What are some ways to use humor to create a supportive work environment?

Humor is a must and needs creative balance. It serves well to break unnecessary tension or stress. However, Humor if not controlled could be devastating to team spirit and to individuals who may be at the receiving end of it. No leader should use humor with his or her team if not willing to accept it when it comes from them. I personally use it to break ice in meetings and also to convey some of my silly management mistakes .. One needs to be careful of choosing with whom humor could be shared.

Always bear in mind that you spend most of your time with your colleagues... Humor can make things easier sometimes; of course you have to use it in the right way depending on the context and remembering that not all people have the same sense of humor. It seems obvious but it is so.

Humour at the right times lightens the mood, reduces stress and can help in building a positive environment. I have often used humour in the work environment and it is great when it works so pick your mark and time carefully as it is dreadful when it goes wrong. Self deprecating humour is a good start.

Mistakes happen, sometimes big and sometimes small. Instead of getting very angry, use this opportunity to laugh over your own silly mistakes way back..... N then close loop by stating what you learnt from it and how you bounced back. Why loose an opportunity to motivate your team. The one thing this mistake can give is an opportunity to learn and do better. Humor n laughing it out is the simplest non toxic way to do it!!

Laughter, it’s contagious and brings happiness to many around you. Having humor at work or in any situation can make things so much easier. In a work environment having a team who can be serious together while laughing and telling jokes builds a relationship between colleagues that’s irreplaceable. It allows for those to enjoy getting up and going to work everyday; I know that for me anyways.

Humor can foster a supportive team environment by breaking tension and promoting camaraderie. I’ve seen this work well in practice through the use of inclusive and light-hearted jokes, however there is a fine line of avoiding anything that may offend. You must be mindful of context, ensuring humor aligns with your team's culture.

Part of my job is to deal with processes when they don't go as expected. Thank God I’m not a firefighter! I once heard "When you change the way you look at things, things change." So I wanted them to change for the better. I decided to put it into practice and use "FUN" as a word to refer to "work" or "busy" or "complicated" or "Emergency"... on a daily basis. I use expressions such as "There's no 'busy,' just 'fun' days". On particularly busy days, when colleagues might be a bit under pressure, I would say, "there's a lot of fun today, eh?" And, somehow, at some point, it clicked with people. They see you share the same trench, but dare to smile. Humor is a very serious matter, so it is to make a positive impact on people around you. Ha!

To create a humours culture, you must first be an authentic leader. For humour to work, you need to create a space where people can laugh OR speak up without fear. A space filled with respect for each person equally. A space where YOU lead by example. Who wouldn’t want to be on the team who is always laughing and enjoying themselves while achieving the company objectives? Pay attention to leaders of those teams. - They are approachable. - They are reasonable. - They can laugh at themselves. - They see everyone as equals. They are authentic.

Some thing I have found helpful during virtual connect is using GIFs/ non- confronting memes to bring humour and invite others to share which further adds the humour element:)

0. People are ALWAYS the priority. If the people you work with are not OK, talk to them. First invest time and energy to get to know who they are and then what they do. Work 1-2-1 and in a group, be the bridge, not the niche or knowledge keeper. Offer a hand. Say it, mean it, prove it. 1. Don't settle for pressure. Dare To Smile. In pressurized environments, you can dispel that heavy, foggy vibe just by smiling. I adopted the "Smile and Dial" from my self-taught training from years ago and put it to work for the good of people around me. 2. Show you care while delivering. It might take time for people to understand what's 'wrong' with you. But if you just do a good job with a positive vibe... maybe some realise you were actually right.

It is absolutely key to offer non-judgemental space for others to feel free to be themselves especially if they are from different backgrounds and cultures.

You never fail when you make fun of yourself. Not only is it a well of abundant material, but will help you show to others that is OK to show them who you really are, not pretend to be perfect.

When working with a diverse and multicultural team, it is crucial to understand the different cultural norms around humour to ensure that everyone can be included without causing offence or making anyone uncomfortable. It is all about finding a sweet spot where humour works for the team and personalities within the team. If used properly, it can be a very valuable tool, especially in stressful situations. It is always best to use humour in a face-to-face or videoconferencing context as it is less likely to be misunderstood.

Using humor at work is like adding the perfect seasoning to a dish. It enhances the flavor of relationships and collaborations, but a little sprinkle goes a long way and you should always be mindful of individual tastes. #HappyJoking ??