Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across an article from the lofty halls of Harvard Business School titled “Risky Business: When Humor Increases and Decreases Status.” Intrigued, I delved into this academic exploration of something so intrinsically human that it usually defies such dry analysis: humour. Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m all for studying how things work, but when it comes to humour, well, let’s just say it’s like dissecting a frog: you understand it better, but the frog dies in the process.
The Harvard Take: Risks, Status, and Serious Faces
Harvard’s boffins have conducted eight rigorous experiments to demonstrate what most of us already know from experience: humour is a double-edged sword. According to their findings, humour can either catapult you to the dizzying heights of social status or leave you wallowing in the mire of social embarrassment, all depending on how well—or poorly—your jokes land. The key takeaways? Successful humour signals confidence and competence, thereby boosting your status. On the other hand, a joke gone awry, especially one that’s inappropriate, signals low competence and drags your status down faster than you can say, “It was just a joke!”
But here’s where Harvard seems to miss the mark. Their academic approach, while certainly thorough, treats humour as a calculated risk, something to be wielded with caution like a precarious financial investment. Humour, according to Harvard, is risky business—if you tell an inappropriate joke, you’re practically writing your own resignation letter. They argue that the audience’s reaction—whether they laugh or not—profoundly shapes perceptions of the joke-teller’s competence and status. In essence, humour is a minefield of potential social faux pas, best approached with the same wariness you’d reserve for a conversation with your in-laws.
Humour and Humility: The Humourology Perspective
What Harvard doesn’t fully grasp is that humour, at its core, is not just about status or competence. It’s about humanity. It’s about humility. It’s about connecting with others on a deeper level. Humour in the workplace, or in any social setting, isn’t just a tool for climbing the social ladder—it’s a way to bring people together, to show our shared vulnerabilities, and to create a sense of belonging.
Take the wisdom of Winston Churchill, for instance, who famously said, “A joke is a very serious thing.” Churchill understood that humour was not just about making people laugh—it was about cutting through the tension, lifting spirits, and yes, sometimes, even making a point. His use of humour was legendary, and it wasn’t because he was constantly worrying about whether his jokes would land. He knew that humour, when used with humanity and humility, was a powerful force for good.
Or look at Sir Richard Branson, who has built an empire not just on business acumen but on a healthy dose of humour. I was lucky enough to work with Richard on many occasions—indeed, he signed my first band to his record company, and I also had the privilege of writing speeches for him. Branson believes in taking his work seriously, but himself, not so much. His approach to humour is more about creating an environment where people feel comfortable and connected, rather than simply trying to boost his status. “Humour is one of the most underrated tools in business,” Branson has said, “and one of the most important.”
Legendary LBC radio presenter Clive Bull also echoes this sentiment, emphasising that, “If you get the right atmosphere, then people will want to work more; you’ve got to have a bit of a sense of humour and you’ve also got to know what you’re doing at the same time.” His insight reinforces the idea that humour isn’t just a superficial tool for status but a deeper method of fostering a positive and productive work environment.
What We Can All Agree On
While I may jest about Harvard’s po-faced approach to humour, there are some things we can all agree on. First, humour does matter in the workplace. It can build rapport, foster creativity, and make those long hours in the office a little more bearable. Second, yes, context matters—there’s a time and place for every type of joke, and knowing your audience is key. And third, humour should always come from a place of kindness and connection. Mean-spirited or inappropriate jokes are likely to backfire, and no one wants to be the office pariah.
So, how can you harness the power of humour at work without falling into the pitfalls that Harvard warns about? Here are three tips:
- Keep It Light and Inclusive: Avoid jokes that could be seen as offensive or exclusionary. Instead, aim for humour that everyone can enjoy—a funny story, a clever observation, or even a self-deprecating joke that shows you don’t take yourself too seriously.
- Use Humour to Build Connections, Not Walls: The best humour brings people together. Use jokes to break the ice, to ease tensions, or to show empathy. When done right, humour can create a sense of camaraderie and team spirit.
- Know When to Hold Back: Sometimes, the best joke is the one you don’t tell. If you’re unsure whether a joke will land, it’s often better to err on the side of caution. Remember, timing and context are everything.
In the end, humour isn’t just about status or competence. It’s about showing our humanity, our humility, and our ability to connect with others. So, let’s give Harvard a nod for their thorough research, but let’s also remember that humour, when used with care and kindness, is far more than just a risky business—it’s an essential part of what makes us human. And that’s something we can all agree on, can’t we?
See you next Tuesday.
Warmest,
Paul x
