ABSTRACT
The humorous communication definition represents a pro-social, positive approach to humor enactment, one that will be more acceptable in workplace interactions. Expanding the way that humor is operationalized in empirical research has helped people understand both positive and negative effects of humor. Humorous communication entails both presentational and conversational perspectives. When people envision humorous communicators, they often think of comedians, those entertainers who make their living by consecutively telling jokes, relating amusing anecdotes, or acting out funny sketches in front of a receptive audience. In spite of positive outcomes associated with humor enactment, the workplace involves restrictions on humorous communication. The chapter considers how work settings differ from social or family settings in using humor; what types of stressors tend to be confronted in organizations; why/how humor enactment works to alleviate stress; a description of benefits found to be associated with humor use; some limitations to humor enactment. It concludes with suggestions for effectively communicating humor in the workplace.
