How can Administrative Assistants use humor to build resilience?

1 The benefits of humor

Humor has many positive effects on administrative assistants, both personally and professionally. It can reduce stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels and increasing endorphin levels, creating a sense of happiness and relaxation. Humor can also stimulate the right hemisphere of the brain, which is responsible for imagination, intuition, and insight. This can help with creativity and problem-solving, as well as improving memory and attention. Additionally, humor can strengthen relationships and communication; it builds rapport and trust with colleagues, managers, and clients. It can also ease tension and conflict, as it diffuses anger and resentment while fostering empathy and understanding. Finally, humor makes messages more memorable and persuasive by capturing the attention of the audience and making them more receptive to your point of view.

2 The types of humor

As an administrative assistant, it's important to be aware of the different types of humor and how they can affect your image and relationships. According to psychologist Rod Martin, there are four main styles: affiliative, self-enhancing, aggressive, and self-defeating. Affiliative humor is the most positive and healthy type, as it creates a bond and a sense of belonging with others. Self-enhancing humor helps you cope with stress and adversity. Aggressive humor is negative and unhealthy as it hurts or humiliates others by making fun of their flaws. Self-defeating humor reflects a low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. To enjoy the benefits of humor without risking drawbacks, you should aim to use more affiliative and self-enhancing humor, while avoiding or minimizing aggressive and self-defeating humor.

3 The sources of humor

Humor is everywhere, and as an administrative assistant, you can use it in many aspects of your work and life. To discover or create humor, you can draw on your own personality and style, the work environment and culture, and the tasks and challenges you face. For example, you can express your humor through words, tone, gestures, facial expressions, or body language. You can also observe and comment on the funny or absurd aspects of your work environment and culture. Additionally, you can find humor in the difficulties or frustrations that come with deadlines, demands, or complexities. You can also use humor to cope with mistakes or failures by using self-deprecation, exaggeration, or absurdity. Ultimately, you can use humor to show your unique perspective, values, or interests as well as highlight the gaps between what is expected and what is reality.

4 The timing of humor

Timing is key when it comes to humor, as it can make or break a joke. As an administrative assistant, you must consider the context and purpose of your humor. Ask yourself: Is this the right time and place for humor? Is it relevant and appropriate for the topic and audience? Is it compatible and consistent with your message and tone? You should be especially careful when dealing with sensitive or serious issues such as complaints, conflicts, or crises. Additionally, pay attention to how you deliver your humor and how others respond to it. Is your humor clear and understandable? Is it subtle and spontaneous, or obvious and forced? Adjust your humor according to the feedback and reactions you get from others.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?