Using Humor to Influence
Using humor at work or in your relationships is a secret weapon and an effective form of communication. When used appropriately it can strengthen relationships, help influence, foster creativity, and reduce tension and frustration.
Stanford Business School states, “...humor is a powerful tool to build trust” (2020). It can be difficult to peel away the layers and be your authentic self. Here are some tips on how you can implement the use of humor in your day to day life.
Don’t take yourself too seriously: Get comfortable laughing at yourself and letting others as well. It allows you to be flexible in situations where there may be mistakes or conflicts.
Use humor to lift tension: Laughing releases endorphins which makes you feel good. If the time is appropriate, humor can be used to alleviate nerves and apprehensions.
Build people up: Use your humor to make people feel more comfortable. It can help you to be more likable and people see you as endearing. Make sure it’s appropriate for your audience.
Use humor to influence others: Shared laughter can communicate to people that you may have connected worldviews. Building that sense of trust can allow you to have influence over decisions.
Bring improv techniques into communication: When teaming, avoid “but” and “no” and instead use improv technique “yes and” to help with creative brainstorming.
