SENDING IN THE CLOWNS
When should managers think about incorporating humor into the workplace? Anytime, really. In fact, in most cases, the greater the stress, the greater the need to laugh instead of cry.

Experts have pinpointed three kinds of scenarios in particular that should set off a manager's "send in the clowns" alarms. These are the kinds of situations that call out for a good dose of humor that could help bring an employee back from the brink and possibly even inspire a smile. Here are the three particularly crazy-making situations:

• A huge deadline looms. Coworkers are on edge, emotions are taut and communication seems to be breaking down.

• There's no way to win. An employee is expected to do a job without the necessary resources, deal with an overly demanding client base, or accept flak from enforcing unpopular rules.

• You can't predict and you can't control. Employees feel completely at the mercy of stressors like overwhelming workloads, difficult scheduling or decision-making into which they have little or no input.

These kinds of situations "stretch people beyond their capabilities," commented Susan Gayle, founder of the New Behavior Institute, in her recent on-line article. "There is no time to re-group and re-energize. The results are a lessening of quality in work, concentration and communication."

Humor can be incorporated throughout the day, advised Ron Culberson, MSW, "Director of Everything" at FUNsulting, etc. You don't have to wait for the perfect opportunity. For example, it can be used in:

• Presentations

• Public places like bulletin boards, cubicles and doors

• Meetings

• Memos, newsletters and emails

• Parties, recognition events

"Every aspect of your day-to-day work can be enhanced with FUN and humor," Culberson advised in a recent on-line article. "Whether you add a funny story or quote to a presentation or you include a cartoon on the cover of your memos, you are making the workplace pleasant... Most of all, when you make these work processes more FUN, you will be affecting attitudes. And once you affect attitudes, you can unleash a new level of productivity and commitment."

But be careful about how you use humor in the workplace, especially when it comes to what you believe is just a good-humored put down. Not everyone may think it's funny, advised Michael Orosco, a Sacramento, California-based motivational speaker who has coached managers about the use of humor in the United States, Singapore and Canada. 

"There's a difference between humor and ridicule," Orosco said. "Honest laughter brings people together, but ridicule - which is laughter at someone else's expense - creates divisions." 

Sources:

Michael Orosco, a Sacramento, California-based motivational speaker and coach about the use of humor in the workplace mjorosco@aol.com

Ron Culberson, MSW, is "Director of Everything" at FUNsulting, a company he created to help people and organizations that want to lighten up by using humor to minimize stress and maximize effectiveness. Culberson is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) , the highest earned award from the National Speakers Association, and is one of only 421 individuals worldwide who have received this designation.  He has provided entertaining and informative programs to over 40,000 people in more than 500 associations, government agencies, non-profit organizations and Fortune 500 companies. To find our more about programs, services and products visit his website at www.funsulting.com or call (703) 742-8812.

Susan Gayle, author of the CDs Let Your Stress Go and Learn to Be Stress-Free and founder of the New Behavior Institute, www.newbehaviorinstitute.com (212) 889-5362

Psychotherapist/Stand-up Comic David Granirer. For more information or to receive his free email newsletter "Get More Laughter In Your Life!" call (604) 205-9242   Thomas Kuhlman, a psychologist at the University of St. Thomas