Humor in Communication

Amity System of Communication Enhancement &
Transformation
Humor in Communication
Transformation
Key Take-away Skills
• To increase your humor awareness

• To understand the benefits of humor
• To use humor appropriately and effectively
in the workplace
Transformation
What is a Sense of Humor?
• Being at ease with yourself

• Ability to act with lightness
• It is not about being a comedian
Transformation
Functions of Humor
• Extending the important role of

interpersonal dynamics in the
workplace, humor is perceived as
having the opposite effect. Rather
than damaging workplace morale,
humor can contribute to human
flourishing and well-being. Research
suggests it "can help initiate and
perpetuate a cycle of individual and
social-level positive affect."
Transformation
Signs You Are Burned Out Because of Work
• Your garbage can is in your “in” box.

• You sleep more at work than at home.
• Your Day Timer exploded a week ago.
• You’re so tired you now answer the phone
forgetting your own name!
• You leave for a party and instinctively take
your ID badge.
Transformation
Visions of the upcoming weekend help you make it through Monday.

You think about how relaxing it would be if you were in jail right now.
You wake up to discover your bed is on fire, but go back to sleep because you
just don’t care.
Your friend calls to ask how you’ve been, and you immediately scream, “I’m
fine!”
Transformation
Myths about Humor

•There is no doubt that we have been asked to accomplish more
and more in our jobs. I think that the stress that this creates has
led to several belief systems that permeate our culture and inhibit
humor development.
• If we have fun, work will not get done!”
• If I am silly, I will not be seen as professional !”
Amity System of Communication Enhancement
Amity System of and
Communication Enhancement &
Transformation Transformation
Humorphobia : The Fear of Fun Laughter and
Humor
Fear of Loss of
Work Time
Fear of
Punishme Fear of Looking
Silly
nt
Humorphobia
Fear of Loss of Fear of Being

Control Made Fun of
Fear of
Inadequa
7 cy
Transformation
Humor Why’s
• Take your job seriously…and take yourself

lightly
• Humor can help us to survive–and thrive–
at work
• Jest for the health of it !
• De-stresser
• “A smile is the shortest distance between
two people”
Transformation
Humor: A Value Added Benefit
• Stress reducer
• Creativity enhancer
• Stimulates fresh thinking
• Allows us to gain perspective
• Team building
• Powerful communication tool
Amity System of and
Inappropriate Humor
When the impact is hurtful,
it is usually inappropriate, even if the intent is not so.
Ridicule
Sarcasm Ethnic
Humor Gender
Humor Continued
Humor
“I hate being laughed at!”

.
Amity System of and
Stress-Reducing humour
Humour that:
• Reduces tension by joking about universal human
frustrations and faults
• Encourages people to relax and laugh
• Delights in poking fun at oneself
• Unites people by building rapport
• Creates a supportive atmosphere of fun and caring
• Includes everyone in the good time
• Notes the positive aspects of human relationships
• Gives everyone a chance to participate
Amity System of and
How Can You Tell

Your humour is Appropriate?
• Body language
• Gives valuable feedback
• Clues and cues
Transformation
Humor How To’s
• Put humor into the physical environment

• Use humor as a tool rather than as a
weapon
• Build humor into the corporate culture
Amity System of and
Some Suggestions
• Promote a light atmosphere in your workplace
• Baby pictures Favorite
• Jokes Humourous
• Quotes Humour
• Bulletin board
• Post the joke of the day
• Keep a funny toy or character on your desk
Amity System of and
‘PUNs’
The pun, also called paronomasia,is a

form of word play that suggests two or
more meanings, by exploiting
• multiple
meanings of words, or of similar-sounding
words, for an
intended humorous or rhetorical effect.
20
Amity System of and
‘PUNs’
These ambiguities can arise from the intentional
use of homophonic, homographic, metonymic,
or figurative language.
21
Amity System of and
USE OF ‘PUNs’
• An apt pun at the right moment can have a
strong effect on those who hear it.
• To make puns you will require a knowledge of
the kinds that exist, as well as an
understanding of context, timing, and lateral
thinking.
22
Amity System of and
What if they miss it?

• An important element to a well-delivered pun
is its sense of surprise. Sometimes your
audience will miss your joke, in which case,
you may want to cue your audience. You
might do this by:
– Ending the pun with a large, over-exaggerated
smile and a wink.
– Take an exaggerated pause after the pun to give
listeners time to comprehend the joke.
23
Amity System of and
‘PUN’ Examples
• Poorly run fishing companies have a net loss.

• When cartoonists play, the games are usually drawn.
• Dyslexic prisoners are not helped by long sentences.
• A harp which sounds to good to be true is probably a lyre.
• Religious lions get down on their knees to prey.
It's not easy to make a dog from wood bark, And a big computerized
dog needs a megabyte.
Amity System of and
‘PUN’ Examples
• Effective publicity in the bicycle industry depends on having a
good spokesman.
• For a furniture corporation to succeed it needs a good
chairman.
•
A currant bun never goes out of date.
•
• Winemaking after a poor grape harvest can be fruitless.
Airlines process missing luggage complaints on a case-by-case
basis.
•
Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like banana.
•
25
The days of the pocket diary are numbered.
Amity System of and
Notice
This department requires no physical fitness
program!
Everyone gets enough exercise jumping to conclusions,
flying off the handle, carrying things too far and
dodging responsibility.

Humor in Communication

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Humor in Communication

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Amity System of Communication Enhancement &

Key Take-away Skills

• To increase your humor awareness

• Being at ease with yourself

• Extending the important role of

Signs You Are Burned Out Because of Work

• Your garbage can is in your “in” box.

Visions of the upcoming weekend help you make it through Monday.

Myths about Humor

Fear of Loss of Fear of Being

• Take your job seriously…and take yourself

“I hate being laughed at!”

How Can You Tell

Humor How To’s

• Put humor into the physical environment

The pun, also called paronomasia,is a

What if they miss it?

• Poorly run fishing companies have a net loss.

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