Humor in the Workplace, continued
The Chinese interpreter came back with the statement, “Oh no, I think that she is doctor of complexity.” Of course I laughed, which meant that I agreed with him. Through humor, the Chinese interpreter and I had achieved a common understanding about this person’s competence.
Paul Johnson, British Historian and author, reports in Forbes Magazine (p. 31, May 9, 2005) that Humor is a key element of Leadership and opines that few successful leaders are totally devoid of humor. He goes on to credit Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan as people who virtually governed through jokes.
Lincoln had a vast supply of homespun stories, all pointed and responsive to the situation at hand. Reagan is said to have communicated chiefly through thousands of one-liners that covered every possible occasion. Paul Johnson concludes “A subordinate always serves more zealously and obeys more faithfully a leader who can joke . . . .”
In 1984 during a discussion of project management progress, one individual became extremely irritated over the way the discussion was progressing. He became particularly aggressive and challenged another person with a very pointed question that could not be answered to anyone’s satisfaction.
The challenged person quickly turned to his boss, although it was apparent that the question was directed to him, and emphatically stated, “Before you answer that question, I have one.” He then asked a trivial question and the original question was forgotten. Everyone in the group had a chuckle and the meeting returned to the real issues.
In 1970 I was appointed leader of a group of young men learning investigative techniques. The group often functioned in small teams and on occasion the group would conduct a team activity for a specific purpose. As a team-building technique and to bring out in a subtle way perceived weaknesses of individuals without giving offense, I introduced a game called “authors.”
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This game points to a weakness by a person, but probably not recognized by that person. In a humorous vain, each person is to stand to give a book title and the author for someone in the group.. For example, someone lacking in the expected table manners might have “written” a book on Etiquette in Formal Dining.
The game went along well, but I forgot that I was also a participant until one individual cited a book, Leadership Techniques for the Professional by Lew Ireland. The next day I thought through my leadership techniques – and changed how I was leading the group.
During a project meeting in the late 1980s, one project member kept raising negative issues rather than looking for solutions. The meeting became less productive with each identified problem. The team member realized that he was only hindering the situation through negative statements. Quickly, he stated, “Well, I don’t want to be an adjutant to the situation.”
Everyone looked at him, realizing that “adjutant” is someone who helps rather than some one who agitates. Needless to say, this team member remained quiet for the remaining discussion. He probably doesn’t know to this day what he said, but it gave everyone a bit of relief from the negative statements.
Several people were called by the boss’s secretary to review a situation and did not know what to expect. We were led into the boss’s office during his absence and casually took seats. No one spoke, anticipating that there would be some harsh words coming from the boss when he returned from a high-level meeting.
A few minutes later the boss walked in and everyone stood out of respect – and perhaps anticipation of some serious discussion. Scanning the room, the boss commented, “This is as quiet as a wake.” The local wit of the group, without thought, retorted, “This is the first time that anyone has ever accused us of being awake.” Everyone laughed, including the boss, and the meeting continued in a friendly, productive way.
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