Humour is useful to lighten up a situation or build (business) relationships, but ….
There are a few things that work well and a few things that should be avoided.
DON’TS
Don’t crack a joke at the expense of people present. It is unbecoming and is likely to hurt the feelings of that person. Nobody wants to be embarrassed in front of others. Why make an enemy?
Don’t make fun of other people, known or unknown, to the group present, e.g. your boss. This appears like you want to make yourself look smarter by putting others down, or gossip. I always conclude that if a person is willing to make fun of others to me; they are willing to make fun of me to others. I don’t like that.
Don’t make jokes in writing. In the right situation you can call somebody an idiot with a smile on your face and this may go down as a light-hearted banter. When the same joke is made in writing there are only written words. All the other factors like the mood of the moment, the smile is not there and a joke can quickly be taken more seriously than intended. I don’t think that just adding a 'smiley face' would solve that.
Don’t make jokes about sensitive issues such as sex, religion, and race. Politics, old age, gender issues are probably also not a good idea. Remember, we make jokes to build relationships. So, if for example you joke about gender, however the other party has a very much different view of the issue, then the joke will backfire and 'un-build' the relationship.
DO’S
Looks like there is not much left for a good joke. Well, there is. It is you. Learn to make fun of yourself, share moments where you embarrassed yourself. This self-deprecating humour won’t hurt anybody else and, by the way, shows that you are a very confident person. Confident people don’t cover up. If they ‘put their foot into something’ they talk about it and have a good laugh.
Otherwise, there are still plenty of funny situation, not involving a particular person, to share.
There are a few things that work well and a few things that should be avoided.
DON’TS
Don’t crack a joke at the expense of people present. It is unbecoming and is likely to hurt the feelings of that person. Nobody wants to be embarrassed in front of others. Why make an enemy?
Don’t make fun of other people, known or unknown, to the group present, e.g. your boss. This appears like you want to make yourself look smarter by putting others down, or gossip. I always conclude that if a person is willing to make fun of others to me; they are willing to make fun of me to others. I don’t like that.
Don’t make jokes in writing. In the right situation you can call somebody an idiot with a smile on your face and this may go down as a light-hearted banter. When the same joke is made in writing there are only written words. All the other factors like the mood of the moment, the smile is not there and a joke can quickly be taken more seriously than intended. I don’t think that just adding a 'smiley face' would solve that.
Don’t make jokes about sensitive issues such as sex, religion, and race. Politics, old age, gender issues are probably also not a good idea. Remember, we make jokes to build relationships. So, if for example you joke about gender, however the other party has a very much different view of the issue, then the joke will backfire and 'un-build' the relationship.
DO’S
Looks like there is not much left for a good joke. Well, there is. It is you. Learn to make fun of yourself, share moments where you embarrassed yourself. This self-deprecating humour won’t hurt anybody else and, by the way, shows that you are a very confident person. Confident people don’t cover up. If they ‘put their foot into something’ they talk about it and have a good laugh.
Otherwise, there are still plenty of funny situation, not involving a particular person, to share.
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