Impact of Humor and Fun on Workplace - Coursework Example

Impact of Humor and Fun on Workplace Name: Institution: Impact of Humor and Fun on Workplace Background Progressive changes in the business environment and the struggle towards operations sustainability continue to elicit significant developments in the organizational working environments. Different organizations now focus their strategies on ways of enhancing the output of their human capital as way of coping with prevailing economic hardships and stiff competition. The ingratiatory power of humor and fun has emerged as a critical tool for improving the productivity of workers through enhanced motivation and effectiveness in their respective roles. According to Cooper (2005), the impact of humor and fun revolves around the ingratiation power of the phenomenon, which gets workers in a good mood and positive thinking. Ingratiatory behaviors in the workplace manifest through different directions towards the management, colleagues, and customers in which people are ingratiated to contribute in the achievement of the organizational goals or targets. The current trends in human resource management have revealed significant embracement of workplace humor and fun owing to imperative benefits associated with the phenomenon such as motivation of workers, reduction of conflicts, enhancement of teamwork and reduction of work-related stress (Buhler, 1991). Workplace humor and fun further contribute to freedom of thinking, enhanced creativity and innovation, conflict resolution, and effective decision making all of which impact on the efficiency of workplace. This paper discusses the influence of workplace humor on work efficiency and effectiveness. Effects of Workplace Humor and Fun on Workers Motivation Motivation of workers in every given working environment influences significantly the various performance indicators including efficiency and effectiveness. Different studies on workplace humor and fun have revealed the promotion of positive humor and fun in the working environments greatly affects the motivation of workers towards their roles (Pryor, Singleton & Humphreys, 2010). Motivation of workers’ fun undermines the ability of staff to realize their full potential in their skills and talents leading to significant compromise on their efficiency and effectiveness in what they do. The motivation of workers is greatly undermined by behaviors associated with lack of humor and fun in the working environment such as distress, bullying, and increased resistance towards instruction and authority (Wayne, Yao & Thomas, 2011). In working environments characterized by fun and humor, few cases of aggressive behaviors are reported, and this translates into enhanced motivation and consequent increased productivity. Conclusion Workplace fun and humor greatly influences the motivation of workers towards executing their duties thereby uplifting efficiency and effectiveness of the organizational operations. Effective organizational leadership therefore requires creation of a pleasurable environment in order to enhance motivation in the workplace. Nevertheless, fun and humor in the working environment requires establishment of clear limit lines to avoid compromise on the commitment individual tasks and respect. Impact on Teamwork Effective teamwork plays an important in ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in the working environment. According to Romeo and Pescosolido (2008), the ability of the teamwork leadership to create a sense of humor and fun in a group greatly influences the effectiveness of such working groups to deliver the assigned roles. This behavior encourages free interaction and freedom of thinking, which allow all group members to contribute to the success of the team without fear of intimidation. A study conducted in Sigma Company established that about 50 percent of employees felt insecure to question the company’s operations and traditions (Plester, 2009). Such findings were attributed to significant failure by organizations to create a working environment where reams feel free to share their views. Promotion of humor and fun in the working environment has emerged as one the potential solutions to the problem of fear among workers. Fear or tension in the workplace hinder employees from achieving their full potential as well as making of crucial corrections on the operations of the company to enhance effectiveness and general performance. Members of a working team need significant freedom with each other in order to cooperate in delivering the team’s goals and objective as a unit, a phenomenon easily attained through creation of pleasurable working relations (Romero & Cruthirds, 2003). Conclusion Effective teamwork requires creation of pleasurable working environment where all team members are free to share their ideas and contribute to the success of the team activities. Influence on Communication and Employees Relations According to Plester (2009), workplace humor and fun influences the effectiveness of communication in an organization through elimination of tension associated with power difference. Pleasurable environments limit the level of information and instruction resistance among the workers leading to smooth flow of command across the organization. Fun and humor in the working environments enhance positive interaction and consultation in the organization resulting in improved delivery of services and customer satisfaction. The free interaction associated with workplace humor and fun enhances the levels of cooperation among the workers. Positive diversity in the working environment is also enhanced through promotion of humor and fun in the organization. Workplace fun and humor plays a critical role in the elimination of bureaucratic communication channels as well as the reduction of redundancy that often compromise effectiveness in the transfer of information and instructions (Katherine, 2001). Humor eliminates potential tension between workers translating to enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of services and execution of individual duties. Clear boundaries in the practice of workplace humor and fun are necessary in realizing the advantages of embracing the practice. Rockman (2003) asserts that workplace fun and humor enable management teams to permit significant flexibility in the organization’s operations. Organizational flexibility translates to enhanced innovativeness and creativity that contributes to improved performance and effectiveness in the organization’s undertakings. Conclusion Workplace humor and fun contribute to enhanced communication effectiveness that in turn translates to improved job delivery in the working environment. Humor reduces resistance to authority and instructions that often compromise the effectiveness and efficiency in the working environment. Impact on Job Satisfaction and Work Commitment Workplace fun and humor influences the attitude of workers as well as their feelings towards the working environment. Job satisfaction is influenced by numerous factors among them the ability to work in an enjoyable mood. Experiencing fun in the working process influences an individual’s feelings towards their duties and roles, which influences their job satisfaction. Workplace humor and fun eliminates work-related stress, which influences performance and effectiveness in the delivery of services (Romero & Cruthirds, 2003). Job satisfaction and commitment in turn influences workplace effectiveness and efficiency through phenomena such as absenteeism as well as increased turnover rates. Workplace fun and humor affects employees’ job satisfaction and work commitment through reduction of anxiety, tension, and work-related stress and conflicts (Vales, 2006). In order to promote improved work satisfaction and work commitment, organizational managements should promote significant workplace fun and humor. Conclusion Workplace humor and fun influences the attitude towards work and their feeling towards the working environment. Promotion of workplace humor and fun places an important role in promoting positive feeling towards the working environment, job satisfaction and work commitment. Job satisfaction and work commitment on the other hand translate to improved performance, efficiency and effectiveness. Summative Conclusion Workplace fun and humor has been attributed to numerous benefits in the working environment including enhanced effectiveness and efficiency and overall performance of the organization. Workplace fun and humor greatly influences the motivation of workers towards executing their duties thereby affecting efficiency and effectiveness of the workforce. In addition, promotion of workplace humor and fun has shown the potential to influence the effectiveness and efficiency of teamwork in organization. Promotion of humor and fun in the working environment has emerged as one the potential solutions to the problem of fear among workers. This phenomenon further enhances effective communication and employees relations in the workplace through reduction in authority resistance and elimination of tension contributed by power differences. Finally, workplace humor and fun affects job satisfaction and work commitment in the workforce. Fun and humor has been associated a positive attitude towards work and the working environment. Work commitment greatly depends on the desire to be in the working environment and attitude towards the general workplace relations. Amidst the increased competition and highly dynamic business environments, it is imperative for organizational leaders to consider exploiting the role of humor and fun in enhancing workplace efficiency. Workplace and fun provides a cost effective way of enhancing productivity, efficiency, effectiveness and customer satisfaction. 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Retrieved from http://www.valdosta.edu/~mschnake/RomeroCruthirds2006.pdf Vales, K. (2006). Is fun in the workplace a factor that boosts employee morale? Retrieved from http://snl.depaul.edu/writing/funworkresearchsem.pdf Wayne, D., Yao, H., & Thomas, C. (2011). Humor, gender, and perceived leader effectiveness in china. SAM Advanced Management Journal 76 (1), 43-53. Read More