Everybody loves a clown. A person who knows how to laugh in the midst of various circumstances is more likely to be appreciated by others, compared to the person who always sulks and keeps complaining about the things that happen to him or her. Crowds naturally flock to positive stimuli. If you practice a good, well-timed sense of humor wherever you are, people will eventually gravitate toward you and want to be in your company.

How do you benefit from having a great sense of humor?

First, a sense of humor is a non-intrusive way of introducing yourself to others. Cracking a joke at the start of the conversation often breaks a greater ice barrier than simply saying, “It’s a sunny day, isn’t it?” While most self-help books will tell you that talking about the weather is a good start to a conversation, a sense of humor (coupled with a light joke) will not only get you introduced, it will also make a more positive impression.

Humor is also often regarded as a means of escape from tense situations. If you’ve been poring over a pile of work for the past few hours, you will find that a sense of humor comes in handy and will help you cope better. If you’re working with a group, it can also lighten the atmosphere and even motivate your workmates to do better.

Appreciating the ridiculous is often what makes a tough situation more digestible. If you know how to laugh at the situation and at yourself, the people around you will follow suit. The next thing you know, you’re all getting the job done in a more positive and cheerful way, much to the delight of your boss who will discover that you have actually performed better that way.

It is important to note, however, that a sense of humor does not always work for any situation. There is a time to joke around; there is a time to be serious. To make this more concrete, you can’t really afford to crack a joke if you’re in a funeral. It’s simply unethical to force people to laugh at a time they choose to grieve. Timing is key, then.

You should also be wary of what you say, because sometimes humor can be hurtful. While several people might be laughing at your joke, there might be someone who is affected by it and does not appreciate it at all.

Thus, you have to be sensitive and time your jokes according to the nature of the people you are talking to. Hurtful humor generates distance and pain. It drives a wedge between relationships and is often difficult to rectify with “hey, I was just kidding”.

So how do you ensure that your jokes are not offensive? Pace yourself. In a delicate situation, take cue to inject your humor after somebody else already has. This is a safe way to insert a joke by first making sure that it doesn’t hurt others. Also, if you really have to make a joke, aim it toward yourself, so that nobody gets offended. Poke fun at general situations, too, instead of at other people.

Having a great sense of humor requires also a great amount of foresight and timing on your part. Again, there is a time for everything. If you feel that your sense of humor is something that people around you will benefit from, then go for it. Everybody deserves a good laugh, after all.