(4 votes, average: 9 out of 10)
Loading ...We’re laughing at you, not with you
Normally we focus on the IT-specific surveys that come out of Robert Half, but one caught my eye the other day about laughter in the workplace. I guess this should be obvious, but ninety-seven per cent of workers polled told the staffing firm it is very or somewhat important for managers to have a funny bone, although 10 per cent their bosses aren’t that funny. And you thought it was just IT people who lack soft skills.
The tough thing about humour as a skill set is that it’s really subjective and not necessarily the kind of thing you “develop” for work purposes. I’m sure if you talked to the world’s most successful CIOs you’d find their humour was part of their charm, which also in turn led to their winning over skeptical management teams about a various technology projects. As for inspiring their staff in IT departments, humour is good at establishing a rapport but only if they are, in fact, funny. If they simply think they’re funny or trying too hard, they come off like Steve Carrell in The Office, or a high school math teacher who uses rap terminology in order to sound “with it.” Then it’s just sad.
August 30th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
It’s interesting that this post is juxtaposed with the one about bullies… so, bosses are supposed to have a sense of humour, but their subordinates can dispense with it?
Just kidding, I really don’t think bullying in the workplace is a laughing matter.