Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

Have you ever told a story that should have cracked people up … and instead it evoked only flummoxed looks on the other end?

There are brain based tactics to getting more laughs for your humor… and you’ll likely be surprised at how close you were to that belly laugh at the other end….

Timing is pretty much everything when it comes to humor. Throw a joke into the ring first thing in the morning and you might get a lion’s roar back. That’s because people’s brains are not synapsing at the right speed to take it in or to respond.

Here are a few things you can do to increase your chances of a few chuckles at your next one-liner.

1. Watch for or create a playful mood before you tell a joke
2. Keep your stories short and simple to let the fun shine through
3. Laugh at your own jokes when a room goes silent – nothing like laughter to bring more
4. Use one-liners to build a setting for more humor
5. Link laughter to something people already know … place … work … climate…
6. Avoid laughing at other cultures and instead laugh at you and yours….
7. Laugh at your own ego … until it gives up and lets you go
8. Build on things other people say or thing and through in a humorous ending
9. Practice your laugh on the dog first – to build your own confidence
10. Listen to people who make you laugh and mimic a few tactics they use

Be careful not to laugh at your career competence… though … because people want to see courage and confidence in that area …. Otherwise … they will have a hard time taking you either funny or serious!

If all that fails … smile at your courage and make a fast exit–stage-left ...but whatever you do keep laughing. The human brain uses humor for health in much the same way some people use laughter to fire up another day. What's worth a belly laugh where you work ...?