Laughter is the Best Workplace Medicine

How important is a sense of humour in the workplace? Ninety-seven percent of workers polled say it is very or somewhat important for managers to have a funny bone.

According to the survey by Robert Hall International, 87 percent of 490 employees pooled said their supervisors have a good sense of humour. Ten percent said that they don’t find their boss funny, and 3 percent didn’t know or had no answer.

“Managers who can laugh at themselves or at difficult situations are often seen as more approachable and in touch with the challenges their teams face,” said max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Hall International. “Levity also can be used to build rapport among staff and ease stressful situations.”

But he also warned that too much clowning around can backfire. “To be taken seriously, supervisors must balance their desire to keep the mood light with the need to accomplish business objectives, inspire great performance and maintain professionalism.”