Humor builds trust and enhances workplace communication.
Using humor triggers dopamine release for better audience engagement and retention.
Deep dives
The Power of Humor in Communication
Humor plays a significant role in enhancing communication in the workplace. Business leaders often underestimate the value of humor due to misconceptions that it may distract from serious work. However, numerous studies show that employees with a sense of humor are preferred by leaders and contribute positively to the work environment. Humor is a powerful tool for building trust, which is crucial in the current remote work settings where authentic connections are challenging to establish.
Engagement and Retention Through Humor
Humor helps engage and retain audiences by triggering the release of dopamine in the brain, creating deeper focus and better long-term retention of information. An example from President Obama's State of the Union address demonstrates how humor can make content more engaging and memorable. Specific recommendations include leveraging personal truths, finding incongruities, and being specific in observations to mine daily life for humor content.
Storytelling and Humor Strategies
Effective storytelling and humor share commonalities, such as having a clear goal or punchline to grab attention. Both aim to leave the audience transformed or impacted by the narrative or humor shared. Successful communication involves recognizing and embracing one's natural style, focusing on positive states before sharing content, and using authentic, human language to connect with others. By being more generous with laughter and adopting a levity mindset, individuals can enhance their communication skills and interactions.
In the kickoff to our Summer Learning Series, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes. This interview features Stanford GSB faculty members Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas and gives specific insights into how humor can transform your communication at home and at work. At the time of this episode, their book Humor, Seriously was just set to launch.