Humor Diffuse Business Tensions

Humor can be applied in the boardroom as well. A 2006 article in Academy of Management Perspectives by Eric J. Romero and Kevin W. Cruthirds reviews the benefits of using humor in the workplace. He advocates taking it more seriously by making it a "multifunctional management tool that can be used to achieve many objectives" (Romero, Cruthirds). The findings encourage a more strategic use of humor,similar to selecting the proper tool from a toolkit in order to achieve positive outcomes for the organization (Romero, Cruthirds). Humor can generate benefits in terms of organizational citizenship, managerial behavior and, workforce creativity. As more studies point to the benefits of humor in the workplace, more managers are being instructed on how to use this important resource or tool to better manage their team/s or projects (Romero, Cruthirds).Regardless of the setting, school or work,

Throughout time, humorists have been able to pull off a phenomenon, which allows for others to laugh about sensitive, stressful topics. With talent, humorists are able to captivate positive emotion from their audience and allow for society to see delicate issues in an unbiased view. Although humorists are commonly seen as people who only intend to entertain, humorists purposefully say things through their work that allow for hard issues to be spoken or illustrated.

laughter can free a man who is under the control of an unjust authority. Through the

People always say that laughter alleviates tension. If this is the case, then it makes sense that the use of humor when discussing uncomfortable topics can make the conversation easier and more light-hearted. One of Mark Twain’s most frequently used devices in works such as “Advice to Youth”, “To the Person Sitting in Darkness”, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is satire, which can provide society a method to bond over uncomfortable topics, and facilitate the ability to sustain that bond through an easier way to create discussion.

Humor is viewed by some people as an important part of life. Most people enjoy amusement, and some turn to humorists as a source for that amusement. Some further view humorists as holding an important position in society because society allows humorists to say things that others can and will not say. Due to their unique position in society, humorists serve a role that is certainly unique and can be important, but not vital. Furthermore, humor can very well have a dangerous side, whether intentional or unintentional, so humorists should try to be careful with their powerful position.

Laughter is contagious; much more infectious than any sneeze, sniffle, or yawn out there. When laughter is shared amongst a group, it forms a bond and spreads happiness throughout. Laughter is also known to increase confidence, even on the worst of days. In Ken Kesey's novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the patients, day by day, do not live their own lives, but instead, one that is under the control of Nurse Ratched. The patients have been in a mental institution for so long, they are surrounded by a depressing and bland world, so much so, that now they are relatively lifeless. In this novel, laughter is indeed the best medicine and frees one from control and oppression and gives the patient's confidence to have their own voice.

Humor is the art of turning something serious, and sometimes even heartbreaking into something that makes people laugh until they can’t breathe. As well as being incredibly entertaining, the skill of making something funny can be used to change the world. In his book Status Anxiety, Alain de Botton correctly argues that the role of humorists as messengers of taboo or restricted topics is vital to society. When presented with a serious topic, many people shy away out of fear of being offensive, but humorists revel in the idea of not only talking about that offensive subject but making jokes about it as well. But why do they get away with it?

Humor is our way of expressing our opinions and thoughts, in a way that lets us see the gravity of the situation but in a less complex, serious tone. In the book Status Anxiety, Alain de Botton, believes that Humor is vital to Society, due to it allowing “humorist to say things that other people cannot or will not say”. Button is right in believing that Humor is vital to society. It allows for other people to feel more comfortable expressing their own opinions without it turning into a serious discussion. Humor as found itself in political cartoons, Stand-up comedy like comedian Gabriel Iglesias, and TV shows like Saturday Night Live.

Sometimes the truth can hurt, but when it is presented in a way that is humorous the end result can be much different. “Comedians don’t start out to change the world, but in the end, that’s what they do,” says Stephen Rosenfield.” Standup comedians have the ability to force people to take a good look at social issues by confronting realities that one would prefer to ignore. In fact, they use humor as a tool to neutralize controversial issues by giving social critiques that can transform in a way leaving the audience to want for more. Comedians can push the social boundaries with their stories and expressions that are usually unacceptable in society. The fact that the comedian sugar coats the issue with humor makes it more acceptable and is

In this article by Brooks and Bitterly “Why it Pays off to Be Funny at Work -- Usually”, is about how people act toward jokes at work and if it even allowed. This article talks about researcher on how some employees up make jokes at work. In "Why it Pays off to Be Funny at Work -- Usually” article is written that the people who take the chance to humor up their workplace show perceive as they are being sure of themselves; seem very confident.

Obviously in jest, the comment gave the team pause to get back on track. Our use of humor kept C-type conflicts from becoming A-type conflicts. We must keep in mind, though, that our group’s use of humor was so effective because it was used appropriately—we were able to clear our heads of the task momentarily, but not to the point of ineffectiveness.

Since the starting episode in 2005, The Office has consistently portrayed a humorous office environment. The humor within the sitcom stems from influential people, such as Sigmund Freud, who depended on awkwardness to make a joke. The creators of The Office, like Greg Daniels and more, established humor by relying on Freud’s ideology, observational humor, and juvenalian satire. This is especially prevalent in season two, episode one of the show, “The Dundies.” Throughout the series, the audience has rolled over in their seats because of the regional manager, Michael Scott.

On the other hand, Humorists usage of humor allows them to revolutionize the way of presenting current news to the people that will grasp their audience’s attention and provoke motivation for him/her to act. To prove for the decline of dull news anchor shows, a study by the Pew Research Study in 2007 shows that “Well-informed audiences come from cable (Daily Show/Colbert Report, O’Reilly Factor)” these comedian shows are where most people get their information or news while “less informed audiences” are people who watches Fox news channel (Dimcock). This study shows that people are less interested in news being delivered with seriousness while news being delivered with humor have a huge audience and with an added bonus, people attain more knowledge from the comedian shows because the hilarity of the shows makes it easier for one to memorize it. Some would say that handling news with seriousness would emphasize the danger of the problem, but today’s news anchors lack the ability to motivate their audiences to actually do anything to solve the problem while comedians are more effective in motivating their audience to act. To support my claim, In Oct. 30, 2010, Stephen Colbert and his funny remarks during his show is able to motivate “215,000 people [to gather] at the National Mall in Washington, D.C… to attend a rally hosted by … Stephen Colbert” (Grossman). To give enough motivation that 215,000 people would get out of their houses just to be in a rally to merely enjoy Stephen Colbert’s political discussion is the result of Colbert’s outstanding influence over his audience especially when the rally’s purpose is “just to get everyone together

Humor has entertained and enthralled audiences for all of recorded history. Everyone enjoys a good laugh, but what exactly makes something humorous? It could be tension that is released in an unexpected and positive way. It could be the discussion of subject seen as taboo. Humor could also just be the enjoyment of other’s misfortunes.

Good corporate comedians are an outstanding way to brighten the atmosphere at any sort of important corporate party or meeting. Just be sure that you use a clean standup comedian for the party in an effort to limit the prospects of humor not being appreciated, or possibly worse, hurting somebody. Here are a handful of pointers if you're searching for corporate comedy.