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Developing Effective Leaders. Using Humor Effectively. Lesson Objectives. By participating in this lesson, you will learn to: Recognize the “Humor Paradox.” Identify your serious messages. Recognize which types of humor can do more damage than good.
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Developing Effective Leaders Using Humor Effectively
Lesson Objectives By participating in this lesson, you will learn to: • Recognize the “Humor Paradox.” • Identify your serious messages. • Recognize which types of humor can do more damage than good. • Use strategies to find your inner comedian.
Quotations about Humorand Leadership A leader without a sense of humor is apt to be like the grass mower at the cemetery - he has lots of people under him, but nobody is paying him any attention. Bob Ross If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas. John Cleese Anyone who has had the job I’ve had and didn’t have a sense of humor wouldn’t still be here. Harry Truman
Quotations about Humorand Leadership (cont.) If you are going to tell people the truth, you’d better make them laugh. Otherwise they’ll kill you. George Bernard Shaw Humor and creativity are intimately related - there is a connection between HAHA and AHA. Joel Goodman
The Role of Humor in Leadership • Humor Paradox • We curtail humor when working. • YET, we respect people who use humor effectively. • We enjoy people with a sense of humor; we want to work with, listen to, and follow them.
Inappropriate Humor • Detracts from serious discussion. • Deflects valid criticism. • Reflects a negative attitude.
Negative Humor Can . . . • Do physical harm. • Do psychological harm. • Have a veneer of fun, but underneath are fear, envy, and distrust.
Types of Negative Humor • Sarcastic Humor • In-group Humor outside the group • Ethnic and Sexist Humor • Laughing at Others’ Expense
Humor and Older Adults • Older people comprehend humor differently because of changes in brain processes as we age. • Try more straightforward humor.
Find Your Inner Comedian • Laugh at yourself first. • Look beyond the obvious. • Build relationships. • Use surprise – turn the tables. • Turn the negative around. Source: Shea Dean, The Last Laugh, Reader’s Digest, September, 2004.
Remember . . . If you can unlock your sense of humor, you’ll likely unlock others.