Move and Groove 60 - Laugh

I used to be serious during meetings.

The purpose of meetings is to make decisions or communicate information.

It should have goals and the right attendees (don't get me started on this).

We should be focused on achieving those goals in the minimum amount of time so people can actually go do the work. Right?

All this is true but something important was missing...

Laughter.

Yeah, I said it, meetings should be fun too.

Laughter can make even the most difficult times better.

Why is that?

Neuroscience Nugget

Humor triggers multiple physiological responses that combat stress. Laughter significantly decreases cortisol levels and increases production of beta-endorphins and human growth hormone (Berk et al., 2019).

The social aspect is fascinating. Shared laughter releases endogenous opioids, chemicals that play a role in social bonding and emotional regulation (Manninen et al., 2017). This explains why laughing with others feels more satisfying than laughing alone.

A quote from Berk et al. (2019) "Increases were found in natural killer cell activity, with several immunoglobulin effects lasting 12 hours into recovery from initiation of the humor intervention;" Aaah, scientists...

That sentence alone is hilarious! How shall we initiate humor intervention at work?

Pep Talk

We know humor isn't just about being funny. Humor is a stress management tool that's built into our brain. You can use it when the team is down, when you are stressed, or when the project is off the rails.

Try these power moves this week:

• Start meetings with a light-hearted (but appropriate) observation. Appropriate means the humor should not come at the expense of any one or any group.
• Practice finding the amusing side of challenging situations. When the leader initiates this, it gives the team safety to do so as well.
• Share laughs during intense projects to build team resilience. Teams that laugh together build trust.
• Create playful memes for recurring workplace challenges.

You don't need to be a comedian to use humor effectively. Sometimes just a slight shift in perspective can reveal the absurdity of stressful situations to help you cope better.

Keep moving, keep grooving, and keep finding reasons to smile! Your brain rewards you every time you do.

Be well,

Eric

P.S. Enjoy these resources on your journey:

• Be Well Mind - resources, offerings, and how to connect.
• Be Well Mind Substack - long form writing on motivation, joy, and work.
• Schedule a free call - enjoy a powerful one hour coaching session for free.
• Group Flow Checklist - improve your team's ability to enter group flow for more productivity, innovation, and joy.
• Friday Afternoon Strategy Hack - when your competition is choosing where to go for happy hour, outmaneuver them with this strategic tool.
• Calendar Coding Exercise - use this to see where you are actually spending your time and adjust to where you should be spending your time, with visual indication of success.
• Winning at Work - our signature course on doing your best work, while feeling great at the same time. Access the promotion and get $300 off, 1 hour coaching, and surprise bonuses.