Six fundamentals of humour
i) instead of being serious, you should strive to be good at your job, ie very competent
Establish your work ethic (including values to guide decision-making so that you convey integrity and command respect from others) and competence to do the task or role allocated before using humour
ii) use humour to add balance to the stress of your life
By creating an "emotional distance or barrier"between you and the stress, humour can allow you to take a break from adversity while you regroup and regain your composure
iii) humour by its nature creates a new perspective
A new perspective can be an asset when you are faced with challenges and problems
iv) you connect with one another through laughter
Research has shown that people like to be around others who have a sense of humour. Furthermore, laughter is a universal language but we need to be aware of sensitivities, such as cultural ones
v) humour can enhance the recall and retention of information
It provides balance to serious information, it creates a new way of understanding the material being presented and it establishes a memorable link to the point being made
vi) humour makes work more bearable
Humour has the potential to make work more enjoyable without sacrificing productivity or the integrity of the work being performed. It can create an enjoyable environment that attracts staff and encourages them to contribute