SIDEBAR
When Enough is Enough
Plenty of negative emotions masquerade as
laughter, so stay peeled for these deviations:
= Wooly
bully.
Veiled hostility sometimes hides behind
the “I was just having fun” excuse. To spot the
difference, strain the laughter through these filters: 1.
What was the intention behind this? 2. No matter the intention,
what was the actual impact? If it flunks, nip it in the bud.
= Sugar
highs.
Like a bagful of jelly beans, “fun
and entertainment sustain you for about 15 seconds, then it
gets real old if you don’t have substance and skills to
back it up,” says June Cline, the president of The Court
Jesters Club, a consulting firm in Atlanta. “You cannot
let go of the office’s mission or goals. And fun
won’t replace poor management skills.”
= Comedy
confusion.
Laughter doesn’t mean anyone on your
staff should become an obnoxious comedian. Cline recommends
leaders encourage stand-up wannabes to instead watch the
professional jokesters they admire for the facial expressions,
body language, catch phrases, and themes they like. Then help
your crew find ways for those less intrusive skills to spill
over to the office setting. g