Funny or Fun?

How many times do you hear in your office, "He/She is really funny!"? How often do you feel "it would be fun to hang with that person"? As a manager, I strive to be the type of person people want to hang with. I would much rather have a group of people walking with me than following along in my wake (often times grumbling and pointing). One of the best ways to be that leader, is to have a sense of humor. Don't get to full of yourself. Use jokes to make a point. As part of your daily life, look for the humor and use it. You do not want to be thought of as funny, though. This leads to the perception that you do not take things seriously. Lincoln was a master of public speaking. In reality, that means that he was a performer. All effective leaders must be performers. Genuine performers. Lincoln was genuine and everybody knew it and responded to it. Your subordinates will quickly recognize if you are not genuine.

Don't hide behind fancy words or cliches. Use your own language and mannerisms. If you are comfortable with what you are saying and doing, other people will have confidence in what you are trying to say and do. If you find something to be funny, let people know it. Actors are always portraying somebody else. You must perform as yourself. That is the role of a lifetime!

Remember to take the time to "see" what you are saying. Be your own audience. What do I see? What do I hear? This is much easier when you have a prepared presentation. It is more difficult when your are asked to answer a question or are called into a meeting at the last minute. Think slow. Know the limits of your knowledge. It is better (and more genuine) to say you are not familiar enough with the material to answer the question than it is to talk.

So - Funny or Fun? As a leader, remember that people hang with fun. They take advantage of funny.