Making Remote Humor Stick from edX

Hear that? It's the sound of rubber meeting road.

If the first course of this program was about getting your team in the Humor-Mobile, and the second course was about putting fuel in the tank, this course is about putting your foot on the gas.

So buckle up and turn off the child-lock. It's time to dive headfirst into strategies for activating and institutionalizing a culture of levity.

First, you’ll review behavioral research (the fun kind) illuminating the benefits of humor on teams, and why it’s worth weaving into the fabric of your organization and company culture. Next, you’ll learn about the three drivers of a culture of levity - legends, rituals, and offers - and how each can be used to take the levity, humor, and joy on your remote team to new heights. Finally, you’ll evaluate the legends, rituals, and offers of your organization today, and explore how they can be changed or augmented with more levity.

This is Course 3 of 3 in the Remotely Humorous Program taught by Naomi Bagdonas and Connor Diemand-Yauman, leading experts in workforce culture who have taught at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. They’ve teamed up with comedic minds from The Onion, Funny Or Die, and Comedy Central to create a fun, interactive learning experience that will empower you to show up at work more authentically, effectively, and joyfully.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the research behind the psychological benefits of humor
Learn how an organization’s legends, rituals, and offers increase levity

Diagnose your own organization’s legends, rituals, and offers
Leverage these drivers to create more effective, resilient remote teams

Understand the research behind the psychological benefits of humor
Learn how an organization’s legends, rituals, and offers increase levity
Diagnose your own organization’s legends, rituals, and offers
Leverage these drivers to create more effective, resilient remote teams

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Appropriate for team leads who want to create a positive and engaging remote work environment

Follows industry best practices in creating and articulating desired workplace culture

Taught by culture experts with a lot of real world experience

Provides practical and actionable strategies for improving team dynamics

Offers a research-backed approach to humor in the workplace

May not be relevant for individuals who are not involved in team management or culture building

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Making Remote Humor Stick with these activities:

Review the Research on Humor

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Understanding the scientific evidence behind humor can strengthen your arguments for its use in the workplace.

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Read articles or books on the psychology of humor
Review studies that demonstrate the benefits of humor
Identify specific research findings that support your belief in the power of humor at work

Watch TED Talks on Humor in the Workplace

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These TED Talks provide inspiring and informative perspectives on the benefits and practical applications of humor in the workplace.

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Search for TED Talks on humor at work
Watch at least 2-3 TED Talks
Take notes on the key takeaways

Read 'Making Humor Work'

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This book provides a foundation for understanding the role of humor in creating positive team dynamics.

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Read Chapter 1: The Power of Humor
Summarize the key points of Chapter 2: Humor as a Lubricant
Reflect on the examples of humor in your own workplace

Five other activities

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Join a Humor Support Group for Professionals

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Connecting with others who are also interested in developing their humor skills can provide support and motivation.

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Research local or online support groups that focus on humor
Join a group and attend meetings regularly
Share your experiences and learn from others

Build a Humor Toolkit for Your Team

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Having a readily available collection of humor resources can help teams incorporate humor more easily into their daily interactions.

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Collect articles, videos, jokes, quotes, and other humor-related content
Organize the content into categories
Share the toolkit with your team

Design a Humor Intervention for Your Team

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This project will help you apply the principles of humor to your own team and create a more positive and productive work environment.

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Identify a specific problem or challenge that humor could address
Brainstorm different humor-based interventions
Design a plan for implementing the intervention
Evaluate the impact of the intervention

Participate in a Humor-Off Competition

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Engaging in a playful competition can spark creativity and foster a sense of camaraderie among team members.

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Gather a team of colleagues
Choose a competition or create your own
Brainstorm and develop humorous content
Present your content to an audience
Have fun and learn from the experience

Become a Humor Ambassador in Your Organization

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Sharing your knowledge and experience of humor with others can help create a ripple effect and further cultivate a culture of humor.

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Offer to lead workshops or training sessions on humor
Mentor colleagues who are interested in developing their humor skills
Create and share resources on humor

Career center

Learners who complete Making Remote Humor Stick will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Team Leader

A Team Leader is responsible for leading and motivating a team of employees to achieve common goals. The course Making Remote Humor Stick can be useful for Team Leaders as it provides strategies for creating a positive and supportive team environment, which can lead to increased team cohesion, productivity, and innovation. The course also provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to use humor to build relationships and resolve conflict.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing out projects. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Project Managers as it provides strategies for creating a positive and engaging team environment, which can lead to increased team cohesion, productivity, and innovation. The course also provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to use humor to build relationships and resolve conflict.

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Diversity and Inclusion Manager

A Diversity and Inclusion Manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Diversity and Inclusion Managers as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to use humor to create a more inclusive and welcoming work environment. The course also provides strategies for creating a culture of levity, humor, and joy on remote teams.

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Learning and Development Manager

A Learning and Development Manager is responsible for developing and implementing learning and development programs for employees. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Learning and Development Managers as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to use humor to create a positive and engaging learning experience. The course also provides strategies for creating a culture of levity, humor, and joy on remote teams.

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Organizational Development Consultant

An Organizational Development Consultant helps organizations develop and implement strategies to improve their organizational performance, including creating a more positive and engaging work environment. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Organizational Development Consultants as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to create a culture of levity, humor, and joy on remote teams. The course also provides strategies for creating a positive and engaging work environment, which can lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction.

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Employee Engagement Manager

An Employee Engagement Manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to improve employee engagement. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Employee Engagement Managers as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to create a culture of levity, humor, and joy on remote teams. The course also provides strategies for creating a positive and engaging work environment, which can lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction.

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Employee Experience Manager

An Employee Experience Manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to improve the employee experience, including creating a more positive and engaging work environment. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Employee Experience Managers as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to create a culture of levity, humor, and joy on remote teams. The course also provides strategies for creating a positive and engaging work environment, which can lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction.

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Culture Architect

A Culture Architect designs and implements strategies to improve the culture of an organization. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Culture Architects as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to create a culture of levity, humor, and joy on remote teams. The course also provides strategies for creating a positive and engaging work environment, which can lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction.

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Human Resources Manager

A Human Resources Manager is responsible for managing the human resources function of an organization, including developing and implementing HR policies and programs. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Human Resources Managers as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to create a culture of levity, humor, and joy on remote teams. The course also provides strategies for creating a positive and engaging work environment, which can lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction.

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Chief People Officer

A Chief People Officer is responsible for leading the human resources function of an organization and developing and implementing HR policies and programs. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Chief People Officers as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to create a culture of levity, humor, and joy on remote teams. The course also provides strategies for creating a positive and engaging work environment, which can lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction.

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Workplace Culture Consultant

A Workplace Culture Consultant helps organizations improve their culture, including creating a more positive and engaging work environment. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Workplace Culture Consultants as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to create a culture of levity, humor, and joy on remote teams. The course also provides strategies for creating a positive and engaging work environment, which can lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction.

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Organizational Culture Consultant

An Organizational Culture Consultant helps organizations develop and implement strategies to improve their culture, including creating a more positive and engaging work environment. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Organizational Culture Consultants as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and strategies for creating a culture of levity, humor, and joy on remote teams.

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Corporate Culture Manager

A Corporate Culture Manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to improve corporate culture and employee engagement. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Corporate Culture Managers as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to create a culture of levity, humor, and joy on remote teams. The course also provides strategies for creating a positive and engaging work environment, which can lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction.

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Workplace Culture Researcher

A Workplace Culture Researcher studies the culture of organizations to identify areas for improvement. The course Making Remote Humor Stick may be useful for Workplace Culture Researchers as it provides insights into the benefits of humor in the workplace and how to create a culture of levity, humor, and joy. The course also provides strategies for creating a positive and engaging work environment, which can lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction.

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Chief Happiness Officer

A Chief Happiness Officer (CHO) is responsible for creating and maintaining a positive and engaging work environment, and leading initiatives that promote a culture of levity, humor, and joy at work. The course Making Remote Humor Stick can be useful for CHOs as it provides strategies for creating and institutionalizing a culture of levity in remote teams, which can lead to increased employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction.

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