Laugh Out Loud A User S Guide To Workplace Humor

This book is the first-ever authoritative work on the use and management of humor in the workplace. It is a practical guide for everyone involved: the humorists (‘jokers’), the targets (sometimes ‘victims’), the observers (‘audience’) and most of all the managers who have to ‘set the tone’ and encourage, control and manage humor. Humor is part and parcel of every workplace. However, while it usually demonstrates and fosters a united, happy workforce, it can at times be deeply damaging and divisive. The authors – academics with vast organizational experience and a research-based understanding of humor at work – bring together state-of-the art knowledge of the topic, making it fun, accessible and readable for all humor participants. The topics include how humor works, humor cultures in organizations, the many forms of workplace humor and their pros and cons, humor rituals at work, digital humor, workplace jokers, the 21st century issue of ‘political correctness’, and both the ‘bright side’ of humor (assisting positive cultures, making work ‘fun’), and its ‘dark side’ (where humor offends and humiliates). With over 60 ‘real life’ illustrative stories of workplace humor, a self-completion questionnaire to measure the Humor Climate in your organization, end-of-chapter ‘takeaways’ and an end-of-book summary advocating ‘best practice’, the book is a ‘fun’, how-to-do-it guide that will both inform and entertain.

This important new book provides a comprehensive analysis of humor from a social-psychological perspective, addressing questions about the use of humor and its effects in daily life. It examines the social psychology of humor on micro-level phenomena, such as attitudes, persuasion, and social perception, as well as exploring its use and effect on macro-level phenomena such as conformity, group processes, cohesion, and intergroup relations. Humor is inherently a social experience, shared among people, essential to nearly every type of interpersonal relationship. In this accessible volume, Strick and Ford review current research and new theoretical advancements to identify pressing open questions and propose new directions for future research in the social psychology of humor. The book explores fascinating topics such as humor in advertising, political satire, and the importance of a sense of humor in maintaining romantic relationships. It also examines how racist or sexist humor can affect personal and intergroup relations, and discusses how to confront inappropriate jokes. Offering new, precise, and operational conceptions of humor in social processes, this book will be essential reading for students and academics in social psychology, media, and communication studies.

Satire, Humor, and Environmental Crises explores how satire and humor can be employed to address and mitigate ecological crises at individual and collective levels. Besides scientific and technological endeavors, solutions to ecological crises must entail social and communicative reform to persuade citizens, corporations, organizations, and policymakers to adopt more sustainable lifestyles and policies. This monograph reassesses environmental behavior and messaging and explores the promises of humorous and satiric communication therein. It draws upon a solid and interdisciplinary theoretical foundation to explicate the individual, social, and ecospheric determinants of behavior. Creative works of popular culture across various modes of expression, including The Simpsons, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and The New Yorker cartoons, are examined to illustrate the strong if underappreciated relationship between humor and the environment. This is followed by a discussion of the instruments and methodological subtleties involved in measuring the impacts of humor and satire in environmental advocacy for the purpose of conducting empirical research. More broadly, the book aspires to participate in urgent cultural and political discussions about how we can evaluate and intervene in the full diversity of environmental crises, engage a broad set of internal and external partners and stakeholders, and develop models for positive social and environmental transformations. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars interested in environmental humanities, communication science, psychology, and critical humor studies. It can further benefit environmental activists, policymakers, NGOs, and campaign organizers.

This book provides much-needed insight into current social marketing and advertising practices. The authors offer a framework for social marketing, before exploring the mechanics of social media and present marketing strategy. Chapters cover the use of both positive and negative emotions in social marketing and advertising, and explore the ethical challenges associated with the practice in the age of social media.

The book uses a meta-analysis and meta-synthesis to identify nine areas where humor significantly improves various aspects of the learning environment.

Dive into the belly laughs and witty wisdom of "Cracking the Comedy Code," an engaging case study that unveils the secrets behind the smash-hit sensation, "How to Be Funny and Make People Laugh." Join the laughter revolution as we dissect the art of humor and explore the ingenious techniques that turn ordinary moments into extraordinary sources of amusement. In this captivating exploration, we unravel the strategies employed by the comedic maestro behind "How to Be Funny and Make People Laugh." Gain exclusive insights into the construction of hilarious anecdotes, the alchemy of impeccable timing, and the nuanced dance between punchlines and pauses. This case study is your backstage pass to the making of a laughter masterpiece. Take a front-row seat as we deconstruct the laughter-inducing magic within each chapter, revealing the clever use of wordplay, relatable observations, and the uncanny ability to transform the mundane into a comedy goldmine. Whether you're an aspiring comedian or simply someone eager to infuse more joy into your interactions, "Cracking the Comedy Code" is your roadmap to comedic brilliance. Immerse yourself in the humor-rich anecdotes that highlight the book's journey from concept to chuckles, and discover how it became a beacon of laughter for readers worldwide. With behind-the-scenes stories, interviews, and a sprinkle of the author's comedic flair, this case study is as entertaining as it is enlightening. "Cracking the Comedy Code" isn't just about the mechanics of humor; it's a celebration of the universal language of laughter. Delve into the psychology behind the belly laugh, the camaraderie forged through shared amusement, and the transformative power of a well-timed joke. Get ready to unravel the secrets of comedy and learn how you, too, can be the life of the party. Whether you're a fan of the original work or someone looking to unlock the humor within, "Cracking the Comedy Code" invites you to join the ranks of those who have mastered the elusive art of being funny. So, buckle up for a rollercoaster ride through the world of laughter, and let the chuckles begin!

Cross-Cultural Management: An Introduction offers students a hands-on approach to cross-cultural management that they can apply to a wide variety of organizational contexts. Rather than focusing on specific countries, authors David C. Thomas and Kerr Inkson highlight the interactions of people from different cultures in organizational settings to provide students with practical applications of concepts in international management. Real-world examples and case studies help students understand and integrate differences between attitudes, values, beliefs, and assumptions so that they can thrive as managers.

Humans are weird! They can be emotional, irrational and often unpredictable, yet as their manager, it is your job to get the best out of them. In fact they are often the key to your success. Sadly, humans do not come with an instruction manual which lists their technical specifications. Human Nature by Greg Clydesdale is based on the premise that the key to good management is understanding human nature and interpersonal relations. But what is human nature? Greg argues that even where human nature is addressed at a conceptual level; the link between theory and what actually happens in the workplace is usually weak and often fails to recognize that social ability is probably the defining aspect. It is his intense focus on human nature and the link between a theoretical understanding of it and what actually happens in the workplace that makes this book so valuable. Throughout the book, you see how managers must constantly make balancing acts between conflicting forces that exist at any given time. But the essential message is: ’If you want to make the World a better place, focus on being a better manager to your staff’. To help with this you will find an elaboration theory-based approach, in which a basic model is provided, and then elaborated on with examples from the work-place. The model consists of twenty human characteristics placed in three categories - emotion, motivation and cognition. These characteristics are then linked to what managers have to do in the workplace.