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Humour, not jokes: How to be funny at work and why it matters

By Robyn Tongol | |3 minute read
Humour Not Jokes How To Be Funny At Work And Why It Matters

Using humour at work isn’t about showing off your “tight five”; it’s about making the effort.

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David Crisante, founder of Sydney Comedy School, sits down on the latest episode of The HR Leader to share what he has learnt about workplace communication from a career spanning diplomacy, journalism, and, of course, comedy.

David stresses the importance of so-called “water cooler talk”. He explains what an employer is really saying when they engage in small talk, why it matters, and how it can contribute to a happier, more productive workplace. The topics might be “small”, but their ramifications are anything but.

The podcast also covers the “vital” importance of public speaking as a boss. Often, it is the things we overlook that really make a great speech. “When we’re good at public speaking … what we’re saying verbally and what we’re saying physically is in alignment,” David said.

Throughout, the case was made for humour in workplace communication. Increasingly, it is seen as a risk to be avoided, but this kind of thinking overlooks the fact workplace relationships are relationships nonetheless. “You can’t make somebody laugh if you’re not a clear communicator,” he said.