We British may have relinquished our claims to global leadership in many things; from commerce to cricket. However, in one category we remain world beaters…sarcastic-self-deprecating-humour.
We refer here to our unique capacity for cutting satire while simultaneously undermining our own credentials to do any better. We celebrate and share this attribute with an often-perplexed world via mockumentaries[1] such as Fawlty Towers, The Office, One Foot in the Grave, and of course, Blackadder.
What could possibly go wrong…
When this natural proclivity for sardonic wit meets the traditional season of reflection, is distorted by alcohol, and then invited to several holiday work events… things can go… awry. Consider these illustrations:
The Blackadder response, “My manager wouldn’t know a good idea if a Chippendale with ‘good idea’ painted on his bare muscular chest, burst into his closed office, and sang ‘I am a good idea’ in full Pavarotti, while spray painting ‘I’m a good idea’ on his office wall.”
The Victor Meldrew, “Well… honestly… death would be a merciful release from this place. I wake up every day knowing it will be the worst of my life… Still mustn’t grumble,” answer to the CEO’s casual ‘how are you doing?’
The bungled Basil Fawlty, “Typical… typical… all these people have no clue what it takes to keep this place running. I have to carry this place on my back… and what thanks do I get? Some stale vol-au-vents, and a karaoke machine. Where’s Rick Astley when you need him?” quip when asked whether you’re enjoying the party by the new head of HR.
And of course, the classic over ebullience of an exaggerated David Bent – “Get outta the way Boss…. I’ll show you how to dance!” when the DJ plays Agadoo.
Even for those of us who embrace humour to deal with the sometimes-absurd aspects of life, there are rules, protocols, lines, that need to be observed. The special ingredients of the festive season mean the chances of getting this wrong and causing a reputational trainwreck rise exponentially.
Your Holiday Season Humour Safety Checklist
So, in the spirit of helping you steer a safe passage through the next couple of months, let us share with you 4 tips to surviving the holiday season intact:
1. Catharsis – We do store and suppress our emotions. We need to find ways to release them in a healthy way. Often, we don’t have the right tools or frameworks to elegantly express our emotions. They are like unexploded bombs. Defuse them regularly by confiding in a trusted colleague, friend, family member, or mentor.
2. Boundary Buddy – We all need friends to look out for us. Appoint a designated room reader. In our experience some people have extraordinary levels of EQ. These are the people you want as guides when your radar is faulty.
3. Abstention – Sounds obvious but leave the comedian at home. Choose to stay away from temptation and those things that blur your judgment. What drives many of us to be the jokers is a desire for approval and attention. However, given the choice between no attention and negative consequences… well it should be an easy choice.
4. Work on resolutions – A lot of what we say when we are at our most unguarded is grounded in an unresolved issue we are carrying. Overtime, these burdens can cause us damage. Invest the time to find out why you feel the way you do. You may not always be able to erase the feeling but knowing what triggers it and how to manage it can be liberating.
And lastly, something of a golden rule, treat work social events as if you would a meeting in the office. The setting may look different… but that’s something of a mirage.
We wish everyone a safe, joyous, and socially appropriate 2024 holiday season!
[1] For the avoidance of doubt, we know these technically aren’t documentaries but, in some ways, they represent a British way of being.
[2] Photo credit Creative commons license: ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-NODERIVS 2.0 GENERIC
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