Key Takeaways

1. Helps reduce stress and tension that might be building up
2. Unites employees and helps encourage an atmosphere of support
3. Makes work more enjoyable and promotes teamwork and collaboration
4. Opens up communication and helps boost creativity levels
5. Relieves boredom and gives team members newfound motivation and productivity

Here are five major benefits of HUMOR in the workplace.

See Related: 8 Reasons Why Teamwork Is Important At Work

#1. Helps Reduce Stress

We’ve all had that moment where we tried to share a joke during a team Zoom meeting, but no one heard it or got it. Though it can be a little embarrassing, it’s nothing to feel anxious about!

In fact, encouraging humor in the office can bring countless benefits to the workplace that you might not even realize.

I’ve been a corporate emcee for a while, and I’ve seen how a room of corporate professionals can quickly change from straight-faced expressions to crying from laughter in a moment. Just because you’re at work doesn’t mean you can’t laugh!

Feeling a bit skeptical about what a little humor at work can do? Here are a few benefits of workplace HUMOR that you can’t ignore.

An Easy Stress-Relief Tactic

Stress is all around us. Whether at home or work, it’s easy to let our emotions get the best of us sometimes and feel the tension rise.

It’s essential to find the right stress management tactics to stay sane. This is how we can preserve and boost our mental health and make the office a bit more enjoyable.

If you’ve been struggling to find the perfect way to help erase that workplace stress, the most effective yet simple method has been hiding under your nose. Humor at work has been shown to help reduce stress levels, especially in high-pressure work environments.

People who feel stressed may be more likely to make mistakes and even experience burnout. Either can be detrimental to any workplace, so finding ways to alleviate stress is essential.

Laughter can help people relax, leading to improved mental health and well-being. So, crack a few jokes with your co-workers, and help them shake off that extra tension!

#2. Unites Team Members

When I say “humor at work,” remember this can be many different things. There’s not just one kind of comedy. And especially in a professional work environment, you must know what type of humor style you should use.

For example, any crude, dirty, or inappropriate jokes likely shouldn’t be shared in the office. Though that’s common sense, I thought I’d reiterate just to be safe.

As a funny keynote speaker myself, I craft my content to be 100% clean while maintaining a hilarious dialogue. Because the workplace isn’t suitable for divisive topics or crude jokes. 

So, what exactly do I mean by humor in the office?

Types Of Workplace Humor At Work

Everyone reacts to jokes and comedy differently. We all have a unique sense of humor, and it’s important to celebrate that!

Researchers at the Academy of Management have previously found there to be four different main styles of humor in the workplace.

1. Self-defeating humor is when someone uses self-deprecating humor or puts themselves down in a comfortable and approachable style.
2. Affiliative humor involves hilarious personal stories or jokes that ease social tensions.
3. Self-enhancing humor allows people to add some joy and enjoyment to a situation through positive comedy.
4. Aggressive humor resorts to putting down others in an attempt to be funny. And I’ll say now that you should avoid this humor in the workplace.

Camaraderie Through Humor

The workplace is where many of us are able to connect with others. Often, we share similar passions and interests, and it’s easy to find something to unite us.

But one of the best ways to really tie the whole team together is through humor. When we can share a laugh with each other, it really strengthens any bond while letting new friendships blossom!

Humor can help bring people together and create a sense of unity at work. Laughing with others can break down barriers and help your team feel more comfortable with each other.

Besides, when employees feel at ease and comfortable, it can lead to better teamwork, communication, and a more enjoyable work culture. The benefits of humor are seemingly endless!

#3. Makes Work More Fun!

Maybe in the past, a few of your employees have had a bad experience at a workplace. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for some employers to create a feeling of restriction in the workplace, stifling creativity and happiness.

But the workplace should be fun!

And that doesn’t mean productivity and focus will suffer. In fact, an enjoyable workplace is essential for motivating employees and improving engagement.

Everyone can agree that humor makes things more fun. Positive humor at work can go a long way in creating a fulfilling atmosphere while contributing to a comfortable work environment.

Humor can make work more enjoyable by adding an element of fun to otherwise mundane tasks! This can help employees stay engaged and focused, leading to better results overall.

Bonus: 7 Interactive Meeting Entertainment Ideas

#4. Opens Up Communication And Creativity

The lifeblood of any organization is communication. All employees need to be able to freely share ideas with each other and management. Projects and tasks can’t be successfully completed unless all members are open to communication.

If you feel like your team is a little reluctant to open the lines of communication, it may be because they aren’t entirely comfortable yet. There could be many reasons for this. 

But ultimately, communication boils down to things like trust and rapport. Your team needs to know that they can trust you!

And a great way to bolster that trust is through the shared experience of humor. 

How Humor Can Help Connect People At Work

When people can share a laugh, it breaks down barriers. These can be emotional barriers between a new hire and a company veteran. Or, it could be barriers between different positions or departments.

Laughter is a cure for many things. And it’s essential for friendships or relationships of any kind – even workplace relationships. 

Humor can also help create a more healthy attitude towards work and colleagues. When people feel good about their work environment, they are more likely to communicate in a comfortable and constructive way.

Humor can save the day even when high-pressure projects are due or inevitable office conflicts arise. By diffusing tension with humor, people can communicate more effectively and find a resolution to the issue.

Lastly, humor can truly help improve the listening skills of others and even foster innovation in the office. Some laughter can capture people’s attention and help them focus on a conversation.

#5. Relieves Workplace Bordeom And Encourages Productivity

Work can be a place to explore creative ideas and new innovations. It’s a place where many people find solace in the idea that when they apply themselves fully, they are also contributing toward a greater purpose.

Many of us spend 40 hours a week or so at the office. That’s a lot of time in one place doing perhaps repetitive or often mundane tasks. So though there’s often excitement at work, it’s not always that exciting.

It’s natural for people to feel a little bored at work. It’s an inevitable part of the job sometimes! But, even if you love your position, there can be days when you lack energy.

However, some great jokes and comedy can help reawake your mind and energize you. When your employees share a laugh, it can stimulate new thinking.

When work gets repetitive, it can also be easy to feel unmotivated and lack productivity. Humor can provide a mental break from the task, allowing people to recharge and return to work with renewed focus and energy.

It can also stimulate creative thinking by encouraging people to approach problems and challenges innovatively. This can help boost productivity by leading to more effective problem-solving and decision-making.

Wrapping Up

So, the next time you’re thinking of cracking a joke at the office meeting, go for it. Even if it doesn’t hit home, a little bit of humor is all it takes to turn someone’s day around.

Keep Reading: 12 Corporate Team Building Activities Your Employees Will Actually Love

—

Adam Christing has been called “The Tom Brady of emcees.” He has hosted more than 1,000 company meetings, special events, gala celebrations, and more. He is the author of several books and founder of CleanComedians.com. For more event tips, follow Adam Christing on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

The post Humor In The Workplace And Its Essential Benefits appeared first on Adam Christing.

But if I’ve learned anything over the years, performing at business meetings and conferences, it’s that a little humor can go a long way. Not only does humor help to break the ice amongst the audience.

It can also help you form business relationships down the line. So, let’s get cracking into some of the best jokes you can share with your colleagues.

See Related: How To Emcee A Meeting

Icebreaker jokes for your co-workers

You might be sitting down for a video conference. Or maybe you’re getting ready to present the first slide of your presentation.

Either way, acting as a corporate MC means getting your audience to laugh. And that’s the first step in kicking off fun meetings. Not to mention it makes everyone in the company feel like a team.

That’s why these favorite jokes of mine are all about clean comedy. There’s no use dividing the room when what you really want to do is bring folks together.

And you definitely don’t want that one guy to not understand it while everybody else does. So here are some surefire jokes that you can fire off amongst your colleagues.

My favorites:

• “Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?”
• “What has one horn and gives milk? A milk truck.”
• “Why did I leave my last job, you ask? Because the company relocated and wouldn’t tell me where!”
• “I propose a new rule: This meeting will only last as long as my computer battery does.. or my bladder!”
• “I lost my job as a psychic… I didn’t even see it coming!”
• “I used to work as a lumberjack but it didn’t take me long to quit. I just couldn’t hack it.”

Meeting jokes to kick things off

Let’s say you want to impress the Vice President of the company as they sit in on a meeting. Or maybe the material you’re discussing is just in need of a little lift.

After all, humor is here to help your business meetings run smoothly. Because a team that knows the power of laughter is bound to be a team with exceptional people skills.

So, without further ado, here are a couple of fun ways to break the ice and make this meeting the best one yet.

My favorites:

• “You know what a clean desk is a sign of? A cluttered desk drawer.”
• “A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station…”
• “What do you call a quick video conference at the Mazda factory? A zoom-zoom zoom Zoom.”
• “I saw a famous astrobiologist at a conference and asked what in particular he was studying. He said, ‘Nothing at the moment, but we’re working on that.'”
• “Old photographers never die, they just stop developing.”
• “Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you do criticize them, you’re a mile away and have their shoes.”
• “There was once a businessman who was so rich he had two swimming pools. One was always empty. It was for people who couldn’t swim.”

Icebreaker jokes when you’re a keynote speaker

Speaking at a conference can feel somewhat intimidating. And if you’re not used to speaking in front of people, then you’ll definitely want a joke or two to start off your presentation.

After all, jokes remind us to have fun. When we get tense, they release the tension.

So offer up a joke or two. Even if it’s only for you. There’s nothing wrong with trying to get on the audience’s good side when you first step on the stage.

My favorites:

• “Want to hear an icebreaker? Fat penguin.”
• “I’ve only been fired from a job once. It was a calendar factory. All I did was take a day off.”
• “Before coming here tonight, I was discussing my talk with my partner and they said to me: ‘Don’t try to be too charming, too witty or too intellectual. Just be yourself”
• “Well, at least we can all agree with one thing. We’re lucky that the last minute exists.”
• “If somebody asks you if you want to break into the jewelry business, think carefully about what they’re actually offering.”
• “If Apple delved into the car manufacturing market, would they have Windows?”
• “I started my business with nothing. And I still have most of it.”

Good icebreaker jokes for a presentation

If you’ve been preparing all night for a presentation, then you’ll probably need a joke just to let off some steam. That’s why one-liners are great.

They’re short, sweet, and add just a little humor to the mix. Besides, you’ll be talking for most of the presentation anyway as the master of ceremonies. 

When you tell your joke, everyone will start to laugh. And that gives you a moment to breathe.

My favorites:

• “The trouble with being punctual for for a business meeting is that nobody’s there to appreciate it.”
• “I heard a story that the band Blink-182 incorporated under the name ‘Poo Poo Butt LLC’ to embarrass their accounts in serious conversations.”
• “My wife tells me I talk in my sleep all the time. But I’m skeptical. Nobody at work ever mentions it.”
• “A committee is a group of people who keep minutes but lose hours.”
• “A banker fell overboard from a friend’s sailboat. The friend grabbed a life preserver, held it up, not knowing if the banker could swim, and shouted, ‘Can you float alone?’ ‘Obviously,’ the banker replied, ‘but this is a heck of a time to talk business.”

Bonus: What Does The Master Of Ceremonies Do?

Meeting jokes for large groups

Sometimes, there are certain jokes that are better left for larger crowds. And besides, those are the exact kind of audiences you’ll want for a joke that solidifies you as the most amazing speaker yet.

So start your event off with a humorous quip. Or infuse humor into the entire event if you will.

Just because you started your presentation off with something funny doesn’t mean that has to be where the funny ends. In fact, when you create a funny atmosphere, you keep everyone in a jovial mood.

And your speech may even get better traction that way too. So it’s as much a way to create a community amongst the group as it is a business strategy.

My favorites:

• “A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it.”
• “An employee is getting to know his new co-workers when the topic of his last job comes up. One coworker asks why he left that job. ‘It was something my boss said,’ the man replies. ‘Well, what did he say?’ the coworker asks. ‘You’re fired.'”
• “My teachers told me I’d never amount to much because I procrastinate so much. I told them, ‘Just you wait!'”
• “You ever notice how on a liquid sleep aid it says, ‘Warning: may cause drowsiness.’ Well, one would hope so.”
• “A guy goes to a pet store to buy a goldfish. The salesman asks him, ‘Do you want an aquarium?’ The guy responds, ‘I don’t care what star sign it is!'”

Jokes for small groups

Of course, these are just a couple of funny ideas for you to tossle with. And there may be times when joking with a large crowd simply doesn’t make sense.

But if you want your boss to know that you’re the resident office clown who still gets some work done, consider telling these jokes in the break room. You’ll become that one employee with an epic story.

Or maybe your manager will take more of a liking to you. Either way, breaking the ice between folks is the best way to start doing business and forging relationships.

My favorites:

• “I bought the worst thesaurus in the world yesterday. Not only is it terrible, it’s terrible.”
• “I recently started speed reading. So far, I can read ‘War and Peace‘ in ten seconds. It’s only three words, but it’s a start.”
• “He gave a great 10-minute business speech yesterday. The only problem was it took him an hour to deliver it.”
• “A boss tells their employees, ‘We need somebody for this role who is responsible.’ So I spoke up and said, ‘Not a problem, sir. Every time something went wrong at my old job, my manager told me I was always responsible.'”
• “When I was younger, I really wanted to work at a work. But I kept losing interest.”

Jokes for a sales meeting

Let’s say you’re about to talk solely about numbers. Well, that doesn’t seem too thrilling, does it?

Then why not go ahead and start the meeting off with something funny? Bring the room to life, then dive into the material you need to share.

You’ll find that that little dose of humor is the best thing for a successful presentation or meeting. The idea is simply getting everyone to let their guard down so that they can face the material and focus in a good mood.

My favorites:

• “So I turned to my business partner and said, ‘I can’t believe you told me to put our business money with this.’ He asked, ‘Why, what’s wrong?’ ‘The bank is in trouble,’ I replied. ‘How?’ he asked, ‘They’re one of the biggest companies in the world.’ I don’t know about that,’ I said, ‘My check returned with a note saying “insufficient funds.”‘”
• “Why did the electrician close business once a week? Because business was light.”
• “I invented a new word… Plagiarism!”
• “Two cows are in a field. The first one says, ‘Mooooo!’ The second one replies, ‘That’s what I was going to say!'”

FAQs about corporate jokes

Hopefully, these funny bits can get incorporated into your next meeting, just to lighten up the room. But if you’ve got questions, then I’ve got answers:

What makes a perfect joke?

A good joke will always have a setup and a punchline. But aside from the technicalities of joke making, it really boils down to whether or not it’s genuine.

At the end of the day, these jokes are here to forge relationships and make people laugh. So long as your intention stays true, and your jokes stay clean, they should hear your message loud and clear.

Do you have to have a background in creative writing to craft a good joke?

Not necessarily. After all, there are plenty of comedians out there who don’t have a formal education in creative writing, per say.

Sure, it might help. But typically, a good joke is one that resonates with people.

What kind of jokes are appropriate to tell at work?

The kind of material I take into a corporate event will always be light and jovial. Never divisive or offensive.

After all, I’m the founder of Clean Comedians with a motto of, “It doesn’t have to be filthy to be funny!” And that’s true!

So steer clear of making a comment that’s offensive or crass. Work isn’t the place for that kind of comment and it does more harm than good.

Why is humor important in the workplace?

Have you heard about how laughter actually boosts productivity? Well, it does.

And that’s why all of these jokes aren’t simply jokes. They’re tools to use at your disposal to help the work flow at your particular organization.

Why start business meetings with a few jokes?

Not only can you get people to laugh. But you get people to trust you.

People tend to let their guard down when they laugh because, well, they’re literally releasing tension. And that’s a kind of bond that really can’t go underestimated.

Are one-liners better than long form jokes?

In a corporate setting, I’d say yes. Long form jokes are all good and fun.

But when you want to break the ice, it has to be quick and to the point. Besides, with a corporate event, you likely only have a couple of minutes to break the ice with the audience – so it better be a good one-liner.

Wrapping up

As an event emcee, I’ve seen the power of humor in a conference room. Not only does it get folks to light up.

It brings people together. So if you’re needing a little extra help in your presentation, start with a joke.

It should always be tasteful. Never offensive.

Because your goal is uniting the room. Not dividing it.

So go on out there and give it your best. I’ll be rooting for you!

Keep Reading: How To Host A Hybrid Event

—

Adam Christing has been called “The Tom Brady of emcees.” He has hosted more than 1,000 company meetings, special events, gala celebrations, and more. He is the author of several books and founder of CleanComedians.com. For more event tips, follow Adam Christing on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

The post Best MC Jokes For A Conference appeared first on Adam Christing.

Here’s how you can improve your ability to connect with humor and storytelling:

• Let your set-up sink in.

Ever notice how most good jokes begin? The joke-teller says something like: “These two guys walk into a bar…” The key thing to establish, in your jokes and stories, is the WHO, WHAT, and WHERE. Comedians call this the “set-up.” The same idea applies to a good story. Remember, before your audience can follow your story, they have to know who it’s about. Make sure you set the table before you serve the meal. Before you launch into your joke or story, let the listeners know who/what it’s about and where the action is taking place!

• Don’t just tell it . . . live it.

You must invest in your story. What should you put in? More of yourself. Your listeners are silently hoping you will put your heart, voice, and movements into your joke/story. If a funny event happened to you, don’t just re-tell it, RE-LIVE IT. Help the listeners see and feel what you experienced. A great joke is not just told–it is performed. Here’s another little secret: When you enjoy sharing it, your audience will enjoy hearing it.

• Punch up your punch line!

Do you remember Coca-Cola’s classic slogan? “The pause that refreshes.” Well, a strong pause in your story or joke might be called the pause that empowers. Every good story, and every good joke, has a surprise twist. You can hit your audience much harder—and make them much happier—when you pause before the joke’s final punch line or your story’s big finish. Sometimes, this silence might feel a little uncomfortable to you. Use it anyway. You will be amazed at the way a well-placed pause will draw your audience in. And BOOM. It will make the impact of your tale so much stronger.

• Keep a straight face.

Steven Wright is one of the great comics of the last 50 years. His humor is outlandish, but his delivery is always straight serious. When he says hilarious things like: “A friend of mine has a trophy wife. Apparently it wasn’t first place”, what makes his humor even stronger is the way he delivers it. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you need to be silly to tell a good story or joke. You don’t. The straighter you tell a joke or story—like it really happened—the funnier it will be. Rick Reynolds once performed a solo show based on this premise: only the truth is funny. Keep this in mind the next time you speak to an audience. Present your material as fact, even when it’s funny.

• Wait for your audience.

Here are three things you can learn from famous comedians and great storytellers: A) Don’t laugh at your own jokes! 
B) Don’t step on the laughter. This means, give your audience the space to react to your joke or story. Let it breathe. 
C) Listen to the reactions you are getting (or not getting). This will help you crank up what’s working and tone down what isn’t the next time your tell your funny story. When you wait for your audience to respond, you will to improve your “LPMs” . . . Laughs Per Minute.

Now you try these techniques.

Here’s a classic joke/story you can tell. Try it out loud in front of your friends, family, and your next audience. Can you apply the 5 Secrets to your telling of it?
 I’m worried about my health. My doctor called and said, “Your test results are back, and I need to tell you that you have ten . . .” I interrupted him. “Ten what? Ten years? Ten months? Ten weeks?” He said, “NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX …”

• Did you set the table for this joke by emphasizing your health concerns and the word doctor?
• Did you invest yourself and your emotions into the joke?
• Did you punch-up the ending with great emphasis?
• Did you tell the story straight—like it really happened to you?
• Did you wait for the laughter?

The next time you are asked to make a presentation, give your group the gift of laughter. Use these 5 Secrets to make your jokes and stories more fun and maybe even unforgettable.

The most important thing is not the joke or the tale you tell, it’s how you tell it!

–

Adam Christing is a popular Event MC and Funny Motivational Speaker. He is the author of Your Life is a Joke: 12 Ways to Go from Ha Ha to AHA! (For more information go to AdamChristing.com)

The post 5 Secrets for Telling Better Stories and Jokes appeared first on Adam Christing.