Humor at Work is Serious Business
8 April 2008
Read by 1683 persons
Are you someone with a well-developed sense of humor, able to enjoy a good April Fool's joke? If so, you are a key player in your workplace...
According to Mr. André Descheneaux, lawyer and speaker specializing in humor in the workplace since 1988, a sense of humor is an effective preventive measure against psychological distress and burnout – two major issues affecting organizations and employee health.
"There's more and more work with fewer human resources available. The workload of those who remain, while others are on sick leave, has increased because the pace of work doesn't stop. Stress builds up. Stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline increase. This is how, gradually, as research shows, blood pressure increases so much that less blood reaches the brain. This damages the inside of blood vessels. Fat and cholesterol accumulate, and the arteries eventually become blocked," explains Mr. Descheneaux.
Combating Silent Killers
Humor is an excellent way to counteract continuous stress. When workers laugh together, they fight silent killers. This is supported by very recent scientific research. These silent killers are cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure – diseases that gradually become fatal. High blood pressure is a recognized silent killer. It's invisible, doesn't always hurt, but suddenly there's a heart attack," says André Descheneaux.
According to very recent scientific studies consulted by the speaker, having a sense of humor is the opposite of continuous stress. People who laugh, who seem to be wasting their time in the eyes of their colleagues and bosses, are protecting their health, rebalancing their nervous system, stimulating their immune system, and above all creating an emotion called amusement. "It's a positive emotion, and researchers have discovered that a positive emotion temporarily makes workers more generous, friendly, and serene. This state promotes collaboration."
Identify the Humorless
There are certainly people who can contribute to increasing the level of humor in your organization. It's a matter of identifying them. "There's what we call the humorless person. They have an immediate, situational humor. They have the talent to take what displeases everyone and make it laughable. They have an eye for it. Humor involves the senses. We call it a sense of humor," adds Mr. Descheneaux.
"The humorless person will find a humorous response to a delicate situation and help reduce stress. This is called the defensive function of humor. A sense of humor makes certain problems less threatening. Companies are constantly looking for ways to combat employee stress. The defensive function of humor is a natural tool in this sense," continues the speaker.
Hence the importance of taking the humorless person seriously and recognizing their contribution. "At school, we tell the funny person to be quiet. From a young age, they're put in their place and removed from class. In this way, we not only remove the funny person but also their talent. Twenty-five years later, this humorless person could help prevent burnout and psychological distress in the organization because they see humor where others don't."
Reflecting on Humor
In his conferences, Mr. Descheneaux emphasizes the importance of starting a reflection on humor at work before revealing tips or suggestions for using it. He suggests that organizations set up a humor committee and create a humor room. He recommends that employees write down all the funny things they see or hear in a notebook, in order to create a humorous exercise.
For those interested in learning more, note that André Descheneaux will publish a book next fall titled "Humor at Work and Health." It will discuss the advantages and limitations of seeking, finding, appreciating, and reusing humor; the functions of humor; how to develop one's sense of humor at work; and will reveal about thirty suggestions on the use of humor in the workplace.
Posted March 8, 2008
workopolis.com
According to Mr. André Descheneaux, lawyer and speaker specializing in humor in the workplace since 1988, a sense of humor is an effective preventive measure against psychological distress and burnout – two major issues affecting organizations and employee health.
"There's more and more work with fewer human resources available. The workload of those who remain, while others are on sick leave, has increased because the pace of work doesn't stop. Stress builds up. Stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline increase. This is how, gradually, as research shows, blood pressure increases so much that less blood reaches the brain. This damages the inside of blood vessels. Fat and cholesterol accumulate, and the arteries eventually become blocked," explains Mr. Descheneaux.
Combating Silent Killers
Humor is an excellent way to counteract continuous stress. When workers laugh together, they fight silent killers. This is supported by very recent scientific research. These silent killers are cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure – diseases that gradually become fatal. High blood pressure is a recognized silent killer. It's invisible, doesn't always hurt, but suddenly there's a heart attack," says André Descheneaux.
According to very recent scientific studies consulted by the speaker, having a sense of humor is the opposite of continuous stress. People who laugh, who seem to be wasting their time in the eyes of their colleagues and bosses, are protecting their health, rebalancing their nervous system, stimulating their immune system, and above all creating an emotion called amusement. "It's a positive emotion, and researchers have discovered that a positive emotion temporarily makes workers more generous, friendly, and serene. This state promotes collaboration."
Identify the Humorless
There are certainly people who can contribute to increasing the level of humor in your organization. It's a matter of identifying them. "There's what we call the humorless person. They have an immediate, situational humor. They have the talent to take what displeases everyone and make it laughable. They have an eye for it. Humor involves the senses. We call it a sense of humor," adds Mr. Descheneaux.
"The humorless person will find a humorous response to a delicate situation and help reduce stress. This is called the defensive function of humor. A sense of humor makes certain problems less threatening. Companies are constantly looking for ways to combat employee stress. The defensive function of humor is a natural tool in this sense," continues the speaker.
Hence the importance of taking the humorless person seriously and recognizing their contribution. "At school, we tell the funny person to be quiet. From a young age, they're put in their place and removed from class. In this way, we not only remove the funny person but also their talent. Twenty-five years later, this humorless person could help prevent burnout and psychological distress in the organization because they see humor where others don't."
Reflecting on Humor
In his conferences, Mr. Descheneaux emphasizes the importance of starting a reflection on humor at work before revealing tips or suggestions for using it. He suggests that organizations set up a humor committee and create a humor room. He recommends that employees write down all the funny things they see or hear in a notebook, in order to create a humorous exercise.
For those interested in learning more, note that André Descheneaux will publish a book next fall titled "Humor at Work and Health." It will discuss the advantages and limitations of seeking, finding, appreciating, and reusing humor; the functions of humor; how to develop one's sense of humor at work; and will reveal about thirty suggestions on the use of humor in the workplace.
Posted March 8, 2008
workopolis.com
