Those of a certain age likely remember these lyrics from the popular Disney movie, Mary Poppins: “I love to laugh. Long and loud and clear. I love to laugh so everybody can hear!” They were sung by Dick Van Dyke in his role as a chimney sweep.
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That’s not the most glamorous job, but he approached it with gusto and good humor. It’s an approach that could serve all of us well according to modern day researchers.
Big Benefits from a Big Laugh
Alison Beard—a senior editor at Harvard Business Review—says: “According to research from institutions as serious as Wharton, MIT, and London Business School, every chuckle or guffaw brings with it a host of business benefits. Laughter relieves stress and boredom, boosts engagement and well-being, and spurs not only creativity and collaboration but also analytic precision and productivity.”
Beard’s research is backed up clinically by Mayo Clinic, which says: “When it comes to relieving stress, more giggles and guffaws are just what the doctor ordered.” Why?
In the short-term, they say, laughter stimulates many organs, activates positive feelings, and relieves our stress. In the long-term, laughter improves our immune systems, relieves pain, increases personal satisfaction, and improves mood.
Creating a Culture of Levity
As with any type of culture, the tone is set at the top of the organization. If senior leaders are stoic and rarely crack a smile, that type of behavior will trickle on down through the organization.
On the other hand, if senior leaders are known to appreciate a healthy bit of levity, so will their direct reports, and theirs, and on down through the organization.
Who’s Funniest Among Historical Leaders?
In this interesting post that takes a look at history to assess the sense of humor of 10 historical figures, Isaac Newton falls to the bottom, and Winston Churchill claims the top grade for levity. On a scale of 0–10, with 10 being high, the scores are:
- Isaac Newton—0
- Oliver Cromwell—1
- Napoleon Bonaparte—2
- Adolf Hitler—2
- Joseph Stalin—3
- George Washington—5
- Mahatma Gandhi—7
- Abraham Lincoln—9
- Albert Einstein—9
- Winston Churchill—10
Perhaps the public exhibition and perception of humor has changed over time as we’ve become a more casual society. Nevertheless, with research indicating that humor can have a positive impact on the workplace—and on wellness—businesses of all types can feel freer to enjoy a chuckle in the workplace.