Sense of Humor

I remember a question I was asked when I applied to LinkedIn some years ago: "Tell us about your sense of humor. (Seriously.)"

The question stood out at the time, and frankly still does, as rather quirky. Over the years I’ve come to see it as increasingly relevant.

Because as our cognitive burden gets heavier, as the call to step up productivity grows louder, there’s a tendency to believe gravity and levity are mutually exclusive. There’s a creeping neglect of humor as a vital element of our professional lives.

In their book Humor, Seriously, Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas argue that humor and levity are broadly undervalued in the workplace. So many people shy away from using these tools to connect, empower, and disarm.

Connect

Levity is a signal to others that you’re a multidimensional person, someone who is not only talented and skilled but also fun to be around. We are rightly suspicious of those who take themselves too seriously, who seem closed off to laughter, especially at their own expense. ?

It’s not about 'being funny'. It’s about signaling you have a sense of humor, that you’re capable of spotting the hilarity in your own flaws, thereby showing confidence and awareness. This is what humanizes us. This is what draws others in.

Empower

As knowledge work gets more complex and multi-disciplinary, lateral thinking becomes more necessary. It’s a theme discussed at length in Daniel Pink’s prescient book, ?A Whole New Mind. Winning teams are those that can spin away from the dance floor and leap beyond the last bar. Einstein allegedly once said: “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”

But creativity requires a certain environment, one that is safe and permissive and playful and loose. Humor is a key element in establishing those conditions.

Disarm

Imagine you’re in a meeting and someone arrives ten minutes late. There’s a slight pause as people process the disruption, and then he says: “Sorry I’m late. I’ve just spent the last several minutes trying to decide whether I wanted to be here.”

Humor is a way to relieve stress and defuse tension, often by calling out slightly transgressive truths. Comedian and stand-up coach Sarah Cooper once advised that to use humor most effectively, “You should never look for what’s funny. Look for what’s true and go from there.”?

But let’s get our terms straight: humor and levity are not the same thing. Levity is a mindset, an emotional posture of seeking out joy. Humor is more intentional. It channels levity toward the goal of eliciting laughter.

To the extent we’re striving for humor, it’s helpful to consider the four primary styles:

• ‘Stand-ups’ are natural entertainers who aren’t afraid to stir the pot.
• ‘Sweethearts’ are more earnest and sincere. They use planned and understated humor, such as a laugh line thoughtfully woven into a presentation.
• ‘Magnets’ enliven the room with their unwavering positivity. They keep things warm and uplifting. They avoid controversy and radiate charm.
• ‘Snipers’ are edgy and nuanced. Some describe their humor as 'an acquired taste’. Their delivery tends to be deadpan and dry.

Your humor must be authentic to your style. If it isn’t, people will instantly detect a mismatch.

I’m a Sniper. I resonate with the wit of someone like Winston Churchill, who famously commented, after meeting US Secretary of State John Dulles, that the English language now needed a new superlative: dull, duller, and Dulles.

10 years ago, former LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner wrote a viral post about the three qualities of people he most enjoyed working with: (1) dreaming big; (2) getting sh*t done; and (3) having fun.

It sometimes feels as if the first two are crowding out the third. Now is the time to restore the importance of levity and humor in our working lives.