April Fools Day is the most widespread occasion for playing with chaos in the western world today. A glance at any of the familiar mass media brings a picture of a world turned upside down. On the same day, one newspaper announces that scientists have discovered an amazing link between printer’s ink and weight loss, urging readers to soak their paper in water and wrap themselves in it to see for themselves. A finance company releases a sausage-scented scratch and sniff credit card. Then, most believably, European Union bureaucrats ban April Fools’ Day because of the physical and mental injury suffered by the victims of all these jokes.
“A sense of humour is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.” said President, Dwight Eisenhower.
“Humour is a verbal or nonverbal activity eliciting a positive cognitive or affective response from listeners and must be connected to context in order to be truly funny. The definition includes puns, jokes, stories, anecdotes, physical actions etc.” From: Ronald Reagan and humour: A politician’s velvet weapon by J Meyer 1990.
When you are recruiting for your office or organisation, look for individuals who have a sense of humour. They will tend to be more creative and apt to accept change more easily.
Humour can be used as a motivation tool and helps build teamwork. Good-natured joking about a mistake puts individuals at ease, and leaders who use humour when they make a mistake help to motivate others to try something new or to take chances. Remember, an ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure.
How do you use humour to enhance the workplace?
For more information selection and assessment visit the Call of the Wild website
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