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The use of comedy
in business situations
by Gerry Thompson/Positive Comedy
- Humour
and comedy can put people immediately at ease,
dispelling tension and inspiring trust. People
like people who are funny.
- Comedy
is a powerful aid to crossing barriers of language,
culture and understanding. Universal types of
humour and points of reference work best.
- Comedy
keeps an audience alert and interested; it's the
perfect antidote to the kind of presentation that
has the eyes glazing over and the heads nodding
(aka Slow Death by Powerpoint).
- Working
with comedy adds persuasiveness and wins people
over to your point of view.
- Comedy
is a valuable tool in business 'status' games.
On the one hand, it can be used to establish higher
status or leadership; on the other hand it can
be employed to creatively express a lower role
which may be equally important in the hierarchy.
- Shared
comedy is terrific for team-building.
- Many
delicate or controversial subjects that are impossible
to address directly can be dealt with through
sensitive use of humour.
- Standalone
'jokes' are a high-risk option, and don't work
nearly as well as humour that is integrated into
your material, or arises naturally from a situation.
- The
human brain working in 'humour' mode is at its
most imaginative and spontaneously inventive -
a powerful tool for cultivating the habit of professional
creativity.
- Laughter
is terrific for health and happiness - and your
staff will do better business if they're healthy
and happy.
- But
comedy can also be applied destructively; it's
generally best to use humour in a positive way.
Self-deprecation is fine when used judiciously
- a much wiser strategic option than mocking a
'third party'.
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