Humour, seriously: why humour is a secret weapon in business and life (and how anyone can harness it. even you.)

Includes index

In Humor, Seriously, [Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas] draw on findings by behavioural scientists, advice from world-class comedians, and stories from real-life business leaders to reveal how humour works and-more important-how you can make greater and better use of it. Aaker and Bagdonas unpack the theory and application of humour: what makes something funny, how to mine your life for material, and how to craft a joke. They show how to use humour to make a strong first impression, deliver difficult feedback, and foster cultures where levity and creativity can thrive. And they explore the gray areas of humour: how to keep it appropriate-and recover if you cross a line. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, "A sense of humour is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done." If Eisenhower-the second least naturally funny president ever (after Franklin Pierce)-thought humour was necessary to win wars and build highways, then you might consider learning it too. Seriously.