The other morning I received an email from my excellent website provider, Ready Steady Websites. The previous day they’d offered a free masterclass on September 4th (which passed us last week) Realising their mistake they immediately sent this follow up.
“You may have noticed the email we sent yesterday said that Ekaterina’s masterclass is on September 4th. Now, she’s got a lot of skills but time travel probably isn’t one of them. The masterclass is actually on October 4th.”
So a gently funny response to a very rare mistake. This is the same email minus the humour. “Please note that the email we sent yesterday to say that Ekaterina’s masterclass is on 12th May, is incorrect. The masterclass is on 12th June.”
It is shorter, true, and shares the correct information. But what does humour add for us here?
It shows Ready Steady to be human (and we tend to like to buy from human), open, authentic, self deprecating and caring. These are all pretty cool attributes for any brand. And here’s the thing – adding humour changes how we see the communicator – whether that’s a brand or individual.
Here’s a simple guide to how bring more laughs and smiles into your every day.
1. Think playful. The word “funny” can get in the way. Try and get into a playful mindset. Humor comes from seeing the funny side of things. Aim to spot the quirky, silly, or just plain funny bits of life. You don’t have to ignore serious stuff, but by thinking playful, it gives you the chance to see and then create humour.
2. You don’t have to be original. Sometimes, trying to come up with something clever and new can put a block on our creativity. In fact as Picasso said, “good artists copy, great artists steal.” So steal a bit. Using existing funny memes or quotes or observations takes the pressure off having to be a comedy genius and makes adding humour to your conversations easier.
3. Give yourself a break. You definitely don’t have to be perfect. The important thing is that you’re trying to bring a smile to someone’s face. Sometimes the funniest moments come from just being yourself and not taking things too seriously.
4. Use “Yes and…” This one’s from Improvisational comedy. The “yes, and” technique is all about building on what someone says and then adding to it. It keeps the conversation going and makes it more fun. When someone cracks a joke or says something funny, respond positively and add your own twist.
5. Get outside your head. Try not to over-think. As much as you can, look to be more present and in the moment. When scientists have analysed why people laugh in every day conversation, only 3% of laughter comes directly from jokes. The vast majority is from banter, interactions or the bubble of laughter that comes with just being agreeable. If you stay present you’ll find it easier to connect and naturally share some laughter.
Adding humour to your every day or business communication doesn’t mean you have to change who you are. It’s about mind-set. Start small, notice how it brightens your relationships and mood, and take it from there. And the best time to start is today. Simply make a communication whether it’s a blog or conversation more playful, share a funny story, or just smile more. The world can always use more laughter, and you have the power to make it happen.
About the Author
Jack Milner uses humour and fun to help organisations transform their culture, communication and creativity.
A director for the West End, film and radio, Milner’s funny, insightful and refreshingly interactive talks and masterclasses help you make work a lot more fun (how fun is up to you), improving organisation’s culture, communication and creativity along the way.