The science of laughter and creating a fun culture at work
One of the best feelings in the world is laughter, whether it’s recapping a social event with friends, or laughing in a situation where you’re not supposed to - which always seems to make things funnier!
There’s a science behind why laughter is so good for us, and in fact, it was used as a survival tool: “Laughter is thought to have evolved as a form of social bonding in animals and as a way to express playful intention. Many mammals laugh when they are tickled and when they engage in physical play. But humans don't need a physical trigger to laugh -- though generally, we can't help but laugh if we're tickled.”
It’s a great way to communicate with people in personal situations as well as in the office. Laughter can come from humour or even awkwardness, but in summary, it’s a great way to make the day go quicker, and of course, more enjoyable on the days that feel more difficult.
So, how can we laugh more at work?
It’s important to surround yourself with colleagues who can uplift you and make coming into the office a joyful occasion. No one wants to work in an environment that is too serious, and no one wants to feel like they can’t bring their “full” personality to work (dad jokes included).
There’s no set “method” to laughing more at work; however, you can foster a joyful culture if you alter the lens in which you view work as well as your colleagues.
Don’t just focus on incentives
Although incentives are a great way to increase productivity and performance, they are often only attainable for individuals who hit specific targets to receive a “reward” at the end of it.
Although this can spark joy for individuals who are doing well, a culture that is completely focused on targets and incentives can create a divide within an organisation, especially amongst teams who are unable to qualify either due to their seniority or their department.
Instead, look at things from a company-wide perspective and do things that will foster community and conversation in a relaxed environment. Whether this is allowing everybody to finish a little earlier on a Friday and have a drink “on the house”, or running initiatives that are about team building (not profit), you will create an environment that isn’t completely driven by output, but instead, enjoying each other's company.
After all, we spend the majority of our lives at work with our colleagues - so doing things that allow you to laugh and have fun (without needing to work towards something) creates a better environment.
Revisit how your management team operates
In any work environment, you naturally want people to be productive. However, if we get blinded by this, it can be easy to fall into the trap of creating a rigid environment where people feel uncomfortable having non-work-related conversations.
Although excessively talking about your weekend or spending 10 minutes watching a YouTube video probably isn’t the best way to spend your working day every day, it’s important to remind management that they are dealing with people, who are adults, and aren’t in a school setting. You should encourage people to share non-work related information (as long as they are comfortable with this) and create an environment where it’s OK to laugh at a funny video or bring up a funny anecdote to cheer someone up.
A great way of doing this is with management leading by example, but equally, recognising the individuals within an organisation that always seem to have people belly-laughing even at 9 am on a Monday morning. Celebrating these individuals and showing that these behaviours are OK then leads to them being normalised, and ideally, replicated.
Happy employees = better productivity
If you focus on a fun and positive environment first, the rest will follow. Countless studies show that happy employees are more productive, and that’s largely because people are going to perform at their best when they feel most themselves, and around people that make them feel that they can achieve the best. A culture that is too serious and born out of fear and “targets” can slowly sap the life out of an organisation, and the spark out of an employee!
If you’re still stuck for ideas, here’s a guide that gives you 41 ideas that you can try today to create a fun, positive culture that will spark joy and laugher in your organisation: