Sometimes, we may find ourselves thinking out loud, not thinking clearly, or not even thinking. I am sure we all have experienced such occurrences. What is important in these moments is to embrace the humor and release the embarrassment. We must be able to laugh at ourselves and not take ourselves too seriously.

I have discovered that humor is the antidote for successful leadership. A leader with a good sense of humor is received better and respected more than a leader who takes his or her self too seriously.

A good laugh quenches our souls and warms up a room. I use humor to break the ice in meetings and set my desired environment. As a leader, I need to be able to capture my audience and maintain a certain level of energy. I often refer to a collection of funny anecdotes titled “They Walk Among Us…” to achieve these goals.

In the spirit of Labor Day Weekend, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite stories from the collection. They always bring me a good laugh and I am sure they will do the same for you and your family. Here are some anecdotes of people who may have not been thinking too clearly, or may have not been thinking at all. These types of people walk among us on a daily basis. I like to call them the “Walkamongus”.

“Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment.”

– Grenville Kleiser

” Top 10″
They walk among us…

• While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was north because he didn’t want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, “Does the sun rise in the north?” When my brother explained that the sun rises in the East, and has for some time, she shook her head and said, “Oh I don’t keep up with all that stuff.”They Walk Among Us…                  

• I couldn’t find my luggage at the airport, so I went to the baggage claim office and told the woman that was sitting there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and that I was in good hands. “Now,” she asked me, “has your plane arrived yet?They Walk Among Us…

• While working at a pizza parlor I heard a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone. The cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6 He thought about it before responding. He then relied, “Just cut it into 4 pieces. I don’t think I’m hungry enough to eat 6 pieces.”They Walk Among Us…

• A man was driving when he saw the flash of a traffic camera. He figured that his picture had been taken for exceeding the limit, even though he knew that he was not speeding. Just to be sure, he went around the block and passed the same spot, driving even more slowly, but again the camera flashed. Now he began to think that this was quite funny, so he drove even slower as he passed the area again, but the traffic camera again flashed. He tried a fourth time with the same result. He did this a fifth time and was now laughing when the camera flashed as he rolled past, this time at a snail’s pace. Two weeks later, he got five tickets in the mail for driving without a seat belt.They Walk Among Us…

• My colleague and I were eating lunch in our cafeteria, when we over heard one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to the shore. She drove down in a convertible, but didn’t think she’d get sunburned because the car was moving.They Walk Among Us…

• When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told that the keys had been accidentally locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver’s side door. As I watched from the passenger’s side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered it was open. “Hey,” I announced to the technician, “it’s open!” “I know,” answered the young man, “I already got that side.”They Walk Among Us…

• An American was going for a job interview in the Scottish countryside and on his way out he asked a local farmer for directions, “Excuse me, dude, could you possibly tell me the quickest way to London?” The farmer said, “You driving or walking, lad?” The American replied, “Driving.” The farmer nodded, saying, “Aye definitely the quickest way.”They Walk Among Us…

• I live in a semi-rural area. We recently had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request the removal of the DEER CROSSING sign on our road. The reason: “Too many deer are being hit by cars out here! I don’t think this is a good place for them to be crossing anymore.”They Walk Among Us…

• A woman orders coffee, but tells the girl at the window that she doesn’t want it too hot. When the girl asks her how she could cool it down, the woman says, “Just put some ice in it.” After waiting a while she asks why her coffee is taking so long. Well, the girl kept putting ice in the coffee but it kept melting.They Walk Among Us…

• My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car designed to cut through a seat belt if she ever gets trapped in her car. She keeps it in the trunk.

“Humor reinforces the absurdity of rigid, inflexible behavior and misunderstanding, and helps us remember that mistakes are natural and widespread in all humanity”

– (Weinstein 1986; Berger 1993; Crawford 1994, 31).

Surely, we have experienced such occasions. Perhaps even, we were the “Walkamongus” of the story. It is crucial for us to be able to laugh at these times. We must be able to find the humor in our daily lives and practice to utilize a sense of humor as a prerequisite for leadership.

We all know the days of dictatorial leadership are gone. Humor breaks down the old industrial barriers of top-down leadership and lowers defenses, making your audience more receptive to your message. It makes you more likable and approachable. People become more willing to do business with you; they are willing to support you. A sense of humor solidifies your ability to build relationships, enhance your impression and reputation.

I have a question for you: Do you take yourself too seriously? Just remember…when you make someone else smile you will surely find yourself smiling too AND:

Laughter relaxes the whole body.

Laughter boosts the immune system.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins.

Laughter protects the heart.

“Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.”

~ Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D.