Work and humour do mix

Media release 24 September 2007

Work and humour do mix

Workers love a leader who can laugh, and most bosses seem ready to deliver the punch line, according to a new survey by international recruitment agency Robert Half.

It found that 97% of professionals felt it was important for managers to have a sense of humour and 87% of them said their supervisors did indeed have a funny bone.

The survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm in the United States, which interviewed 492 full- or part-time office workers.

The results were just as applicable in New Zealand, where recent surveys showed many finance professionals were working longer hours and facing increased work loads, said Robert Half Finance & Accounting division director Kim Smith.

“Managers who can laugh at themselves or difficult situations are often seen as more approachable and in touch with the challenges their teams face,” she said. “Levity also can be used to build rapport among staff and ease stressful situations.”

Humour also helped managers to communicate openly with staff, Ms Smith said.

“When people enjoy working with each other, they are more productive and willing to help their colleagues. So having a good sense of humour can help you advance your career, as it helps you work more effectively with others, stay motivated and perform better under pressure.”

But she cautioned that while people enjoyed working for someone who had a good sense of humour, too much clowning around could have the opposite effect. “To be taken seriously, supervisors must balance their desire to keep the mood light with the need to accomplish business objectives, inspire great performance and maintain professionalism.”

And managers also had to be careful that their humour could never be interpreted as personally insulting to a member of their team.

“You can show you have a good sense of humour without ever saying a word,” said Ms Smith. “Be willing to laugh at yourself and acknowledge the humour of others. Showing you can take a joke, or even poke one at yourself, can go a long way toward showing your lighter side.

“But a good sense of humour is just one item bosses should keep in their managerial toolboxes. Managers also must be able to maintain open communication with staff, motivate their teams and support employees through difficult times.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media