Learn how to use humor effectively to communicate and influence others in administrative management. Avoid humor that is offensive, self-deprecating, sarcastic, or excessive.

Adding humor in most of the meetings usually helps get the work done without too much efforts and breaking any sweat. However, it is equally critical to understand where the line is with respect to the audience and the topic with respect to humor. Breaking the intensity of the discussion at times, helps in resetting the mindset of the attendees and coming back with renewed focus and newer ideas. I usually tend to incorporate dialogues from movies into the flow of the conversation and add a twist just to lighten the atmosphere. Having a strenuous and intense meeting, at times, tends to lose its purpose and detaches the audience in due time.

How can you use humor to strategically influence others?

Humor is a powerful tool to communicate and influence others in administrative management. It can help you build rapport, reduce stress, motivate your team, and persuade your stakeholders. However, humor can also backfire if you use it inappropriately, offensively, or excessively. In this article, you will learn how to use humor strategically to achieve your goals and avoid potential pitfalls.

1 Know your audience

Before you crack a joke, think about who you are talking to and what their preferences, expectations, and sensitivities are. Different types of humor may appeal to different people, depending on their culture, personality, mood, and context. For example, some people may enjoy sarcasm, irony, or self-deprecation, while others may find them rude, negative, or insecure. Some people may appreciate puns, wordplay, or anecdotes, while others may find them boring, childish, or irrelevant. To use humor effectively, you need to tailor it to your audience and their needs.

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Scott Baradell

CEO of Idea Grove and author of Trust Signals: Brand Building in a Post-Truth World
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During a company-wide meeting, I tried to lighten the mood with a witty comment about deadlines. Unfortunately, it hit a nerve with a few team members who were feeling overwhelmed by their workload. One person shared their concerns afterward, explaining how the joke added to their stress. This incident reinforced the lesson that understanding your audience before using humor as a leader is crucial to avoid unintentionally causing discomfort or anxiety.

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2 Know your purpose

Humor can serve various purposes in administrative management, such as breaking the ice, building trust, easing tension, boosting morale, or reinforcing a message. However, humor can also have negative effects, such as distracting from the main point, undermining your credibility, or offending someone. Therefore, you need to be clear about why you are using humor and what you want to achieve with it. For example, if you want to persuade someone to accept your proposal, you may use humor to create a positive impression, highlight the benefits, or address potential objections. If you want to motivate your team to complete a challenging task, you may use humor to show empathy, appreciation, or encouragement.

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Scott Baradell

CEO of Idea Grove and author of Trust Signals: Brand Building in a Post-Truth World
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During a brainstorming session, we hit a creative block. To spark new ideas, I used humor by organizing a playful "worst idea" contest. Team members came up with hilariously bad ideas, and the laughter fueled a more relaxed and open-minded atmosphere. Surprisingly, amidst the laughter, we stumbled upon a genuinely innovative idea that we refined and implemented successfully. This experience highlighted how humor can encourage creativity and collaboration, even in the face of challenges.

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3 Know your timing

Humor can be more or less effective depending on when you use it. Generally, humor works best when it is relevant, unexpected, and appropriate to the situation. For example, you may use humor at the beginning of a presentation to grab attention, establish rapport, and set the tone. You may use humor in the middle of a discussion to lighten the mood, illustrate a point, or resolve a conflict. You may use humor at the end of a meeting to summarize the key takeaways, express gratitude, or leave a lasting impression. However, you should avoid using humor when it is irrelevant, predictable, or inappropriate to the situation. For example, you should not use humor when you are delivering bad news, giving feedback, or apologizing.

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Scott Baradell

CEO of Idea Grove and author of Trust Signals: Brand Building in a Post-Truth World
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During a team meeting about improving workflow efficiency, I made a joke about the outdated software we were using, saying it felt like we were back in the Stone Age. However, one team member was responsible for implementing that software and had spent a lot of effort trying to make it work. The comment unintentionally embarrassed them and derailed the discussion. It was clear that my attempt at humor was poorly timed and insensitive to someone's hard work and efforts. This situation highlighted the importance of being considerate of individual efforts and feelings when using humor in a professional setting.

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4 Know your limits

Humor can be a powerful tool in administrative management, but it can also be a double-edged sword. It's important to exercise caution when using humor, as it can easily damage your reputation and relationships. Common pitfalls to avoid include using humor that is offensive, self-deprecating, sarcastic, cynical, passive-aggressive, excessive, inappropriate, or out of context. To make the most of humor in administrative management, you need to plan carefully, execute with precision, and evaluate the outcomes. By doing so, you can strategically use humor to influence others and reach your desired goals.

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Nirav Parikh (He/Him), MBA, CSM

Assistant Vice President-II at CitiusTech | Certified Scrum Master | MBA | Six Sigma Black Belt | Problem Solver | Grooming Future Leaders | Trusted Partner
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Adding humor in most of the meetings usually helps get the work done without too much efforts and breaking any sweat. However, it is equally critical to understand where the line is with respect to the audience and the topic with respect to humor. Breaking the intensity of the discussion at times, helps in resetting the mindset of the attendees and coming back with renewed focus and newer ideas. I usually tend to incorporate dialogues from movies into the flow of the conversation and add a twist just to lighten the atmosphere. Having a strenuous and intense meeting, at times, tends to lose its purpose and detaches the audience in due time.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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George Athanasiou

Copywriter, blog writer, Linkedin services
(edited)
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Humour? Yes, BUT it all depends on the place, audience, and nature of the meeting. In a volunteers meeting I participated it few months back, the organizer smartly infused humour 4-5 times during a 6-hour-long session so no one got bored. But in numerous staff meetings I had with officials in government, defence, and company staff humour was used from rarely to zero times. It can backfire and undermine the credibility of persons/organizations. As a general rule of thumb, I'd say humour is a grenade. You've got to be wise enough to decipher when to use it. And history shows that people aren't wise enough most of the time.

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How can you use humor to strategically influence others?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Know your audience

2 Know your purpose

3 Know your timing

4 Know your limits

5 Here’s what else to consider

Administrative Management

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How can you use humor to strategically influence others?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Know your audience

2 Know your purpose

3 Know your timing

4 Know your limits

5 Here’s what else to consider

Administrative Management

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