Chapter 10 A laugh a day is sure to keep the blues away: managers' use of humor and the construction and destruction of employees' resilience

Abstract

Humor is an abundant and valuable, yet unfortunately underutilized, resource in organizations. When effectively wielded, humor has been proposed as a “managerial tool” that can be used to achieve positive organizational outcomes. Using Affective Events Theory and the Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions as a theoretical base, the authors attempt to test this proposition of humor being used as a managerial tool by conceptualizing a link between manager's use of humor and the consequent build up of resilience in employees in the long run.

Citation

Wijewardena, N., Härtel, C.E.J. and Samaratunge, R. (2010), "Chapter 10 A laugh a day is sure to keep the blues away: managers' use of humor and the construction and destruction of employees' resilience", Zerbe, W.J., Charmine E. J., H. and Neal M., A. (Ed.) Emotions and Organizational Dynamism (Research on Emotion in Organizations, Vol. 6), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 259-278. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1746-9791(2010)0000006014