Humor: Because a Joke is a Serious Thing

“I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it.” – Frank Howard Clark

One of those subtle jokes I’ve found myself at the end of over the years is being “the guy who takes himself too seriously.” In an attempt to lighten up, I’ve realized that humor is ignored as a skill¹ in business. There are crowds of buzzwords highlighted as necessary personality traits for interviewing, presenting and selling that include being: interpersonal, analytical, empathetic, etc., but what’s ignored is the value of a witty and tasteful² sense of humor. My conclusion is that by demonstrating tasteful wit you’ll have captured all of the above and beyond. This, of course, is easier said than done.

Wit proves mental agility and the ability to connect disparate and sometimes ridiculous ideas.³ It’s a character trait that proves you’re smart enough to get someone’s attention and humorous enough to make them smile. Wit is a derivative of charisma.

The following is a selection of benefits a strong wit can provide:

1. Wit distresses and lightens the mood of a situation. This allows people to relax and be themselves.

2. Wit is ironic. Irony gives you an easy way to say “no” to someone without sounding like a dick.

3. Wit is ambiguous and can play as a verbal hedge. If you say something witty, you can easily back out of it.

4. Wit can parody a third party. While not tasteful, bickering about someone behind their back is bonding.

5. Wit proves compatibility. If two people understand the same wit, it’s likely they’ll be compatible on other intellectual levels.

6. Wit is empathetic. By demonstrating wit, you are assuming another person’s understanding and feelings.

Being funny isn’t the same as being witty. I think of “being funny” as laugh out loud comedy, which in most cases, isn’t a method to close a deal. With wit, you might not cause a chuckle, but assuming the wit is understood, you’ll encourage people to think. It demonstrates an intelligence that not only challenges, but amuses.

1. Humor is usually referred to as a trait. However, I do believe humor can be “improved,” thus crowning it a skill. [↩]
2. The combination of “wit” and “taste” is important. With just “wit,” you may be offensive. With just “taste,” you’ll be boring [↩]
3. This ability is always what makes articles in the New Yorker entertaining. Ridiculous themes, but connected through a underlying witty relevance. [↩]

Related Essays

• Managing People
• Thinking Vertically, Not Horizontally
• The Power of Specificity

• « The Ladder and the Elevator: Choose One
• » White Light, White Heat: Another New York Morning

blog comments powered by Disqus