The ability to use humour successfully and laugh is often the difference between success and failure in business.  While humour might not be the bottom line, it will certainly influence your ability to relate to others and achieve success in team management, sales and customer service.   

Pete Crofts, the founder of Pete Croft’s Humourversity, states in his best-selling book, How to Use Humour In Business and Life, that ‘Humour makes you memorable.’ He proceeds to list some very important uses for humour in the work environment. ‘Humour: destroys reason for rejection, shatters resistance, invites receptiveness, opens relationships, shares experiences, shows friendliness, builds trust, increases intimacy and makes your image pleasant.’  

If a sense of humour does not come naturally to you, it is worth studying how to improve the quality of your humour. It is also important to recognise the purpose for which you are expressing your humour. It is usually better not to go for the cheap laughs, or make hurtful comments, even if they are funny. 

In business, building relationships is a huge key. Alliances must be cultivated with thought, consideration and awareness for the feelings and beliefs of others. A key to being able to relate well to others, is self-expression, and the ability to laugh is one of the most important means of self-expression available to us.  

Research Scientist, Dr. Jane Yip, who leads a course titled, Laughter as a Form of Stress Relief explains some of the benefits of laughter. “When we laugh the endorphins, our bodies’ natural calmatives, increase. The right hemisphere of our brain, the region responsible for imagination, spontaneity and love, to name a few, gets excited. In addition, the ‘juices’ in our body, our hormones and our immune system also gets tickled into action. Physically, we become softer, more agile and more youthful.” 

As well as using laughter to be more attractive and to build business and personal relationships, it is a great tool for resolving conflicts and releasing stress. A great deal of stress can build up throughout a day – dealing with clients, working in sales or running meetings – laughter is a simple and effective way of releasing stress. A Wealthy Soul will find time during the day to laugh. This can be achieved by oneself or as part of a group. It is powerful to realise that you do not actually need to think of something funny to laugh – but that laughter is a choice that we can all make – for a healthy and prosperous lifestyle.   

Dr. Madan Kataria is the founder of the Laughter Clubs Movement and has created a special yogic laughter, called Hasya Yoga. This is a combination of relaxation, breathing exercises specific movements and yogic postures. Kataria explains, "In addition to health benefits on our immune system and unwinding the negative effects of stress, laughter can be used as one of the most potent tool to combat depression. The number one sickness in the world today is not heart disease, it is depression. More and more people are staying alone and isolated. Laughter is a positive energy that can bring people together.”  

With the increase in scientific research on the benefits of laughter and the growth of Laughter Clubs around the world, it is easy to conclude that laughter is fast becoming the mantra for world peace.  In order to get in touch with the power of laughter in a simple and quick way try the following ‘One Minute Humming Exercise.’ 

• Sit on a chair, or lie down and allow your body to relax
• Observe your breathing for a few moments without attempting to control it
• Focus on breathing into each part of your body, relaxing each area and releasing any stored tension as you breath out
• Close your eyes and begin to hum – gently and quietly to yourself
• As you hum, begin to turn the corners of your mouth up at the edges – slowly, until you begin to smile.
• While you continue to hum, feel your head vibrate
• To finish off, turn your smile into a laugh and allow it to expand though your whole body  

This ‘One Minute Humming Exercise’ is of great practical benefit to employ before an important meeting or before any activity where you use your intelligence.