Office Banter: Dos and Don’ts You NEED to Know!
Make or Break
It’s never a bad thing to socialise with your colleagues, whether it’s to discuss work-related matters, or just to have a conversation about each other’s interests, opinions on the latest online fads, weekend plans, etc.
If you’re really close with your co-workers, if you’re both having a good and relaxing time together in the office, or you’re in a situation where you want to break the ice, banter is one way to spice up your confabs.
However, exchanging banter – which mainly consists of light-hearted jokes, teasing remarks and playful comments – can either contribute to a positive environment or cause offence.
Banter Etiquette Basics
Whether you’re engaging in banter with your colleagues in the office or remotely, always keep in mind these helpful dos-and-don’ts:
- DO: Keep It Positive
What better way to lighten the mood and reduce tension than by keeping the chit-chat light-hearted where possible? Create an enjoyable atmosphere for all by maintaining a positive, upbeat attitude.
- DON’T: Be Mean
It’s one thing to make jokes, but it’s another if you make them at the expense of someone else (which could then be considered bullying, discrimination or harassment). Avoid being mean-spirited and remember to be mindful of other people’s feelings – laughter and fun can still be attained if you’re kind and respectful.
- DO: Stick to Light-Hearted Topics
“What’s your favourite book?” “Which celebrity do you think is winning an Oscar this year?” “Did you know chocolate has better health benefits than vanilla?” Topics like these make for great conversation-starters, can be used to engage with a wide range of people, and increase camaraderie.
- DON’T: Be Insensitive
Your ethnicity, sexual orientation, political affiliations and religious beliefs form parts of everyone’s personality and/or character. It is socially unacceptable, for you or your colleagues, to infringe on any of these personal aspects for the sake of banter. Crossing these boundaries can cause discomfort and lead to serious consequences, such as being subjected to disciplinary action at work.
- DO: Use Appropriate Humour
Need to defuse tension or conflict? Make use of your funny bone to make a connection – a harmless knock-knock joke, sharing funny cat videos or poking fun at the latest rom-com can create a comfortable atmosphere, ease nervousness and enhance your office relationships for the better.
- DON’T: Use Inappropriate Humour
By the same token, refrain from using inappropriate humour. Even if it was “just a joke”, it can still be hurtful, discriminatory and downright offensive.
For example, joking about your colleague’s drinking habits – “I bet the reason your project failed is because you couldn’t stick to drinking on the weekends!” – or making fun of your female co-worker’s latest pregnancy – “Wow, you’re really brave for having another baby when one is enough!” – can severely bring the mood down and create a sense of workplace toxicity.
- DO: Make Small Talk in Large Gatherings
When it comes to meetings and presentations (online or face-to-face), it can be pretty awkward for the host/speaker or the attendees. Through banter, you can break the ice by spending the first few minutes making small talk with each other. Chat about harmless topics, such as asking about each other’s weekends, what they’re watching on TV, what kind of superpowers they wish they could have, etc.
- DON’T: Waste Time or Increase Discomfort
Not everyone is comfortable with banter, especially if they find it inappropriate or too distracting. As such, they might not appreciate it if you waste too much of their precious time to clown around.
For example, a 30-minute meeting about dividing workloads might not be productive if half of the meeting’s time is spent on making sarcastic comments and droll quips. Besides which, those same comments and quips can make other people in the meeting uncomfortable, but they may be afraid to speak up.
If you see that someone is uncomfortable or getting frustrated, or you know that the meeting is straying off-course, just stop and refocus on the task on hand. As always, be professional, respectful and positive.
Be The Better Person … or Banterer!
Banter is a great tool in the hands of those who can use it effectively, but it can also damage morale, productivity and relationships if used incorrectly. By adhering to the above pointers, you have the means to build meaningful connections and create a healthy, enjoyable environment in the workplace – good luck and happy bantering!