The definition of humor

- What comes to mind when you hear the word humor? Chances are, you think of laughter, jokes, or the big bone in your arm that is humerus. But humor is more broad than comedy. When it comes to using humor in training, the goal is not to make your trainings funny, but to make them more fun. That doesn't mean you have to become a standup comedian or try to be the funniest person ever. It's simply to use humor in a way that is engaging and effective. When we talk about humor in this course, we mean a comic, absurd, or incongruous quality causing amusement. Comedy is included, but it's only part of the equation. Humor is this giant bubble of amusing possibility. Within that is a subset of comedy. Within that, you have jokes and within that, you have things like my golf game, which is very much a joke. When we think about humor in the workplace, getting someone to laugh is great, but getting them to smile is just as good. Let's take a look at some examples. Like this warning sign, that's clearly comedic. Like this sign. And finally, this picture of a stop sign. This last example isn't necessarily the funniest thing in the world, but it is something different. And if you saw this written on a stop sign, you'd probably stop at it just a little bit longer. Now, I very easily could've just told you the definition of humor and moved on. But wasn't it more fun to take a look at some humorous examples? Not only did they add a little levy to the course, you're also more likely to stay engaged and remember the lesson. The next time you see a stop sign, you might think, "Stop, Hammer Time. "Da, na, na, da, na." Start thinking about playful ways you can incorporate humor into your own work. For even more examples, check out the exercise files for a list of 50 ways to use humor at work to get an idea of the range of possibilities. I particularly like number 37. As you look to make use of your own funny bone, remember, the goal isn't to be funny, it's to be effective.