By: Margaret Wood, Editor 

LeadershipFlagship.com (Updated- Originally published Nov 2016)

Remember when you got into trouble at school for laughing, and disrupting the class? You had to settle down or got detention…for laughing! Really??!!

Then in high school and maybe even college – everyone got to know “The Look ” from the ol’ prof if you weren’t focused on their (most boring!) lecture.

All that’s changed !

NOW…Every morning people stumble into the office,  grunting something, (presumably g’morning?) as they pass your cubicle making their way down to theirs.

9:AM: Boredom sets in. Soon enough someone peeks over top of their cubicle and chunks something, a wadded up gum wrapper, a paper clip…whatever…

That’s all it takes!! Soon it’s a wild and crazy game of whack-a-mole! Moments later,  everyone is laughing and smiling, some get up out of curiosity , others take the opportunity to get up, stretch,  go to the break room,  etc. Still others congregate for a mid-morning chat!

This is where things get better…

Everyone actually starts getting to know each other.  More often than not , the boss joins in the camaraderie (unless he or she is a real stick-in-the-mud) and actually gets to know the rest of the team on a more personal level.

Time to de-stress! We all need ALL the stress relievers we can get! Laughing throughout the day has been proven to do just that!

Connecting with People through Laughter

Laughter and humor are great tools for building trust, breaking down barriers between people of different ranks and improving communication. Great leaders use this tactic all the time – they understand the value of humor in connecting with people.

When entering a room that may be tense, and if you are skilled enough, use a humorous anecdote or quip —this works well to change the mood almost instantly and helps everyone relax. Take the level of seriousness down a couple of notches—your audience will be more responsive and will better receive the messages you want them to absorb.

Humor and laughter will also help others appreciate the fact that you understand and help elevate the level of confidence.

So, go ahead! Have a good laugh with your peers, your boss, and everyone else on the team – the kind that brings tears to your eyes and causes you to double over.

It’s healthy AND contagious!