Anyone can learn how to harness the power of humor in business (and life), thanks to this smart (and funny) book based on the popular class at Stanford's Graduate School of Business.
There exists a false dichotomy between gravity and levity in today's corporate culture: the mistaken belief that we have to be serious all the time in order to be taken seriously.
But the research tells a different story: that in fact humor is one of the most powerful tools we have for accomplishing serious things. Top executives know this, which is why 98% of CEOs prefer employees with a sense of humor, and 84% of VPs believe employees with a sense of humor do better work. Studies show that humor makes us appear more competent, confident, and influential; it builds bonds, defuses tension, earns us buy-in for our ideas, and even helps spark new ones.
Dr. Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas teach the popular "Humor: Serious Business" course at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, where they have helped some of the world's most hard-driving, blazer-wearing business minds build humor into their organizations and lives. In Humor, Seriously, they draw on behavioral science research, advice from world-class comedians, and stories from real-live business leaders to show us how to harness the many benefits of humor in our companies and careers.
It is much more than being funny; it is about training our brains to look at the world through a different lens. Often, all it takes is a moment of levity to shift a relationship or moment from transactional and sterile to authentic and connected. At a time when we're all craving more authentic connection in our world, Humor, Seriously shows how to infuse more levity - and more humanity - into our everyday lives.
