The ROI of LOL: How Laughter Breaks Down Walls, Drives Compelling Storytelling, and Creates a Healthy Workplace

by Steve Cody, Clayton Fletcher

Laughter is a powerful remedy to what ails today’s teams and organizations. There are a host of neuroscientific explanations for why laughter makes us feel so great. Laughter triggers "feel good" chemicals in the brain which activate opiate receptors throughout your body and mind. Creating a workplace culture in which laughter is not only allowed but expected is an important step in building the trust, openness, authenticity, storytelling, and teamwork (TOAST) that are essential to any healthy collaborative environment. What all this means for your business is that by harnessing the prodigious power of your own unique individual sense of humor (and empowering your employees to do the same), you can increase morale, collaboration, communication, and productivity. You can find new and unexpected ways to connect with your external stakeholders. And you can have fun doing it.

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 17, 2023

Reviews

[Puty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept about how humor and comedy can (and should) be applied at work settings. This book consists of 3 main parts: intro, explanation of 3 comedies (stand-up, improvisational, and sketch comedy), and how to apply the 3 kind of comedies at work.

I think it helps us to understand:
- Why humor (in some level with some boundaries) is good at work, even for a leader
- How comedies work

But TBH, I didn't get the framework or practical insights. Everything felt anecdotal borderline soft selling as it was written by guys behind Peppercomm, a New York City-based marketing and communications agency fampus for using humor-led approach.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll review this book by suggesting how to read it IMHO. First, start with chapter 12. Then, read the book, trying at least a 2-3 of the techniques described therein, and then go back and read again the questions posed in chapter 12. If you don't feel your thinking has changed somehow, this may not be the book for you. But for me, it's an invigorating plunge into how to stir up organizational change in a way I've never considered, and you may not have either. My rating does take into account it's exactly the right length for a business self-help book, again in my opinion. If I'm going to read something much longer, it's gotta be for book club, a piece of classic literature, or on art. Priorities ...

[mrspegz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be prominently displayed on our desk or close to our iPad, laptop, or PC—it doesn't belong on a shelf! I learned so much about stand-up and improv abilities and techniques from the book's compilation of tales and examples, and I also learned how humour and business success are related.
I found the writers' inventive chapter subheads and use of Takeaways to be hilarious. As an illustration, "Eggshells and eggheads are bad for business." (Yes, I realise this is a pun. :-)

[JulieChristine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had some fun anecdotes, but didnt feel there was much I learned from the book, or that translated across multiple industries. The afterward in the book was by far the best part.