Many workplaces are serious business. And that is a problem. Humor at work allows employees to feel more motivated, engaged, productive, and creative. Leaders with a sense of humor are more admired and create deeper bonds with their teams. However, there is a fine line between humor that is appropriate and helpful, and jokes that are non-inclusive and ineffective. This week, we examine the role and benefits of humor in the workplace and explore how to do it right.

Why Laughter Can Make You More Productive at Work

It’s hard to find time for laughter at work with constant negativity in the news, ongoing isolation, increased stress, and continued work from home. Remote and hybrid work leaves little opportunity to joke around like we used to in the office. But laughter can really make a difference when it comes to productivity. Although making time for laughter might not seem like a priority, experts point out that its effects on the brain can boost our mood and our productivity.

How to Laugh at Work

Humor in the workplace is so important that Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas teach a course together about the subject at Stanford. They note that humor at work is less about wisecracks and more about levity: the shared moments of lightness that propel relationships forward and balance the seriousness of work. While levity is alarmingly missing from a lot of adult life, Aaker and Bagdonas discuss working the levity muscle and finding humor in every situation. Read this interview with the two women to learn more about professional levity, why humor at work is essential, and why a leader doesn’t have to be funny to build a team that embraces humor.

When Is Humor Helpful?

Sometimes humor in the workplace is magical, while other times it is disastrous. What is the difference? An analysis in a healthcare setting using artificial intelligence and natural language processing set out to understand. It found that humor can help convey that the caregiver empathizes, is compassionate, attentive, and pleasant. But if humor is used in a flippant or sarcastic way, it can add insult to injury. Read more about this study and how the findings can be applied to your workplace interactions.