Bark away your workplace blues?
April is International Humour Month, and a perfect time to discuss a key pillar of my Laughter Intelligence™ framework: intentionally leveraging laughter to shift energy, especially during difficult situations.
In the workplace, we often deal with clashing personalities and high-stress emotions. I once had a manager who, when stressed, became confrontational. Their voice would rise and their pace would quicken. It was a major trigger for me; I felt small and unable to think clearly.
One day, as this dynamic unfolded, I decided to see if I could change the dynamic, using best tool I know – laughter.
I looked at them with an astonished on my face and said: “Billy Bob [not their real name], when you’re speaking like that, it’s like a dog whistle to me. I can’t hear a thing that you’re saying” I even imitated a silent whistling sound. I can’t quite remember if I let out a tiny bark, but I kinda wish I had. 😉
It wasn’t a “stand-up comedy” moment. It was mildly humorous at best. But it was enough of a disruption to lower their defenses and allow them to hear me without feeling accused.
The result? The energy shifted instantly, and they never spoke to me that way again. And it allowed us to share a bit of a giggle, which is a trust and relationship builder.
Whether at work or in other areas of life, laughter opens space for new perspectives. I invite you to look for opportunities to put humour to work today. It doesn’t have to be a big production, and you don’t have to bark, to make a profound difference.
