Humor-What Does It Say About You?

In the last post we looked at some of the positive aspects of humor.  Most importantly as you seek business growth and greater personal development it can make you and your business lighter to lift.  

But, there is humor that many employ that can do just the opposite.  This type of humor can take you down and distance you from others.

Humor And Morality

Unless you absolutely know your audience and the depth of their beliefs it is best to stay away from moral issues.  This is nothing new. 

But there is a larger point.  Whether I am engaged in business growth coaching, business performance coaching or as a personal growth coach one of the keys to success is to always know who you are talking to.  This applies to your business as well as your personal life. 

Humor Is Your Choice

I have observed many times how the humor of morality, given with good intentions, can explode like a hand grenade and damage not only the person receiving the humor but the person who is giving it.

Amazingly, a bad joke or poor humor can have a shelf life that will last a life time.  You can offend people or disappoint them and they may still do business with you or hang around.  Tell a joke or have a sense of humor that offends their morality and very often that becomes the tipping point to drive them away. 

When you are running a small business or starting up your own business I have seen the wrong humor have devastating consequences.  Small business success is about winning friends and influencing people. 

Whether you are a self-employed business owner, entrepreneur, solo professional or an individual working in a company remember that the humor you show is your choice.  Choose wisely.

Humor And Sarcasm

There are times when sarcasm can be humorous.  In my personal business coaching practice I encourage my clients to stay away from sarcasm.  How come?

All of us have anger.  Anger is not the problem.  How we manage it can be.  When you use sarcasm it is reflecting your anger about something.  And very often, sarcasm isn’t anger about something but anger at someone. 

Your anger is valid.  But expressing it to others in the form of sarcasm actually will drive people away from you.  You may say that you are only expressing disappointment.  That’s fine.  Remember that disappointment is a mild form of anger. 

If you are seeking small business growth and personal success make your use of sarcasm extremely limited.  Be certain that when it is used that you are with someone who is totally supportive of you.  Even then, use it sparingly. 

I see people who are sarcastic in many of their remarks and all they are doing is reflecting their own unhappiness for every one to see and to feel.  Anger and unhappiness in business may be short term attractors but in the long run they will drive people and business away from you. 

As a business owner or individual sarcasm can put you in isolation.  You may have a good business but you will never be the leader you can be or have a well functioning team, which leads to peace, satisfaction and happiness if you are using sarcasm as a primary method of communicating your feelings. 

You can’t trust someone who is angry.  And without trust you will create team dysfunction. 

Humor—Make It Good Humor

Humor is great.  Good humor makes you laugh for five seconds and think for ten minutes.  Self-deprecating humor about you and your actions can be endearing.  But, humor that takes a bite out of someone else, such as sarcasm, may taste good at the moment but over time it will become increasingly difficult to digest.