The Economist magazine has a feature called “Bartley,” which discusses business management. A recent article entitled “Why We Need to Laugh at Work” discusses the importance of humor in the workplace. Among other things, the article points out the obvious: “… a sense of humour is, by  and large, a useful thing to have in life.“ (Id.)  It points to a study of undergraduates that revealed that those with a strong sense of humour “… experienced less stress and anxiety than those without it. “ (Id.)

This article got me thinking about the use of humor in negotiations, particularly during a mediation. I have found it quite helpful.  The staff of the daily blog of the Harvard  Program on Negotiation (PON)  wrote a blog entitled “ Is Humor in Business Negotiation Ever Appropriate? “ (July 8, 2024). It answers the question in the affirmative and the negative, noting that a little humor will transform moods – either positively or negatively- very quickly and with impact. (Id.)

There are  several benefits to using humor:

Several benefits come with using humor in business negotiation successfully. For example, research led by Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock at Universiteit van Amsterdam shows that using humor induces positive emotion, which in turn triggers positive communication and better team performance. Furthermore, humor has been shown to boost creativity. When coworkers with high levels of trust among one another used sarcasm (a specific type of humor in which you say the opposite of what you mean) in their conversations, they performed better than others on tasks that required creative insight, Li Huang of INSEAD found in her research.

In research conducted with Brad Bitterly and Maurice Schweitzer of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, I found that telling a joke that elicits laughter and is viewed as funny and appropriate projects confidence and competence (by conveying an accurate read of social dynamics), and also increases our status.(Id.)

But at the same time, an ill-timed joke can fall flat and appear inappropriate and not at all funny. (Id.)  “A well-timed, sincere, successful joke can help break the tension, increase social closeness, build rapport, and foster an enjoyable, positive tone…” (Id.) But  an ill-timed joke can make matters much worse. It is all in the timing and the content. (Bartley agrees, noting that humour can be used cruelly or condescendingly. (Id.))

The blog post concludes with a crucial reminder: “Know thyself.” Some individuals have a natural flair for humor, effortlessly weaving it into their interactions. Others may not be as naturally inclined, but they can still contribute to lightening the seriousness of the negotiation by being authentic and appreciating the humor of others. The key is self-awareness and understanding one’s style and comfort level with humor. (Id.)

So, the next time a situation gets way too serious, try a little humor!

… Just something to think (laugh?) about!

 

 

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