Humor Helps You Stand Out From The Herd to Be Heard

1. First, Do No Wrong

Great advice for doctors or would-be corporate jesters.   Make sure the humor you use is laughing with people, not at people.  Use humor to tear down walls, not to build new ones.  Use humor that encourages creative thinking, not humor that squashes new ideas.   Laugh at yourself, not in a “I’m a loser” kind of way, but in a way that lets people know you don’t take yourself overly serious.  And stay clear of political, ethnic, gender or sex-based humor.

Remember that having permission to use more humor at work is not permission to act like a jackass,  a bore, or a jerk.  It doesn’t give you license to offend or humiliate people, or disparage their character.

It’s about being more human, having a bigger heart, and demonstrating greater humility.

2. Be Authentic

Humor can break down barriers and build trust, provided the humor used creates and reflects authenticity.   As Jerry Seinfeld once said, “The whole object of comedy is to be yourself. And the closer to that you get, the funnier you will be.”

This applies at a corporate level as well. Customers are savvier than ever, and perhaps more cynical than ever.  They’ll read right through half-hearted attempts at humor that seem to be nothing more than manipulative and insincere window dressing.

3. Be Congruent With Your Brand

The humor you use at a corporate level must fit your style.  It must be congruent with your brand. if you have a classy brand, then your humor, for the most part, should be classy.  If you want to be known as an edgy company, then use edgy humor.

Make sure the humor contributes to and reflects the brand image you want to project.

4. Be Relevant

The more the humor you use at a workplace and business levels is relevant to your business, the more memorable and effective it will be.  Humor for the sake of humor can be a fabulous tool, but relevant humor that ties to your unique challenges, issues, products and industry has far more more impact.

5. Embrace a Spirit of Fun

It’s more important to embrace a spirit of fun than to be funny.  Embracing a spirit of fun suggests a lightness, a willingness to play, and a spirit of inclusiveness.  A spirit of fun brings people together, motivates the troops, and sparks creative thinking.  And a spirit of fun recognizes a central point in all of this:  It’s about enjoying and celebrating the journey.

Michael Kerr is a Hall of Fame international business speaker, trainer and the author of 8 books including The Humor Advantage: Why Some Businesses Are Laughing All the Way to the Bank. Michael Kerr speaks on inspiring workplace cultures, inspiring leadership, and humor in the workplace. He is also the author of The Jerk-Free Workplace, and Hire, Inspire, and Fuel Their Fire. www.mikekerr.com