Here is another one of my blogs written for school, hence the academic language and endnotes. But, it points out a very good thing for leaders to remember: Relationships with others will be monumentally better if we can all have a sense of humor. Our culture used to be able to see how weird we all can be, but we’ve become, in my opinion way over sensitive and too easily offended. I suggest we get back to being able to laugh at ourselves and find the common ground that we share. A lot of barriers will come down if we can share a laugh and not take ourselves too seriously. Here we go…
“Two world leaders walk into a bar…”
There is nothing funny about terror, the threat of war, or the atrocities human beings are capable of committing to each other. These are serious issues which must be taken seriously. To make light of the people around the world who live in fear because of political upheaval, tyrannical governments, and radical religious zealots would be irresponsible. However, this justified seriousness may actually be contributing to the problem. In this tension-intensified world where one misinterpreted word from one national leader can spark the wrath of another and set off a whole series of horrible consequences, it would be helpful to use what Freud referred to as humor release theory, wherein the excess of nervous energy is allowed to release, thus restoring the state of psychological balance.[i] Wisse and Rietzschel call the use of affiliative humor a persuasive social phenomenon enabling people of opposing views to strengthen relationships and shape new dynamics of human interaction,[ii] because, as Mordechai writes, “Humor allows us to view the world from a perspective that is amusing and comical rather than serious or sad.[iii] Once again, it isn’t the intention to joke about the extraordinarily serious problems in this world, but to consider the possibility that part of the problem is people taking themselves and their causes way too seriously.
Humor is shown to ease tension, as evidenced in Mayor Guiliani’s appearance on Saturday Night Live only a few weeks after the attacks of 9/11,[iv] urging people to “laugh again,” because laughter is contagious and can be therapeutic for people in difficult times.[v] Humor can also promote solidarity, providing a bridge to what people have in common rather than their differences.[vi] Studies have shown that a generally positive mood helps human beings to be more cooperative and work together.[vii] Even Mother Teresa, well known to be passionately serious about her mission, often used humor in interviews and even when she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, joking that “Jesus can be very demanding.”[viii]
World leaders of today could learn a lot from political leaders who have come before them, particularly U.S. presidents. Washington, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt were known for their wit, Nixon made a 20-second appearance on Laugh-In, Reagan considered humor his “political velvet weapon,” and Clinton remarked that “20 minutes on The Tonight Show did more than two days at the Democratic National Convention.”[ix] These effective leaders artfully used humor[x] to touch on topics that might otherwise be too difficult or taboo to talk about directly.”[xi] Now certainly, one must be careful not to be mean-spirited,[xii] inauthentic[xiii] or merely use humor to grab attention through a joke.[xiv] More importantly, the world doesn’t need leaders who become a political version of stand-up comedy, but rather leaders who are able to keep a calm and reasonable perspective through their sense of humor, not taking themselves overly seriously. As Michael Patella states, “On the eighth day, God created laughter.”[xv] And it was good.
Endnotes
[i] Kutz-Flamenbaum, R. V. (2014). Humor and social movements. Sociology Compass, 8(3), 294-304. doi: 10.1111/soc4.12138
[ii] Wisse, B., & Rietzschel, E. (2014). Humor in leader-follower relationships: Humor styles, similarity and relationship quality. Humor: International Journal of Humor Research, 27(2), 249-269. doi: 10.1515/humor-2014-0017
[iii] Mordechai, G. (2010). Learning to laugh at ourselves: Humor, self-transcendence, and the cultivation of moral virtues. Part of a symposium: Charter Schools and the Future of Public Education, 60(6), 735-749.
[iv] Baldoni, J. (2003). Great communication secrets of great leaders. New York: McGraw-Hill.
[v] Mordechai, G. (2010). Learning to laugh at ourselves: Humor, self-transcendence, and the cultivation of moral virtues. Part of a symposium: Charter Schools and the Future of Public Education, 60(6), 735-749.
[vi] Hackman, M. Z., & Johnson, C. E. (2013). Leadership: A communication perspective (6th ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.
[vii] Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R., & McKee, A. (2002). Primal leadership: Learning to lead with emotional intelligence. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
[viii] Baldoni, J. (2003). Great communication secrets of great leaders. New York: McGraw-Hill.
[ix] Waisanen, D. (2015). Comedian-in-chief: presidential jokes as enthymematic crisis rhetoric. Presidential Studies Quarterly, 45(2), 335-360. doi: 10.1111/psq.12190
[x] Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R., & McKee, A. (2002). Primal leadership: Learning to lead with emotional intelligence. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
[xi] Waisanen, D. (2015). Comedian-in-chief: presidential jokes as enthymematic crisis rhetoric. Presidential Studies Quarterly, 45(2), 335-360. doi: 10.1111/psq.12190
[xii] Hackman, M. Z., & Johnson, C. E. (2013). Leadership: A communication perspective (6th ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.
[xiii] Terry, R. W. (1993). Authentic leadership: Courage in action / Robert W. Terry; foreword by Harlan Cleveland. San Francisco : Jossey-Bass Publishers.
[xiv] Denning, S. (2007). The secret language of leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
[xv] Patella, M. (2015). And God created laughter: the eighth day. Interpretation: A Journal of Bible & Theology, 69(2), 156-168. doi: 10.1177/0020964314564827