Humor in the workplace – just be careful

I have often said that there are humor transmitters, and humor receivers.  Some people are just funny naturally and transmit their humor effortlessly.  They seem to know their audience, the boundries of appropriate humor, and have a natural comedic timing.  They say the right thing, at just the right time. We love them.

Then there are those that choose to never tell a joke, but are perfectly suited to laugh at the humor being transmitted.  I call them the humor receivers.  They laugh just as effortlessly at the joke as the humor transmitter is able to tell the joke, and are of equal partnership in this delicate ballet of office comedy.  Without them, there would be no point in being funny, as there would be no one left to laugh.

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The third person in this odd, albeit classic ritual, is the trasmitter wannabe.  He has none of the qualities of the humor transmitter, but tries time and time again to tell jokes, make pithy remarks, or deliver witty one liners that do everything from fall flat to create that moment we all lovingly refer to as “awkward”.  They use foul language at the wrong time.  They tell blue jokes in mixed company.  They try to “one up” the guy that just told a great story – even the boss.  They are just not funny, and I believe there are way more wannabe’s than there are transmitters or receivers.  Why do they do this?  Well, it is because they simply want to be the center of attention as opposed to simply being part of it by laughing at the joke.  I have to admit, getting a laugh is addictive and once you receive one, you want more of it.  Unfortunately, not everyone can do it.

I have seen many, and I mean a bunch of people get into trouble at work trying to tell a joke, or say something cute, or forward one of the “those” emails we all get, only to find themselves walking out of the building with all their belongings in a computer box.  They really have no sense of humor, but seemingly try to force one.  It was like when Michael Jordan tried baseball in the mid 90′s.  He just wasn’t good enough and went back to basketball.

If you are not a natural humor transmitter, don’t try to force it.  If you are just not good enough, go back to what you are good at.  If you want to laugh, then laugh.  We need you too.  But, if have no sense of humor at all, then for gosh sakes, just say nothing and you will not be “that” guy that makes us all so very uncomfortable!

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.

Abraham Lincoln

Thanks,

Mike