Stop 'being funny' at work: why humour often hurts reputations

They can be found in business books, LinkedIn posts and corporate training. We are promised: wit makes us more attractive, reduces stress, unites a team and even signals leadership skills.

But researchers Peter McGraw, Adam Barsky and Caleb Warren, who study humour and work environments, warn: trying to joke around in the office is a much riskier strategy than it sounds. Their own research and the work of other academics shows that a bad joke can do more damage to a reputation than the potential benefits of a successful one, The Conversation reports

Comedy lives on the edge - it breaks norms, but it does so in a safe way. Researchers call this the "harmless violation theory": a joke works when it simultaneously seems wrong and acceptable.

If either of these components is missed, the reaction can be the opposite: from boredom to outrage. Especially in the office, where things are complicated by differences in hierarchy, cultures, gender, and even the moods of colleagues.

In one experiment, participants were asked to come up with captions for business pictures. Most of the jokes turned out to be either unfunny or offensive. And the most "funny" variants were often the most inappropriate at the same time, according to the jury's assessment.

For women, the risks are even higher: numerous studies show that they receive negative reactions for violating norms (anger, dominance, assertiveness) more often than men. The same applies to humour: for the same thing, a woman may be considered incompetent, while a man may be considered charismatic.

Studies of managerial behaviour show that if a manager makes a successful joke, he is perceived as confident and competent. But if the joke is not successful, not only the status, but also the trust of subordinates decreases. They are less likely to seek advice and less likely to recognise the leadership of such a person.

Even if the joke "went well," it's not always good. In one study, marketers who were asked to write a "funny" advert did so successfully - but the advert was less effective than those who worked on a "creative" or "persuasive" version.

Another study found: bosses who joke too often force employees to feign amusement. This is draining, reduces satisfaction and increases the risk of burnout. Once again, women face a double standard.

The conclusion is simple: a great joke rarely gets you a promotion, but a bad joke can cost you your career.

The authors advise that rather than trying to "make a joke", you should think like a comedian - that is, use humorous thinking to generate fresh ideas.

Quoting the advertiser David Ogilvy: "The best ideas come as jokes. Try to think as funny as possible." That doesn't mean "make jokes in meetings." It means break patterns.

Examples:

• Patagonia's "Don't Buy This Jacket" Black Friday campaign in The New York Times (2011) went sharply against consumer logic - and increased sales as a result.

• A Nebraska travel ad with the slogan "Honestly, it's not for everyone" generated a 43% increase in traffic to the site.

The bottom line: break habitual attitudes and don't try to please everyone.

Comedians don't work alone - they're constantly testing material in public and polishing it. In an office environment, this means: listen to others, adjust ideas, complement your colleagues.

Improvisation teacher Billy Merritt identifies three types of team members:

• Pirates - propose risky ideas

• Robots - create structure

• Ninjas - can both take risks and structure

If you have all three on a team, bold but viable ideas emerge.

Asking someone to "be funny" is like saying "be musical." Few people will become stars. So it's better to learn to think like a comedian than to try to be one.

This will help you stand out, find out-of-the-box solutions and move ideas forward - without becoming the office laughing stock.