To be a better leader laugh more! 6 things can help.

“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” ~ Robin Williams

A typical meeting at Weatherology includes 15 minutes of me being silly followed by a stern reprimanding for not staying “focused”. I am always the instigator, and I do it intentionally!

Levity eases tension and creates balance as members on your team learn to appreciate that even the “CEO” is fair game for jokes. 

Here's 6 reasons why laughing more at work makes a difference: 

“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.” ~ Lily Tomlin

We can learn to lighten up and release more endorphins

We can learn so much from watching wildlife. Have you ever witnessed otters at play? They are experts at having a good time.

Much like the otter, I know when to work and I know when to have fun, and I NEVER take myself too seriously. 

I think that’s the problem in corporate America today. People take themselves way too seriously. Real connections only occur when people are; transparent. Vulnerable. Human and less serious. When they laugh more together! 

One of the most recent studies on laughter shows that laughing more releases endorphins in the brain—these are "feel-good chemicals" with beneficial implications.

“Laugh loudly, laugh often, and most importantly, laugh at yourself.” ~ Chelsea Handler

We can enjoy more self-deprecating humor, which is contagious and forms social connections.   

Most employee’s report feeling unsatisfied at work. Many aren’t miserable, but they aren’t felling inspired. They are languishing.

When leaders become more approachable we can encourage open communication by easing tension with self-deprecating humor. It breaks the ice and makes people feel equal. Feeling equal compels people to be more honest, and honest people make good suggestions about necessary improvements.

The endorphin effect described above also explains why sharing laughter in a group is beneficial. It's contagious. Triggering endorphin release in a group promotes a sense of togetherness and safety. It’s a game of endorphin dominoes

TWENTY-THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Aristotle concluded that, more than anything else, men and women seek happiness. While happiness itself is sought for its own sake, every other goal—beauty, money and power—is valued only because we expect that it will make us happy.

We can focus on making work environments more fun

Most people believe money and power will create more happiness. They aim for success, and frequently miss the mark. It’s like punching under water—you never hit what you’re aiming for. John Mayer.

Raises. Bonuses. Incentives are great, but don't provide long term satisfaction at work. They are easy tools to implement to induce a temporary boost of satisfaction. As a result, work becomes a means to an end. Monday becomes a dreadful reality and Friday represents the culmination of an arduous obligation. 

Happiness only occurs when your mind and body are immersed in activities that push your capabilities to their full potential. When our work environment is rich in levity, strong connections develop.

Not all laughter is alike. It turns out that decoding a laugh is more challenging than it appears. One study found differences in how we perceive; joyous laughter, taunting laughter and tickling laughter, each activates connections in different regions of the brain. Keep laughter simple and resist laughing at other peoples expense to avoid negative reactions.

“Accept who you are. Unless you are a serial killer.” ~ Ellen DeGeneres

We can't learn to be light hearted in a book

Walk through any bookstore and you will see thousands of books dedicated to; wealth, success, power self-improvement, self-development and getting rich. They provide formulas for achieving success but neglect to offer an antidote for the inevitable emptiness that coincides with partial solutions.

Most of us spend a big portion of our life working for no other reason than it "pays the bills". Work needs to produce flow experiences to ensure our time at work becomes more satisfying.

One study showed that women laughed about 126% more than their male counterparts, while men seem to instigate laughter the most—and there’s an interesting application of those results to how relationships form and are maintained. Women typically rate a sense of humor as a top-three trait. Men tend to rate women who laugh a lot higher than those who don't. This research demonstrates that work relationships are stronger when humor is involved.

“You’ll have bad times, but it’ll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to.” ~ Robin Williams

We can use Laughter to make work less depressing

Human beings have a propensity to experience frequent dissatisfaction. Knowing this can help leaders establish realistic expectations that promote a sense of accomplishment.

Helping people find joy in their your journey is one of my greatest pleasures. Laughter helps people appreciate their fallibility. It offers grace to the individual as they explore their professional ambitions without fear of reciprocity. 

Laughing activates the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin, the same brain chemical affected by the most common types of antidepressants, The surge of brain activity laughing creates is undoubtedly potent, at least for short periods of time.

“People may hate you for being different and not living by society’s standards, but deep down they wish they had the courage to do the same.” ~ Kevin Hart

We can Help establish a big picture and make laughter a critical part of the equation

When leadership demands conformity, we discourage empowerment! 

People seek more job satisfaction, inspired by compassion and humility, which is critical for providing realistic parameters that inspire good decisions and promote purpose bigger than ourselves.

Research shows that laughter has anti-inflammatory effects that protect blood vessels and heart muscles from the damaging effects of cardiovascular disease. Laughter basically lessens the body’s stress response, which is directly linked to increased inflammation. Regular, hearty laughter should be part of every big project. Learning to be human should also be part of that equation.

6 specific things we learn from otters to make work better:

Learn to have thick skin

Have you ever watched an otter at work? It’s hard not to smile.

Many native American cultures believed the otter was sacred, as did Zoroastrian society.

The otter has the thickest fur of any mammal in the animal kingdom. Thick skin never hurts when you’re dealing with difficult individuals at work that are intent on making work more dissatisfying.

Thick skin is a great place to start.

Taking things personally is a precursor for being unhappy. When you realize, poor leadership has nothing to do with you. Difficult colleagues aren't responsible for your bad mood, you shift the focus away from things you can't control. I suggest focusing on things you can control. Your attitude and spreading positive energy.

Learn to be more ingenious.

Otters lack the tools to indulge in the food they enjoy most, so they use ingenuity to achieve desired results.

They carry rocks under their arms so when they find a scrumptious shell fish, they have the tools to be more efficient. They don’t settle for something less appetizing because they aren’t equipped with the appropriate strength. They adapt and accept the challenge as part of personal improvement.

Making work more stimulating by personal empowerment is key to increasing job satisfaction.

Learning to recognize it's time for a change

Otters talk and one of their favorite noises is known as the “hum gradation”. It’s used to tell other otters to change direction. 

Is it time for you to change direction?

Sometimes leaders need to abandon a direcion in favor of something more lucrative. More fun. More satisfying.  Sometimes employees need to admit a job is making them miserable.  

You can’t control people at work. You can control your response. 

Learning to have more fun is up to you

Otters know how to have fun!

Otters love to play and often build slides on the banks of the river.

They “recreate” with family and find time to nullify the effects of stress.

How often do we take time for ourselves to engage in healthy endeavors that promote peak efficiency?

How often do we take time to play with our kids?

Missed opportunity leads to regret and nobody benefits from living with resentment. 

You can make work more palatable by making experiences away from work more gratifying. Concentrating on things away from work you can control; healthy relationships and good health, make a difference at the office. 

Learning to relax and let stress become less debilitating

Otters are buoyant. They don’t panic when venturing into deep water. They are relaxed and navigate the current with finesse. They go with the flow. I know it's easier said than done, but critical for better health.

Learning to be comfortable with imperfection

Otters have some unhealthy behavior as well. Not everything is perfect, in life and in the animal kingdom.

Doing what you like is freedom! Liking what you do is happiness!

If you know somebody that appreciates the value of laughter, leave their name in the comments section. Please share this and spread the word. Let's laugh a little more!

Steve Wohlenhaus CEO Weatherology Author & Podcast host Anatomy of Success.