Washington: A new study has revealed that when relationships at the place of work are good, both positive and negative humour by leaders can improve the employees’ job satisfaction.
Robert J. Trulaske of the University Of Missouri, Columbia, found that the effects of humour depend on the relationship between leaders and subordinates.
He said that both positive and negative humour used by leaders was positively related to their subordinates’ job satisfaction when the relationship between them was good.
In the study, researchers developed two sets of matched questionnaires, one for leaders and the other for their subordinates. They analysed responses from about 70 leaders and their 241 subordinates in 54 organizations.
Robert said these findings suggested that if leaders wished to integrate humour into their interactions with subordinates, they should first assess whether or not their subordinates were likely to interpret their humorous overtures positively, adding that if a good relationship between the leader and the subordinate existed then humour be it positive or negative in tone would only help to maintain a good relationship.
He also suggested that these results have implications for leaders’ strategic use of humour.
The study is published in the Journal Group and Organization Management. (ANI)