Leadership Counterculture - Office Humor

Time for a good healthy laugh.

“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?” Edgar Bergen

It’s the holidays – a perfect time for a laugh. There is the version of myself I’ve named Mortimer. He is a comedian. My coach (I practice what I preach) helped me identify different versions of myself, when they appear (what triggers them), and when they are useful or not. Mortimer is perfect when the ice needs to be broken. He is not when in a serious moment. In serious moments, I chase him off the stage. In moments where I need to lighten the mood, break the ice, or put people at ease, Mortimer can be very helpful.

I’ve always enjoyed office humor. Having served 27-years in the U.S. Army and now leading a few small businesses, I have plenty of ‘office’ time. I’ve carried some sayings and habits forward from my Army days to bring humor to the office. I find it helpful. It puts my people at ease, allows them to poke fun at me and me at them. It is respectful, not obscene, and not overly disruptive. Before Mortimer appears, I spend time building trust. I’ll prove, through word and deed, that I care, am a man of my word, and I fulfill my promises. Once the stage is set, I can let Mortimer off of his leash. Here are three of my best one-liners.

“My mistake, your fault.” This counterculture saying I picked up from an Army Drill Sergeant. The crusty and sly old sergeant had a handful of sayings which made us recruits laugh. I use this when I’ve made a mistake of low impact. If I’ve done something seriously wrong, I’ll remain serious. My people know me as a humble being so the saying works. It always evokes a laugh. One of my teammates gave me a sign to hang on my wall with that inscription on it.