Ernest Hemingway
- Living Social offered up a new salami-based spa treatment
- WestJet Airlines created a You Tube video announcing that
they would begin mixing helium into the ventilation system
to make the planes lighter (the hilarious video has garnered
more than 100,000 views on You Tube)
- The New York Hilton sent out a press release offering up the
penthouse suite to the cobra that escaped from the Bronx Zoo
- Google announced a new “motion-controlled” e-mail system that
lets users write e-mails using elaborate gestures
- U.K.-based Ryanair promised “child-free flights”
- Sir Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Group, offered to pay to
have Pluto’s mass bulked up to restore its status as a planet
- Whole Foods laughed at its own corporate image by announcing
a program to have “your entire paycheck converted into a
Whole Foods gift card (playing up on their nickname “Whole
Paycheck”)
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Mike’s Fun at Work Tip
Create this simple, but very worthwhile practice that I know a
few of my clients have committed to doing: start every morning
by sending someone a thank-you card. Your boss. A team mate. A
client. An unsung hero who never gets thanked. A scheduled
routine increases the likelihood that it will become a habit, plus
it might encourage others in your workplace to start practicing
more positive praise. Happiness researchers also suggest that
regular displays of gratitude boosts happiness levels, and it
encourages you to start each day on a positive note (literally).
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Quote of the Week
“The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and
play.” Arthur Toynbee
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It’s a Wacky World: Some More Wacky Product labels
- On a Sears hairdryer: Do Not Use While Sleeping
- On a Rowenta iron: Do Not Iron Clothes While Wearing Them
- Fritos chips: You Could be a Winner! No Purchase Necessary!
Details Inside!
- On a New Zealand insect repellant: Not Tested on Animals!
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Copyright Michael Kerr, 2011 www.humoratwork.com
Humor at Work: Fun Ideas for Fun at Work Day!
Fun at Work Day
April Fool’s day is also Fun at Work day, so why not do something
that more and more workplaces around the world are doing, and
set aside an hour this Friday to plan some simple events or
ideas that will help you put more humor into your workplace.
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Mike’s Fun at Work Tip
Here are a few harmless pranks OR just foolish things you can try
this Friday, April 1st:
- Page yourself on the intercom and announce you’ve won a prize
- Phone up your boss and say, “I’m too busy to talk right now,”
then hang up
- Leave a fun voice mail message for everyone the night before
- Hang a pair of Grouch Marx glasses in the washrooms for
everyone to try on and see how they look
- Bring in clown noses for everyone
- Change your e-mail signature for e-mails you send to colleagues
to something totally outlandish and see if anyone notices
- Hold a wackiest tie, scarf or hat contest
- Require everyone share a quick, clean joke to gain admittance
into the office or any meeting this Friday.
- Hold a “fun dance” contest and give a prize to the best dancer
- Send out a fake meeting agenda with preposterous agenda items
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Quote of the Week
“There is a foolish corner of the brain in the wisest man.”
Aristotle
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It’s a Wacky World
Today is official “The Grass is Always Browner on the Other Side
of the Fence” day. So take a moment to stop and appreciate all
that’s good in your life, and perhaps take another moment to water
your neighbor’s lawn, because evidently it really needs it.
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Copyright Michael Kerr, 2011 www.humoratwork.com
Humor at Work: Laughing WITH or AT People?
Laughing With or At?
As we near April Fool’s day I thought I’d touch on the topic
of safe humor. Safe humor, of course, being humor wherein no
one in your workplace gets fired. Or maimed. Or killed. Or
deeply offended. The first three are extremely rare occurrences,
but they do, believe it or not, happen. The last issue, offensive
humor, is the most common and the trickiest issue to deal with.
After all, as Melvin Helitzer said, “In matters of humor, what is
appealing to one person is appalling to another.”
In the book “Beyond a Joke, The Limits of Humor,” Sharon Lockyer
points out that even when it comes to what we might think of as
humor that is obviously satirical in nature (a la Borat or
Archie Bunker in All in the Family), some folks don’t get the
intended target of the humor. Studies suggest that bigots enjoyed
Archie Bunker’s rants because they thought he was speaking the
truth, whereas non-bigots understood the humor was meant to
skewer bigots. Ditto for fans of the Colbert Report. “Liberals”
think Stephen Colbert is laughing AT “conservatives”, whereas
conservatives think Stephen Colbert is laugh WITH conservatives.
In a workplace setting it’s unlikely that such biting, satirical
humor would be used, however this is a good reminder that there
are people who won’t always “get” your humor, or, even if they do,
may not get which side of the issue you are really on. But as
I’ve said before, rather than fearing all use of subversive humor
in the workplace, you should be listening to it for the real
truths being spoken around contentious workplace issues. And if
you try some edgy, satirical humor at work to make a point, just
make sure you think long and hard about how the humor will be
actually received by everyone around you.
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Mike’s Fun at Work Tip
This Saturday, March 26, is “Make Up Your Own Holiday” day, so
hold a contest in your workplace and award a prize for whoever
comes up with the most creative holiday that ties into your
workplace in a fun, thematic way. Of course, if you’re really
keen you could go ahead and turn it into a holiday or, at the
very least, a fun theme day that promotes your business.
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Quote of the Week
“Anything worth taking seriously, is worth making fun of.” Tom Lehrer
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It’s a Wacky World
Some actual quotes taken from British school exams:
- “Monotony means being married to the same person for the
rest of your life.”
- “I’ve said good-bye to boyhood, now I’m looking forward to
adultery.”
- “Momentum – what you give a person when they are going away.”
- “To keep milk from turning sour keep it in the cow.”
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Copyright Michael Kerr, 2011 www.humoratwork.com
Hello Brinks Canada
Greetings from Michael Kerr, Humor at Work
Humor at Work: Grin and BEAR It?
Having read a few studies about how simply smiling can shift
your emotions for the better, I was interested in a recent study
that suggested the opposite is sometimes true! A Michigan State
University study reported in the Academy of Management Journal
found that customer-service workers who faked a smile throughout
the day actually worsen their mood and withdraw from work. The
good news: workers who smiled as a result of cultivating
positive thoughts (thinking about their vacation; their child;
their dog)improved their moods and withdrew less.
So maybe the old “fake it ‘til you make it” approach isn’t always
the way to go, unless you accompany it by shifting your internal
dialogue to shift your mood. Another study, reported in the
journal of Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, suggests
that shifting your mood might just pay off in the long run:
a review of more than 160 studies found compelling evidence that
happier people with a more positive state of mind enjoy better
health and live longer lives, creating a stronger link even than
the link between obesity and longevity. Positive moods in the
laboratory was found to reduce stress-related hormones and help
the heart recover following exertion.
The moral of the studies: add more humor to work, create fun
rituals, and foster an inspiring culture at work that makes it
easy to maintain a great attitude and smile from the INSIDE out!
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Mike’s Fun at Work Tip
Rather than the usual wall of photos of your team members, do
what one of my clients does and create a photo wall of everyone’s
pets, children, grandparents or spouses to remind everyone of
what’s truly important in life. ================================================================
Deep Thought of the Week
“If you’re convinced there’s only one way to go, you’re lost.”
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It’s a Wacky World
Okay, this may be an urban legend, but it’s a good story: A man
gets a $40.00 photo radar speeding ticket in the mail with a photo
of his speeding car. Man sends police a photo of forty dollars.
Police send back man a photo of a man being handcuffed. Man pays
fine. Moral: a picture truly is worth a thousand words. Or at
least forty bucks.
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Copyright Michael Kerr, 2011 www.humoratwork.com
Humor at Work: Google Greatness
Regardless of what you feel about Google as an empire, they do
know how to build a great workplace. Their Culture Audits show
that 95% of employees view it as a great place to work, and it
regularly tops “Best Companies to Work For” lists. From their
quarterly kick-off meetings to living their values out loud,
Google puts a huge emphasis on maintaining a strong culture.
The original founders knew they wanted to not just create a
great business, but also a great workplace. Fun office space,
unique benefits (such as a $500 take-out meal fund for new
parents), huge opportunities for training, on-site dental
and medical facilities, on-site bike repair and oil change,
and classes in subjects ranging from home estate planning to
Spanish, all help build a “want to” kind of work environment.
But beyond the fabulous perks, what really makes Google an
inspiring workplace in the eyes of its employees is that the
senior leaders really do make sure the values around open, two-
way communication, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie
are demonstrated day in and day out.
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Mike’s Fun at Work Tip
Tomorrow is “Name Tag Day” so I’m recycling two old ideas here:
Have everyone wear a “Hello my name is____” nametag all day
and I guarantee you’ll discover how friendlier people are to
each other.
Bonus idea! Order some funny nametag ribbons to use at meetings,
with ribbons such as, “BORED Member,” “Runs with Scissors,”
“Plays Well With Others” or “Princess”. Order from PC Nametag:
http://www.pcnametag.com/product-FUN-Titles-Ribbon-Pack-110.aspx
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Quote of the Week
“Whenever you can talk about the absurdity of yourself as a
human being, it’s funny.” Carrie Fisher ================================================================
It’s a Wacky World
Today is Panic Day! But please don’t! Even though it’s also
“Get Over It Day” and “Learn What Your Name Means Day!”
But what’s even more awesome is that tomorrow, March 10, is
“International Day of Awesomeness!” That’s just awesome!
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Copyright Michael Kerr, 2011 www.humoratwork.com
Wanted: Workplaces That Live Up to the Hype!
Wanted: Workplaces that Lives Up to the Hype!
I recently read a half-page classified ad in the paper, advertising for a position with a former employer. As I read, I laughed harder and harder at the Utopian workplace that was being offered up to prospective employees, because there was absolutely no resemblance to the reality that exists in this very dysfunctional workplace. Which got me thinking: what would the ad would look like if the employees wrote it without any spin doctoring: “As part of the management team you will attend countless, meaningless meetings where your ideas will be constantly shot down. Plus, you’ll work tirelessly in a fun-sucking, soul-destroying work environment.”
You get the drift.
I may sound harsh, but my point is: are you able to write inspiring and honest employee help wanted ads that truly reflect your workplace culture? What if your employees or customers wrote your help wanted ads, how different might the ads look?
Review your help wanted ads and then take a long, hard look at your workplace culture to see if there’s a disconnect between the promise and the reality. ================================================================
Mike’s Fun at Work Tip
Create a video scrap book of your year. Assign a few folks to
play the role of amateur journalist/videographer and capture
significant events, spontaneous moments, client testimonials,
greetings from new employees, road trip moments, etc. that can
be compiled into a memorable DVD gift for all your employees at
the end of the year.
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Quote of the Week
“Catch people in the act of doing something right.” Ken Blanchard
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It’s a Wacky World
Proof yet again that there is an endless supply of things you can
reward and celebrate at work – the 2010 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction
contest “winner” for the worst opening line in fiction went to the
author who penned this opening line of a novel: “For the first
month of Ricardo and Felicity’s affair, they greeted one another
at every stolen rendezvous with a kiss; a lengthy, ravenous kiss,
Ricardo lapping and sucking at Felicity’s mouth as if she were a
giant cage-mounted water bottle and he were the world’s thirstiest gerbil.”
(Ah, the imagery. Sigh. It makes me miss my gerbil.) ================================================================
Copyright Michael Kerr, 2011 www.humoratwork.com
Humor at Work: Creativity in the Workplace Requires Thinking Time!
Showering Your Workplace with Great Ideas!
There’s a scene in the TV show Mad Men where the boss’s young daughter asks an employee why he isn’t working, to which the ad man replies, “I am working. I’m thinking.”
Which raises an interesting point. A growing body of research suggests that as our workplaces get busier and noisier and people strive to do more with less and run ever-so-faster on the gerbil wheel and multitask like monkeys at an amusement park, we’ve forgotten the importance of setting aside time to be quiet, to reflect and to think. And it’s costing us dearly because our ability to be creative, innovate, and gain clarity on important workplace issues is intricately tied to our capacity to find the space and time to really think.
In my surveys of where people are most creative, the number one answer is always the shower. Aaron Sorkin, the screenwriter of the movie The Social Network, admits to sometimes showering six or more times a day when he gets blocked creatively. The primary reason showers spark creative ideas is that they are one of the few places where people allow their minds to drift about like a tumbleweed in a cheesy western. Brain scans confirm that the process of free association, of allowing your thoughts to aimlessly bounce around your brain, is the main source of creative ideas. Now, more showers at work may not fly with the boss, but if your workplace truly values innovation, then creating opportunities for your own mad men and mad women to slow down and think, will pay off handsomely in the long run. (Almost as handsomely as Don Draper.)
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Mike’s Fun at Work Tip
Create some meeting penalties or infractions (checking your Blackberry; being a sea gull and dumping on someone’s idea; arriving late to the meeting) and then impose a fine that goes to your organization’s charity of choice. You can also expand this idea to everyday fun office penalties, even if you just do it for one week to raise some moola for a charity or social committee: a two dollar fine for wearing an ugly tie; a dollar every time you utter an overused buzzword or acronym; or five dollars for telling a groan-inducing joke.
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Quote of the Week
“Humorists are serious. They are the only people who are.”
Mark Van Doren
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It’s a Wacky World
Today, February 23, is official “Curling is Cool Day.” I’m Canadian, so I am pretty much legally obliged to agree with this. It’s also “Inconvenience Yourself Day”, a day my phone company’s billing department apparently celebrates on a regular basis.
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Copyright Michael Kerr, 2011 www.humoratwork.com