Humor in the Workplace:
Is there room for work and play?

Have you ever noticed how good you feel after a hearty laugh? 

That sense of refreshment and rejuvenation can carry over to many aspects of life, including the workplace.  Humor can enhance team building, open communication, increase creativity and learning - while improving employee morale.

Benefits of Laughing

• Increases heart rate and blood flow
• Boosts oxygen intake
• Relieves pain
• Prompts the immune system to produce more (infection-fighting) T-cells

Playfulness and productivity can coexist.  Humor is a great stress reliever.  Employees dealing with expected or unexpected corporate change can benefit from a sense of humor, making them more resilient in stressful times.  Sharing fun leads to feeling connected, which leads to team members working together more effectively.

We're too busy for humor!

Even small changes can have a big impact:

• Add a (clean) humorous quote to internal memos or projects
• Reward a goal or deadline with a fun activity
• Take a short humor break during a stressful project
• Form a humor committee - get employees involved

Resilience is the ability to "bounce back" from stressful or traumatic events

• Humor helps employees build resilience
• Employees can use humor to process what's happened and deal with the situation

 ^SM

Participants in Laughter Clubs experience the joy of laughing in a relaxed, upbeat atmosphere.  Pure laughter, without the use of jokes or comedy, is used to provide light exercise for mental and physical flexibility, improved mood, stress reduction and an attitude boost.

Program participants learn simple practices that they can use to feel good and have a better outlook on life.  Laughter Clubs can be enjoyed by people in all age groups with virtually any level of physical or mental ability.  We are an Authorized Affiliate of USA Laughter Clubs. ^SM

Programs available from LMA-EAP (Life Management Associates)

• Humor in the Workplace - interactive presentation on how to develop a sense of humor, especially in reframing negative situations
• Coping with Illness Through Humor - how to cope with serious situations, such as life-changing illnesses, through the use of humor
• Laughing Your Stress Away: Coping Through Humor - learn to unlock your humor potential as a valuable coping mechanism against stress
• Laughter Clubs - Authorized Affiliate of World Laughter Tour, Inc.

About the Presenter
Elaine Boltz has studied with the HUMOR Project, Inc. on the positive power of humor, hope and healing.  Through her training programs, she has helped many groups cope with serious problems from organizational stress to physical illness.  She is a Certified Laughter Leader ^TM through the World Laughter Tour, Inc.

Through personal experience, Elaine understands that the use of humor doesn't diminish the seriousness of life's problems, but is an effective resource for building resilience and coping with difficulties in life.

Contact Elaine at 717.394.6688 | 800.327.7770 or via email eboltz@lifemanagement.cc

 LMA-EAP    |     LMA Consulting Group    |    Life Management Associates     |    LMA Systems Group, Inc.