Only Fools Work (Seriously!)

Person 1: What do you get when you cross a pig and a centipede?
Answer: Bacon and legs.
Person 2: Knock knock.
Answer: Who’s there?
Person 2: Scott.
Answer: Scott who?
Person 2: Scott nothing to do with you.
Person 3: What is a ten letter word that starts with gas?
Answer: Automobile.
Person 4: Why does Superman have a S on the front of his shirt?
Answer: Because Batman bought all the medium and large ones.
Person 5: Why is Batman more stupid than Superman?
Answer: Because he wears a cape even though he can’t fly.

We all know about the five senses: taste, smell, sight, touch and sound, and most of us were born with these senses. Some are said to have the sixth sense: intuition, and sometimes it is interpreted as the awareness for other-worldly creatures. Kayee has a friend who adds a seventh sense to the list: humour.

While it is tempting to discuss the sixth sense and for once beat the rate of TV shows such as “Pemburu Hantu” (“Ghost Buster” in Lativi) or “Dunia Lain” (“The Other World” in Trans TV), unfortunately we can’t seem to associate ourselves with such fame… yet. Instead, we will attempt to have some fun while exploring the sense of humour.

So, why all of a sudden we are interested in humour, you may wonder. Believe it or not (not in Ripley’s Believe It or Not sense but in the everyday sense), humour and creativity are related. According to E. Paul Torrance, Professor of Educational Psychology Department at University of Georgia, both creativity and humour revolve around unusual combinations, element of surprise, conceptual and perceptual incongruities (Torrance, 1999).

Think about it: good jokes require a great deal of wit. In the examples above, the answers take us by surprise because we find them unusual, absurd, un-thought of, and therefore funny. The answers make unlikely interpretation of the questions (joke 3), make connections with what we are familiar with – but at the same time turn it into unfamiliar setting (joke 1 and 4), and make uncommon combinations (joke 2 and 5).

And yes, creative thinking is about making unusual combinations, looking at things differently, and thinking of and seeing things that don’t normally ‘fit’ or ‘belong’ together. This is why many experts on creative thinking actually prescribe humour (playfulness, spontaneity) as one of the necessary ingredients to being creative.

Dr. Göran Ekvall, Professor Emeritus of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at University of Lund, conducted research in major corporations to find out what differentiates companies that produce more innovative products to those that are less innovative. Among other things, Ekvall’s research showed that organizations that had a playful and humourous environment were more likely to have creative behaviour exhibited by employees.

Back in February this year, Time magazine reported Google to be the biggest media company in the world, in market-cap terms. Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the founders of Google were described as “playful” (they used to take part in the regular roller-hockey games in the Google parking lot). The Time article featured a photograph of Brin and Page playing with Lego pieces during the interview.

Not only are the founders of Google playful people, Googleplex, as the headquarters of Google is known, is also described as “quirky”. Toys for employees and their children, individualized road signs inside the building, electronic scooters to get from one place to another, a sand-volleyball court, a ball pit with brightly coloured plastic balls and a London style telephone booth (minus the telephone) were just some of the examples cited that contribute to Googleplex’s quirkiness (Time magazine, February 20, 2006).

Amidst all this playfulness, however, much serious work gets done. Brin and Page were reported to be “tough sells” when it comes to approving projects and keeping their engineers on their toes with their project proposals.

So we don’t need to be serious all the time to be productive. Dr. Roger L. Firestien, Associate Professor of International Center for Studies in Creativity at Buffalo State College, concludes that “There is a positive link between humour, productivity and creativity!”. People with a sense of humour are less rigid, less tense, less stressed and therefore able to get more work done. Humour is also found to alleviate boredom (very useful when one needs to get through those unavoidable mundane tasks).

And here is a bonus for having a sense of humour: research shows that group leaders who are able to laugh at themselves are perceived to be more effective at relieving tension, better at encouraging member participation and more willing to share opinions. Humour has a positive influence on effective communication in groups.

Our experience in facilitating problem solving groups and training substantiates what research and the creativity literature are telling us about having a sense of humour. We have never failed to have a smiling participant and a more relaxed atmosphere once we pose to participants the problem of how they can stop us from talking. A more relaxed atmosphere enables participants to focus on learning and generating ideas rather than being on ‘defensive’ mode.

So now the big question…if we don’t have one already, how do we go about acquiring a sense of humour? Moody – and the name is not a joke! – describes a person with a good sense of humour as one who sees himself and others in a detached way, thus being able to laugh at himself and things that don’t quite go right and remain positive at the same time (in Torrance, 1978: p.223).

So, first, you have to be willing. Having read this far in this article, we would assume that you are interested in acquiring a sense of humour, or at least to explore the idea of acquiring a sense of humour. As we believe, once you are aware and willing, you are half way to positive change.

So, here’s our recipe for a sense of humour. What you can do on your own: Set a quota for a laugh a day (our motto: a laugh a day keeps the doctor away). Read humour or joke books (keep some in the office). Meditate to relax. Put a funny mirror in your bathroom or on your desk. Imagine. Take deep breaths. Think of happy thoughts. Exchange your brain for a day. Use laughing gas (joke!).

What you can do with your coworkers: Ask yourselves silly questions (e.g. how to stuff an elephant into my boss’ mouth). Throw a party. Pop balloons (exercise sends oxygen to the brain and has an invigorating effect). Meet our boss, Elli. Treat your employees or employers like they’re your precious kids. Dance at work.

What you can do whether you are alone or with a group of people you know or even do not know (we suggest you try various situations and don’t forget to let us know the result!): Pretend you’re the guest star. Start playing. Exercise your mouth muscles. Watch comedies. Smile for nothing. Tickle yourself (it doesn’t work, so get someone else to tickle you). Talk to, play with, or pretend to be children, animals, or plants. Or, just laugh when others are laughing (even if you don’t know what they’re laughing about).

We love to play and laugh. If none of the above work for you, come and join us. We get lots of work done too.

“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” (George Bernard Shaw).