The funny thing about humor is that it does a lot more than make
people laugh. For one thing, it is a communication skill for the
job, social occasions and learning. It helps: People get
acquainted Groups bond into teams Strangers to no longer feel
like outsiders Transcend cultural differences Encourage positive
thinking Get more work done Humor and laughter are recognized as
so important that a cottage industry of consultants has
developed to teach humor skills to business and professional
people. Presenters and trainers especially value and use humor
because in addition to the above, it helps their audiences to
celebrate shared emotions and to Remember the main points See
the big picture Retain information longer Interact with members
of the audience Get a sensitive idea without offense Feel free
to express themselves Plus ever since Norman Cousins wrote
Anatomy of an Illness in 1979 about self-cure by laughter,
medical researchers recognize that humor and laughter are
important factors in Reducing stress a