Chad, Humor is a great way to also come off as more "human". As someone who studies business and works in higher education, our university culture tends to think we need to be "professional" all the time. In other words, leave out authentic selves at home. I read the book "Humor, Seriously- Why humor is a secret weapon in Business and Life- by two professors at Stanford, and their research touched on humor being a tool for leaders, and higher performing teams. Specifically, also showed higher work satisfaction. Highly recommend it. Also, love what you said "Tune into what energy you're giving off". I've noticed how using a high or low pitch even in a phone call, can create an interesting conversation.... "What do you call a factory that makes okay products?" "A satisfactory. (Dad joke for you- haha). Take care Chad. - Robinson
Phew! That joke at the end WAS a "Goldmine of Goodness" haha. I was just touring a factory of a client company yesterday. So it was extra funny and timely!
@Claudia Wilkinson, @Robinson cajamarca - thaaaaanks for the energies! wink wink, @Chad Littlefield. (",). what might be 'more perfect'? for now, i can only think of: buying an ok dad joke book printed by the publishing arm of The satisFACTORY...... called LOL, Inc. smiiiiiiiiiile.
I’m catching up on the last few weeks’ clips and your content in this clip about humour is really helpful. I also watched a Ted talk earlier today by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas on humour being a secret super power in every area of life. So it’s definitely a theme showing up for me to take note of at the moment! Last week I facilitated my first in-person workshops in just over two years, meeting up with colleagues in Nairobi from all over Kenya and Ethiopia. It was so wonderful finally connecting with colleagues whom I’d only been working with virtually, in-person! One of my opening comments at the start of the session was about how we don’t need to unmute in order to say something. I was surprised at everyone’s laughter to this comment. I find that usually my best comedic moments in facilitation happen when I don’t try too hard or overthink it.
I think that it is possible that I'm only funny on stage THANKS to repetition. "Funny enough", I've been listening to a lot of comedians recently. ALLL of the big ones (or good ones) talk about the power of practicing your jokes to a live group. I have said enough "meh" funny comments that I can sift those out and only share the gold :-)
hi Chad, loving your videos. With a very straight face and a diberately flat voice, I tell my groups I have an amazing sense of humour and will use stealth jokes throughout the day. One of my my guiding quotations is that 'the antidote to anxiety is courage'. That's from the philosopher Anon, who produced a vast volume of work over the centuries. Nobody laughs, so I tell them that's my best joke and use it to set expectations for the rest of the day. They like that. We'll be talking about college, and I'll drop this covertly into the conversation. I used to go out with a chemistry student, but I couldn't get a reaction.Just to see if anybody's listening. Have I done my probability joke yet? No! Damn, I must have forgotten. What were the chances of that? These 'comments' are short off the cuff remarks. If the folks get it - great- if they don't, I haven't wasted too much of their time. Humour is important - if it's all serious x 10 people get uncomfortable. A bad joke we'll placed can relieve a lot of tension.
I love your videos and I always learn something new! I think a big part of humor is also timing. You allowed for a pause with your dad joke - which I thought was hysterical. Giving the audience a second to think before the "reveal" is important. Sometimes people will tell a joke and then rush the punchline. So, by the time I have processed the punchline, they're on to something else and the whole moment is gone. Timing does connect to your energy and your presence, but it also has to do with intentionally remembering to wait or pause. And, that short pause is even more important in online environments because of technology speeds or glitches. Thanks, again!
It is a delicate form of humor because it can definitely be read as harmful/negative (unless you're British haha). Acknowledging your own failures/missteps and highlighting other peoples' strengths and successes are both such powerful ways to connect with others.
The person I learned humor from is Darren Lacroix. He's the 2001 world champion with Toastmasters. His claim to fame was that he became a comedian despite not being funny, and he did that by learning the structure of humor. He's got a mountain of free videos on public speaking on TH-cam and some really great paid programs.
Certainly read the book, "Humor, Seriously - Why Humor is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life," by Jennifer Aaker & Naomi Bagdonas. They also have a Ted or TedX talk.
Thanks for the suggestion! I've been binging stand-up lately with the intention of studying different styles. Such a fun study. I'll check out Humor, Seriously too. Though my read list is growing unwieldily right now haha!
Wonderful video! I own a dinner theatre group and we do "comedy" murder mysteries. I tell my newer actors a lot of stuff around laughter and the fact that timing can be either your bFF or your enemy. Use it wisely! I also emphasize your concept of energy in our theatre work - be present, be mindful and PROJECT energy! I also teach that in my classes on facilitation - be present, be mindful and PROJECT energy! My bad dad jokes for you: What music is the favorite of mummies? "Wrap" Music I could not see the Frisbee - and then it hit me!
Great vid, Chad! Fun to see you unpacking the "feeder streams" of humor. Over the years as a facilitator I've found that noticing and delighting in group interactions, and then simply feeding it back into the space leads to a lot of laughter. I think it helps us all identify with the human condition, which I believe is part of the magic of any good comedian.
Thanks for another great video Chad. As you mentioned, humor is subjective, and as a facilitator I'm always conscious that it doesn't come at the expense of others/ in a way that breaks trust. So, I tend to stay away from joke-style humor and think of it more in terms of inviting in moments of levity. Whether it's a connection question ("favorite thing to do when you were 8 years old"...people liked to do funny things when they were kids), an activity primer (Floor is Lava video before a team challenge activity), or a gif parade after break to boost virtual mojo, these moments help bring some joy to what we're doing. Especially when you're tackling some serious challenges. Like you, I am a fan of those that can laugh at themselves occasionally too, as I think it gives others permission to not be perfect. People have to be willing to try and fail, and demonstrating that vulnerability makes it less risky for others to do so as well. Each person has to find their own authentic style though. I had the pleasure of working with 2 excellent facilitators for years that were on opposite ends style wise; one more serious and logic oriented and one more silly and connection-driven. Each of their styles brought a different perspective and connected with parts of our audience differently, which brought a unique richness. It also helped me develop my own hybrid style over the years. I'd invite others to challenge themselves to learn from someone who has an opposite style and see what they takeaway. And since I can't help myself... repeating a dad joke via my friend that I walked right into at the zoo: "What do you get when you cross an elephant and a rhino?" "I don't know. What do you get when you cross an elephant and a rhino?" "Elephino"
Super thoughtful comment, Megan. Thanks for kicking out these thoughts. YES! Humor at the expense of others (which often comes across as sarcasm) is not generally uplifting or productive. While the UK might disagree, the root of the word "sarcasm" actually means "to tear flesh." It rarely feels good on the receiving end and it most often does not reflect well on the person dishing it out. Thanks for the additional dad joke :-)
Keep working on the Dad jokes Chad - you can then keep them in a dadabase. :) The saying about laughter being medicine actually comes from a Bible verse: Proverbs 17:22 - A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Hey Chad, I loved the way you explain the different ways to create humor in conversation. Interesting fact about sarcasm, I also try to avoid it, feel it’s more aggressive than funny. Big hug.
Sarcasm can be well intentioned but received very poorly by some as well. Glad you loved this. A genuinely giant smile came across my face when I saw your name pop up here, Gabriela. Sitting in a coffee shop in Pittsburgh and sending good vibes over to Barcelona! 😊
As ever, I have lots of thoughts about this topic, particularly about the nature or "makings of" humor. I agree that it can often occur in conjunction with the unexpected. And this makes me think about the "U" in Dan and Chip Heath's "SUCCES(S)" acronym: that things that "stick" are often those things that are "Unexpected." So if humor is often unexpected, and unexpected things stick-well, it makes sense to include humor in presentations or conversations if you want your message to stick. That said, I've been thinking quite a lot since watching this video about whether the "unexpected turn" theory holds up entirely. (In fact, I literally lost sleep thinking about it.) It occurs to me that a car accident takes things in an unexpected direction, but it isn't humorous. Conversely, people pay money for tickets to see standup comedians and movies because they DO expect something humorous and of a somewhat predictable type. And if those expectations are NOT met, bad receptions and bad reviews often follow. Likewise, it occurs to me that two different people in two different settings could say or do the same "unexpected" thing, and one of them may result in the "humor connection" while the other falls flat. This all leads me to speculate that other key elements in whether humor "hits" or not are TRUST, SAFETY and OPENNESS. Even if I don't KNOW a comedian, I can "trust" the comedian based on reputation or the recommendation of a friend; whereas if I think someone is a wheedler or manipulator, I won't find attempts at humor funny, because I'll be guarded. It then seems that rapport (even if gained quickly) is an important facet of humor. And what is rapport if not a form of trust? As you point out, humor involves connection (e.g., "people laugh more in groups"), and that implies a sense of safety and belonging. And it seems that trust and safety lead to openness (i.e., it seems we only find attempts at humor to be humorous if we LIKE the person making the attempt... or if we FEEL like we like them in the moment, even if due to mood-altering substances, which is often the case in comedy clubs). What do you think?
Chad Sir, Par usual - great video! Humor, for me, is always appreciated. And I leverage it often when teaching (higher ed) and facilitating (companies or youth groups), but with a face like mine - it's way too easy to use humor. ;-) Anti-Joke: "What did the farmer say to the hay bale? "[Proper length pause..as Kimberlee mentioned] "It doesn't matter, the hay bale wasn't listening." (ps Go State!)
Great video. Loved the bit about why we laugh and it doesn't necessarily mean we find things funny. So true. I have learned the hard way regarding making jokes or sarcastic remarks at others' expense. Fortunately, I have not received a slap on stage in return. At least not physically :) Recently I wrote an article called 'When punchlines become punch lines," in the aftermath of the Will Smith/Chris Rock incident. Just don't do it.
Chad,
Humor is a great way to also come off as more "human". As someone who studies business and works in higher education, our university culture tends to think we need to be "professional" all the time. In other words, leave out authentic selves at home. I read the book "Humor, Seriously- Why humor is a secret weapon in Business and Life- by two professors at Stanford, and their research touched on humor being a tool for leaders, and higher performing teams. Specifically, also showed higher work satisfaction. Highly recommend it.
Also, love what you said "Tune into what energy you're giving off". I've noticed how using a high or low pitch even in a phone call, can create an interesting conversation....
"What do you call a factory that makes okay products?" "A satisfactory. (Dad joke for you- haha). Take care Chad.
- Robinson
Phew! That joke at the end WAS a "Goldmine of Goodness" haha. I was just touring a factory of a client company yesterday. So it was extra funny and timely!
Robinson, What a GREAT Dad joke! I actually laughed out loud - all by myself! :0)
@@ccwilkinson015 haha...okay a true "LOL" from the comments section of the video on humor ... could this be any more perfect, baha!? Awesome.
@Claudia Wilkinson, @Robinson cajamarca - thaaaaanks for the energies! wink wink, @Chad Littlefield. (",). what might be 'more perfect'? for now, i can only think of: buying an ok dad joke book printed by the publishing arm of The satisFACTORY...... called LOL, Inc. smiiiiiiiiiile.
I’m catching up on the last few weeks’ clips and your content in this clip about humour is really helpful. I also watched a Ted talk earlier today by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas on humour being a secret super power in every area of life. So it’s definitely a theme showing up for me to take note of at the moment!
Last week I facilitated my first in-person workshops in just over two years, meeting up with colleagues in Nairobi from all over Kenya and Ethiopia. It was so wonderful finally connecting with colleagues whom I’d only been working with virtually, in-person! One of my opening comments at the start of the session was about how we don’t need to unmute in order to say something. I was surprised at everyone’s laughter to this comment. I find that usually my best comedic moments in facilitation happen when I don’t try too hard or overthink it.
I think that it is possible that I'm only funny on stage THANKS to repetition. "Funny enough", I've been listening to a lot of comedians recently. ALLL of the big ones (or good ones) talk about the power of practicing your jokes to a live group. I have said enough "meh" funny comments that I can sift those out and only share the gold :-)
hi Chad, loving your videos. With a very straight face and a diberately flat voice, I tell my groups I have an amazing sense of humour and will use stealth jokes throughout the day. One of my my guiding quotations is that 'the antidote to anxiety is courage'. That's from the philosopher Anon, who produced a vast volume of work over the centuries. Nobody laughs, so I tell them that's my best joke and use it to set expectations for the rest of the day. They like that. We'll be talking about college, and I'll drop this covertly into the conversation. I used to go out with a chemistry student, but I couldn't get a reaction.Just to see if anybody's listening. Have I done my probability joke yet? No! Damn, I must have forgotten. What were the chances of that? These 'comments' are short off the cuff remarks. If the folks get it - great- if they don't, I haven't wasted too much of their time. Humour is important - if it's all serious x 10 people get uncomfortable. A bad joke we'll placed can relieve a lot of tension.
Haha! As my mentor would say..."laughter is often nervousness leaving the body."
I love your videos and I always learn something new! I think a big part of humor is also timing. You allowed for a pause with your dad joke - which I thought was hysterical. Giving the audience a second to think before the "reveal" is important. Sometimes people will tell a joke and then rush the punchline. So, by the time I have processed the punchline, they're on to something else and the whole moment is gone. Timing does connect to your energy and your presence, but it also has to do with intentionally remembering to wait or pause. And, that short pause is even more important in online environments because of technology speeds or glitches. Thanks, again!
Sarcasm create a lot of laughter specially if you made it on yourself 👍🏼 I tried it a lot .. thank you Chad 👏🏼
It is a delicate form of humor because it can definitely be read as harmful/negative (unless you're British haha). Acknowledging your own failures/missteps and highlighting other peoples' strengths and successes are both such powerful ways to connect with others.
The person I learned humor from is Darren Lacroix. He's the 2001 world champion with Toastmasters. His claim to fame was that he became a comedian despite not being funny, and he did that by learning the structure of humor. He's got a mountain of free videos on public speaking on TH-cam and some really great paid programs.
Certainly read the book, "Humor, Seriously - Why Humor is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life," by Jennifer Aaker & Naomi Bagdonas. They also have a Ted or TedX talk.
Thanks for the suggestion! I've been binging stand-up lately with the intention of studying different styles. Such a fun study. I'll check out Humor, Seriously too. Though my read list is growing unwieldily right now haha!
Wonderful video! I own a dinner theatre group and we do "comedy" murder mysteries. I tell my newer actors a lot of stuff around laughter and the fact that timing can be either your bFF or your enemy. Use it wisely!
I also emphasize your concept of energy in our theatre work - be present, be mindful and PROJECT energy!
I also teach that in my classes on facilitation - be present, be mindful and PROJECT energy!
My bad dad jokes for you:
What music is the favorite of mummies? "Wrap" Music
I could not see the Frisbee - and then it hit me!
Great vid, Chad! Fun to see you unpacking the "feeder streams" of humor. Over the years as a facilitator I've found that noticing and delighting in group interactions, and then simply feeding it back into the space leads to a lot of laughter. I think it helps us all identify with the human condition, which I believe is part of the magic of any good comedian.
Thanks for another great video Chad.
As you mentioned, humor is subjective, and as a facilitator I'm always conscious that it doesn't come at the expense of others/ in a way that breaks trust. So, I tend to stay away from joke-style humor and think of it more in terms of inviting in moments of levity. Whether it's a connection question ("favorite thing to do when you were 8 years old"...people liked to do funny things when they were kids), an activity primer (Floor is Lava video before a team challenge activity), or a gif parade after break to boost virtual mojo, these moments help bring some joy to what we're doing. Especially when you're tackling some serious challenges.
Like you, I am a fan of those that can laugh at themselves occasionally too, as I think it gives others permission to not be perfect. People have to be willing to try and fail, and demonstrating that vulnerability makes it less risky for others to do so as well. Each person has to find their own authentic style though. I had the pleasure of working with 2 excellent facilitators for years that were on opposite ends style wise; one more serious and logic oriented and one more silly and connection-driven. Each of their styles brought a different perspective and connected with parts of our audience differently, which brought a unique richness. It also helped me develop my own hybrid style over the years. I'd invite others to challenge themselves to learn from someone who has an opposite style and see what they takeaway.
And since I can't help myself... repeating a dad joke via my friend that I walked right into at the zoo:
"What do you get when you cross an elephant and a rhino?"
"I don't know. What do you get when you cross an elephant and a rhino?"
"Elephino"
Super thoughtful comment, Megan. Thanks for kicking out these thoughts. YES! Humor at the expense of others (which often comes across as sarcasm) is not generally uplifting or productive. While the UK might disagree, the root of the word "sarcasm" actually means "to tear flesh."
It rarely feels good on the receiving end and it most often does not reflect well on the person dishing it out. Thanks for the additional dad joke :-)
Keep working on the Dad jokes Chad - you can then keep them in a dadabase. :) The saying about laughter being medicine actually comes from a Bible verse: Proverbs 17:22 - A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Love your work. This one was disapointing. You might enjoy the work of Lenny Ravich and Eyal Eltwill on humor
Ha, thanks for the tip.
Hey Chad, I loved the way you explain the different ways to create humor in conversation. Interesting fact about sarcasm, I also try to avoid it, feel it’s more aggressive than funny. Big hug.
Sarcasm can be well intentioned but received very poorly by some as well. Glad you loved this. A genuinely giant smile came across my face when I saw your name pop up here, Gabriela. Sitting in a coffee shop in Pittsburgh and sending good vibes over to Barcelona! 😊
Enjoyed this video so much! Love the approach of looking through science/data based lens at humor and also the art of it!
As ever, I have lots of thoughts about this topic, particularly about the nature or "makings of" humor. I agree that it can often occur in conjunction with the unexpected. And this makes me think about the "U" in Dan and Chip Heath's "SUCCES(S)" acronym: that things that "stick" are often those things that are "Unexpected." So if humor is often unexpected, and unexpected things stick-well, it makes sense to include humor in presentations or conversations if you want your message to stick.
That said, I've been thinking quite a lot since watching this video about whether the "unexpected turn" theory holds up entirely. (In fact, I literally lost sleep thinking about it.)
It occurs to me that a car accident takes things in an unexpected direction, but it isn't humorous.
Conversely, people pay money for tickets to see standup comedians and movies because they DO expect something humorous and of a somewhat predictable type. And if those expectations are NOT met, bad receptions and bad reviews often follow.
Likewise, it occurs to me that two different people in two different settings could say or do the same "unexpected" thing, and one of them may result in the "humor connection" while the other falls flat.
This all leads me to speculate that other key elements in whether humor "hits" or not are TRUST, SAFETY and OPENNESS. Even if I don't KNOW a comedian, I can "trust" the comedian based on reputation or the recommendation of a friend; whereas if I think someone is a wheedler or manipulator, I won't find attempts at humor funny, because I'll be guarded. It then seems that rapport (even if gained quickly) is an important facet of humor. And what is rapport if not a form of trust? As you point out, humor involves connection (e.g., "people laugh more in groups"), and that implies a sense of safety and belonging. And it seems that trust and safety lead to openness (i.e., it seems we only find attempts at humor to be humorous if we LIKE the person making the attempt... or if we FEEL like we like them in the moment, even if due to mood-altering substances, which is often the case in comedy clubs).
What do you think?
Chad Sir,
Par usual - great video! Humor, for me, is always appreciated. And I leverage it often when teaching (higher ed) and facilitating (companies or youth groups), but with a face like mine - it's way too easy to use humor. ;-)
Anti-Joke: "What did the farmer say to the hay bale? "[Proper length pause..as Kimberlee mentioned] "It doesn't matter, the hay bale wasn't listening." (ps Go State!)
What do you call a dinosaur fart?….
A blast from the past
Great video. Loved the bit about why we laugh and it doesn't necessarily mean we find things funny. So true. I have learned the hard way regarding making jokes or sarcastic remarks at others' expense. Fortunately, I have not received a slap on stage in return. At least not physically :) Recently I wrote an article called 'When punchlines become punch lines," in the aftermath of the Will Smith/Chris Rock incident. Just don't do it.
👌Laughter is Great Medicine😂Proverbs 17:22 tells us, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones
Being British :)
I would love to know the story of the woman with the tattoos!