Humour – A Great Leadership Tool
When leading a project or programme I believe that one of the most valuable tools that the leader has is humour.
Humour can be used to foster team spirit, to relieve tension and for motivation. A lot of people can take themselves very seriously and this can have a detrimental effect on the team.
I am not saying don’t take what you are doing seriously, you should, but don’t take yourself too seriously.
Humour – The Carry On Moment
If you are at a particularly stressful stage in the life-cycle injecting what I can a “Carry-On Moment” can remove the stress and reinvigorate the team.
Meetings can be particularly tedious and an injection of humour can raise the spirits and refocus the participants.
It’s amazing how, in this connected and global world, humour crosses borders and cultures and has the same affect wherever you are. But be careful that you don’t make assumptions that things that are non-offensive where you come from are OK everywhere.
Humour – Careful How You Use It.
However you need to use the tool carefully. Don’t use it to belittle others or belittle the task at hand. Don’t use it to undermine others or other teams. Always use it in a positive and appropriate manner. Use it in an appropriate and none offensive manner.
In conclusion injecting a bit of humour can really brighten an endeavor and put a spring in people’s steps.
If you need a starter here is a joke that may help that was voted the best joke at the 2011 Edinburgh festival.
“I was asked for an eight character password so I gave snow white and the seven dwarfs”