Have you ever observed how a good laugh in the office resolves stress much better than any icebreaker game? Scientific evidence just proves what we know from our own experience. Oxytocin levels in the brain increase when coworkers laugh, while cortisol is reduced, which results in building the trust required to establish genuine social bonding at work.
This is not some abstract idea but rather a chemical process in our brain and observable behaviour in the workplace. Over almost two decades, Laughter Works has helped to implement this scientific knowledge into practice in Australia using laughter workshops tailored specifically for the office.
The Actual Neurological Process During Laughter
While laughter may be seen as simply a social interaction, it is actually a neurological event. When people laugh in a group, the release of oxytocin (also known as the “bonding hormone”) along with endorphins occurs and reduces the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol almost instantly.
There is also the concept of mirroring involved. Mirror neurons activate during the observation of laughing by others, which is why people start laughing even before consciously choosing to do so. The very same involuntary process is what makes laughter such an excellent trust-building tool since nobody is able to convincingly imitate it.
Why Does Mutual Laughter Establish Trust More Quickly Than Small Talk?
Small talk is polite, but it’s also guarded. Carefully chosen words abound, and people are aware of that fact. However, laughter is not easy to produce artificially, and whenever it does occur, it speaks about safety instead of caution.
Such information is much more important for building trust than most people realise. Your coworker who feels free to laugh in your presence sends an implicit message to your brain, “I’m feeling safe here; therefore, you should feel safe too.”
How Are Australian Workplaces Harnessing the Power of Laughter to Connect Teammates?
In response to the disruption brought about by the introduction of hybrid work and how infrequently co-workers now see each other, organisations are looking towards laughter yoga in Australia as an effective way to bring people back together. Different from stand-up comedy or enforced joking, laughter yoga involves a combination of basic breathing techniques with guided playfulness where no humour is needed at all.
Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Hobart are just some of the cities that have experienced a rise in on-site laughter yoga events, while laughing yoga in Brisbane has become particularly popular among groups who need an easy way to boost their energy quickly after lengthy discussions.
What Do Laughter Yoga Workshops and Laughter Seminars Actually Involve?
A good workshop does not leave the participants laughing haphazardly; there is a sequence that has been carefully thought out by professionals who practice the technique. A typical laughter yoga workshop and a laughter session usually go like this:
- Easy stretches and breathing exercises for warming up the group
- Funny clapping and chanting activities to overcome shyness
- Laughing exercises guided by making eye contact and giving prompts rather than telling jokes
- Easy group games that promote natural laughter
- Concluding exercises of a breathing or meditative sort
Laughter seminars are done in this way deliberately because the purpose is not entertainment but participation. Everyone in the group, whatever their status, becomes equal to others.
Can Laughter Sessions Substitute Traditional Team Building Events?
When we compare it with traditional indoor team building activities such as quiz nights and trust falls, they usually require some preparation, some props and forced fun. In case of laughter sessions, there is no need for any preparation, only a room and a willingness to make a fool of oneself for 20 minutes.
Workplaces that used both kinds of team-building events say that laughter sessions give similar and even better outcomes than other group bonding activities. The reason why laughter gives a better outcome is that it forms a physiological connection between people and not a performative one.
Long-Term Gains from Incorporating Laughter as a Team Activity
A one-time occurrence may brighten the atmosphere in the room temporarily, yet the true benefits emerge when laughter turns into a recurring activity instead of a unique one-time experience. Groups that incorporate it in the calendar, even monthly, will likely end up with some form of communication that relies on in-jokes and creates a comfortable atmosphere in everyday conversations at work.
That is how laughter gains its new meaning as a tool for communication that works alongside other team bonding activities and socialisation among colleagues, as they change over time and as they come back together after some time apart, instead of relying only on the annual conference to reconnect.
Building True Relationship into True Trust
Workplace trust isn’t created through the writing of mission statements or through trust falls; instead, it’s created in brief and authentic moments, one of which happens to be laughter. Teams that share laughter regularly find that they enjoy improved social bonding at work, improved communication, and a work environment in which they feel excited to be.
If you’d like to make such changes in your team, then Laughter Works may be able to assist; their laughter programs are designed specially for Australian workplaces, conferences, and events, having over 18 years of experience in making a room full of strangers or tense co-workers start laughing immediately.
FAQs:
What is the duration of an average workplace laughter session?
The duration varies from 20 to 45 minutes. It depends on how the session is structured and the number of participants. Usually, there is sufficient time to warm up, go through different exercises and end the training with a relaxation period that would not interfere with other work-related tasks of the employees.
Do the participants have to be relaxed regarding laughing out loud in public to get the benefits?
Absolutely not! The activities are designed in such a way that the participants become more relaxed during the course of the exercise. The facilitators employ easy exercises and eye-contact games that encourage everyone to participate by the end of the first five minutes of the session.
Are there any scientific studies proving that laughter directly affects productivity at work?
Indeed, there have been multiple organisational psychology studies that correlate the effect of laughter on reducing the level of stress hormone (cortisol) with improved concentration, creativity and decision-making abilities.
Is it possible for a laughter session to be effective for a virtual/hybrid team over video?
Absolutely, because there are specific ways of adapting this exercise to the virtual format with the help of breakout rooms and easy-to-understand visual clues for remote participants. Though the atmosphere will be different compared to the in-person session, the techniques of breathing and guided laughter remain the same and will activate the same physiological reaction.
How often should a workplace organise these sessions for the changes to occur?
The session can positively impact the mood during a particular occasion, but the development of collaboration and trust between the employees will require regularity, monthly or quarterly. The teams that are using it as a practice and not once in a blue moon experience more positive changes in their interaction with each other.
