Priming Your Remote Team for Humor from edX

In this course, you’ll explore the five enablers of humor in remote teams: safety, connectedness, agency, growth, and purpose. You’ll learn the significance of each enabler, how they create the conditions for joy to flourish, and how to amplify them. Next, you’ll take a diagnostic designed to help you understand which enablers your team members most naturally channel, and where you have the greatest opportunity to grow. Finally, you’ll take on team building activities to strengthen these enablers within your organization.

This is Course 2 of 3 in the Remotely Humorous Program taught by Naomi Bagdonas and Connor Diemand-Yauman are leading experts who have taught at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. They’ve teamed up with comedic minds from The Onion, Funny Or Die, and many more impressive comedy mainstays to create a fun, interactive learning experience, focused on cultivating humor and levity in virtual teams and empowering you to show up at work more authentically, effectively, and joyfully.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the five enablers of humor
Diagnose your team culture; understand what’s nurturing and impeding levity

Bolster your team’s safety, connectedness, agency, growth, and purpose
Create the conditions for humor in your remote teams

Understand the five enablers of humor
Diagnose your team culture; understand what’s nurturing and impeding levity
Bolster your team’s safety, connectedness, agency, growth, and purpose
Create the conditions for humor in your remote teams

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Ideal for remote teams, this series from instructors who regularly teach at Stanford will likely transform work culture effectively

Examines five factors vital to remote team success, from employee safety to personal growth

Covers the essential components of workplace humor

Perfect for managers who want to bolster their team's resilience and workplace culture

An excellent addition to a series on cultivating humor in virtual teams

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 Priming Your Remote Team for Humor with these activities:

Gather humor resources

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Establish a collection of materials that provide you with a variety of humor-related topics and perspectives.

Browse courses on Humor

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Find articles, books, and videos on humor
Identify humor experts and follow their work
Organize your humor resources so that they are easy to access

Read 'Humor, Seriously' by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas

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Delve into a comprehensive analysis of humor in the workplace, gaining practical insights and strategies for fostering a more positive and productive work environment.

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Purchase or borrow the book
Read the book and take notes
Apply the book's principles to your own work

Practice your humor skills in a low-stakes environment

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Refine your ability to make others laugh through humor exercises. This boosts your confidence in using humor effectively.

Browse courses on Humor

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Join a humor group or take a humor workshop
Practice telling jokes or stories to friends or family
Post funny content on social media

Four other activities

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Attend a comedy show or festival

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Immerse yourself in the world of comedy and connect with fellow humor enthusiasts.

Browse courses on Humor

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Find a comedy show or festival in your area
Purchase tickets and attend the event
Network with other attendees

Learn about the Theory of Fun

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Understand the scientific underpinnings of humor so you can intentionally craft a work environment that sparks joy and laughter.

Browse courses on Humor

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Read articles and watch videos about the Theory of Fun
Attend a workshop or webinar on the Theory of Fun
Apply the Theory of Fun to your own work

Write a funny story or sketch

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Express your humor through writing, which allows you to explore different perspectives, practice your craft, and refine your sense of humor.

Browse courses on Humor

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Choose a topic that you find funny
Brainstorm ideas and develop a plot
Write your story or sketch
Share your work with others and get feedback

Build a team humor plan

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Start charting the course of a team humor plan. This plan will help you identify ways to create a more positive and productive work environment.

Browse courses on Team Culture

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Identify your team's humor style
Set goals for your team's humor
Develop a plan to achieve your goals
Implement your plan and track your progress

Career center

Learners who complete Priming Your Remote Team for Humor will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Culture and Engagement Manager

Culture and Engagement Managers oversee the development and implementation of organizational culture and employee engagement programs. They may also work on projects related to employee experience and diversity and inclusion. This course may help Culture and Engagement Managers create a more positive and productive work environment for remote teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Culture and Engagement Manager

Team Effectiveness Coach

Team Effectiveness Coaches work with teams to improve their performance and effectiveness. They may work on projects related to team dynamics, communication, and conflict resolution. Understanding the enablers of humor in remote teams may help Team Effectiveness Coaches create a more positive and productive work environment for remote teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Team Effectiveness Coach

Culture and Change Management Consultant

Culture and Change Management Consultants help organizations to implement change and improve their culture. They may work on projects related to employee engagement, leadership development, and organizational culture. The information in this course may help Culture and Change Management Consultants understand how to create a more positive and productive work environment for remote teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Culture and Change Management Consultant

Diversity and Inclusion Consultant

Diversity and Inclusion Consultants help organizations to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace. They may work on projects related to diversity and inclusion training, employee resource groups, and unconscious bias. Understanding the enablers of humor in remote teams may help Diversity and Inclusion Consultants create a more positive and productive work environment for remote teams.

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Learning and Development Manager

Learning and Development Managers oversee the design and delivery of training and development programs for employees. They may also work on projects related to employee engagement and organizational culture. This course may help Learning and Development Managers create more engaging and effective training programs for remote teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Learning and Development Manager

User Experience Researcher

User Experience Researchers conduct research to understand how users interact with products and services. They may work on projects related to website design, mobile app development, and user experience testing. This course may help User Experience Researchers understand how to create a more positive and engaging experience for remote team members.

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Innovation Consultant

Innovation Consultants help organizations to develop and implement new products and services. They may also work on projects related to organizational culture and change management. This course may help Innovation Consultants understand how to create a more supportive and creative work environment for remote teams.

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Organizational Development Consultant

Organizational Development Consultants work with organizations to improve their effectiveness. They may work on projects related to leadership development, employee engagement, and culture change. The information in this course may help Organizational Development Consultants understand how to create a more positive and productive work environment for remote teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Development Consultant

Human Factors Engineer

Human Factors Engineers design and evaluate products and systems to make them more user-friendly and efficient. They may work on projects related to user experience, ergonomics, and safety. This course may help Human Factors Engineers understand how to design more effective and engaging remote work environments.

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Human Resources Business Partner

Human Resources Business Partners work closely with other departments within their organization to improve employee experience. They may work on initiatives like employee engagement, learning and development, and organizational culture. Understanding the enablers of humor in remote teams may help Human Resources Business Partners create and strengthen programs focused on these initiatives.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business processes and develop solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness. They may work on projects related to process improvement, data analysis, and system implementation. This course may help Business Analysts understand how to create a more effective and engaging remote work environment.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to identify trends and patterns. They may work on projects related to market research, customer segmentation, and fraud detection. This course may help Data Analysts understand how to create a more effective and engaging remote work environment.

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Team Lead

Team Leads oversee the work of a team of employees. They are responsible for setting goals, delegating tasks, and providing feedback. Understanding the enablers of humor in remote teams may help Team Leads create a more positive and productive work environment for their teams.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. They are responsible for managing budgets, timelines, and resources. Understanding the enablers of humor in remote teams may help Project Managers create a more positive and productive work environment for their teams.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a business. They are responsible for planning, organizing, and controlling the use of resources. Understanding the enablers of humor in remote teams may help Operations Managers create a more positive and productive work environment for their teams.

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