Reducing Tension During Tough Times: Tip #1

If tension at work leads to trouble, how do you reduce that feeling of unease? First of all, there’s humor. I always encourage people to view life through a Levity Lens^™ and look for the funny aspects of a situation. That doesn’t mean viciously mocking bosses or customers, but it does mean that you can lighten and brighten situations by finding gentle humor in the challenges you face. You know the expression “Someday, we’ll all laugh about this.” Well, I believe you can make “someday” today. Instead of complaining or growling at challenging situations, look for laughter to calm things down.

If a client tries to bite your head off over the phone, think of a funny way to cut the tension after you politely wrap up the call. When you relate the story to a co-worker, you might add “At least she didn’t bring her chainsaw!” as a funny way to show that things could have gone worse and that you survived the bad experience. If your boss tends to throw reports on your desk and leave, put your hands up in the air in your best NBA pose the next time he walks in and say “I’m open!” Even online, smileys and LOLs can defuse a tense e-mail exchange.

Some of these ideas may sound silly, but guess what? Being silly and lighthearted is healthy. Keeping a sense of humor is critical to good health, and when you balance it with a professional approach to your work, its helpful to your relationships at work too.

Best regards,

Lynn