Having a sense of humor is important to survival. It helps you cope with the down times and to appreciate the good times. Just ask those yucksters at Microsoft, who have put together a very helpful guide on how to gauge your level of humor competency.

According to those wild and crazy Softies, someone who is competent at humor, “Has a positive and constructive sense of humor. Can laugh at him/herself and with others. Is appropriately funny and can use humor to ease tension.”

They also provide a helpful guide (see above) where you can determine where your level of humor proficiency on a scale from “Basic” to “Expert.”

If you’re on the lower end of that chart, Microsoft has some questions you can ask yourself to get out of your comedy rut:
• In a seemingly serious situation, what nuggets of humor or irony can I find?
• When faced with a potentially difficult situation, is there a way that humor could help? Could lead to a better outcome?
• Am I funnier than I think I am? Less funny? Who will give me an honest assessment of my sense of humor?
• Could I start my next meeting, presentation, or conversation by telling a funny story?

Or maybe you’re just too “on” all the time… like Robin Williams during his cocaine years. In that case, here are the navel-gazing questions to ask of your inner gut-buster:
• When have I used humor in the last year when I shouldn’t have? When it may have backfired?
• Do I ever encourage a near party atmosphere because of my comfort with using humor?
• Do I avoid discussing or solving the real issue by making a joke?

They even have a list of recommended reading that includes such subversive literature as a Dilbert book and an audio recording by Dave Barry.

We hope that this has all been of assistance in increasing your humor quotient.

Competencies: Humor [Microsoft, via Geekosystem.com]

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