summary ofHumor, SeriouslyBook by Dr. Jennifer Aaker, Naomi Bagdonas

first KEY POINT

Having an orthodox method of doing things doesn't encourage creativity

Principles and methods are essential to every organization, but it gets difficult to be creative once they become too rigid. The ability to be innovative is heavily influenced by the kind of environment one is in. If we are in a tense and hostile environment, we'll pay more attention to perfection than creativity, and being overly cautious limits our innovative ways, making it difficult to express ourselves as we would have loved to.The best work environments exist in organizations where true personality is encouraged through humor and friendliness. Once people are happy to go to work, they'll have more enthusiasm to make things happen. Humor is a powerful tool for perfecting work-life balance; it gives people a sense of belonging, especially with employees who have a good relationship with their leaders.

When there's a relaxed atmosphere, it's easy to establish unity and discipline. An earned respect is better than a forced one. When people fear you, they'll only do what you want, not what's best for you or the organization. However, if, as a leader, you have a good rapport with your employees, they'll always find ways to please you by being more productive and innovative.This well-detailed tidbit is a great way to learn about the many misconceptions associated with humor. It also exposes the many untapped advantages of having a friendly work environment, making it beneficial for leaders, managers, employees, and individuals who want to become better people.