Is humour an innate quality that you either have or don’t have?
There are certainly differences in terms of how easily people laugh or react with humour. Personality plays a role here, of course. Even babies laugh when they find something funny. For example, when adults make a face. But humour is also something we learn. Children learn humour from their parents, their friends, their culture. And adults can certainly learn to use humour as a coping strategy. Not everyone has to become a comedian. But almost everyone can learn to look at situations in a more playful way.

Humour is important and not only for couples. Surveys show that employees appreciate a humorous atmosphere at the workplace. Why?
A humorous atmosphere doesn’t mean that people are telling jokes all the time.
Instead, it is reflected in the fact that we are allowed to admit mistakes, laugh with each other, and not take each other too seriously. Most importantly, humour doesn’t exclude anyone. Of course, only if it’s not aimed at a specific person. So the employees feel comfortable – and well-being is key to many things, including at work.

What does humour do at work?
We see several effects: Better collaboration, more trust, less perceived stress, better communication, greater creativity, more cohesion. Humour often makes difficult conversations easier. But negative humour, such as sarcasm or ridicule, must be avoided, as it is often hurtful. These forms of humour usually have the opposite effect.

Is the impact measurable?
Yes, we can now study humour in very different ways. For example, studies measure stress hormones, heart rate, well-being. However, research shows that what is decisive for the positive effect is not how much one laughs but why. Laughing together is more important than laughing at each other.

Are employees who laugh a lot healthier?
Not automatically. Laughter alone does not cure disease. But people who regularly experience positive social interactions and can laugh together often report less stress and greater well-being.

Laughter is certainly part of the puzzle of a healthy working environment, but it’s not a miracle cure. Humour is more of a catalyst that supports the factors that contribute to well-being. But no one should have to be funny at work all the time, no one should feel forced to laugh just because the boss made a joke. Humour or laughter only has a positive effect on me and the group if it’s authentic.

How do leaders create a humorous environment?
Above all, by creating psychological safety. In other words, an environment in which humour becomes possible. They don’t have to tell jokes all the time. Humour often starts with the attitude and not the punch line. Managers should remain authentic, be able to laugh at their own small mishaps and permit a degree of relaxation. But they should also take people at work seriously and, for example, not immediately sanction mistakes but show that something like this can happen – even to them. You can’t prescribe humour, nor can you prescribe creativity.

 How do companies benefit?
This starts with better communication, leads to greater employee loyalty, less stress, more creativity and more teamwork, but also leads to fewer conflicts and ultimately to more stable mental health amongst employees. When you look at how much absences due to burnout, exhaustion depression and the like are on the increase and are expensive and often organisationally burdensome for companies, it becomes clear that a humorous atmosphere can make an important contribution to prevention.

What are the key findings from your research?

• There are helpful and less helpful forms of humour. Affiliative and self-enhancing humour can promote well-being. Aggressive or self-deprecating humour, on the other hand, can strain relationships. And: humour is not an end in itself, there is no “duty to laugh”.
• Humour works all the better if it’s authentic, if it comes from the heart, you could say. So no forced smile, because it seems “appropriate” in a certain social situation. Fun fact: you only need two muscles for a real smile. If more are involved, it is a mixed emotion. Negative feelings may also play into that.
• Humour as an emotion regulation strategy. People use humour to deal with stress, insecurity or negative emotions. It shows that humour is particularly effective when it presents the situation in a new light without denying it. This strategy has been shown to be even more effective, even in the long term, than the serious, “genuine” reinterpretation of the situation, as it is often used in therapies.