3  How humour is used in online meetings

So far this unit has covered the various ways in which humour can be used in online meetings, how gender and humour interact and how responding to humour can depend on company hierarchies and personal attributes. In this activity you will work through some videos where humour is used in online interactions and consider some of the implications.

Activity 2  Examples of how humour is used in online meetings

Timing: Allow around 30 minutes (10 minutes for each part)

Part 1 – Using humour in a positive way

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Transcript: Video 1  Using humour in a positive way

NARRATOR

This video shows an example of how you can use humour positively during online meetings. In this example, the moderator uses humour to create a relaxed atmosphere in a meeting, where attendees are comfortable, relaxed and feel safe.

LÚKAS

Sorry, but I forgot to prepare slides for the project, but I'm ready to just talk about it.

LENA

No problem, Lúkas. I can understand this. A few years ago, when I was a new employee and handled the slides, I was always getting the slides mixed up and bringing the wrong slides to meetings. We'll figure this out.

LÚKAS

Yes, exactly.

NANNA

That's why my screen is covered with Post-it notes to remind me of everything I have to remember.

LENA

Yes, I have a Post-it note to remind me to drink my coffee.

End transcript: Video 1  Using humour in a positive way

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Video 1  Using humour in a positive way

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Now you have watched the video once, watch it again with these questions in mind:

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Part 2 – Using humour in a less positive way

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Transcript: Video 2  Using humour in a less positive way

NARRATOR

This video shows an example of how humour is used more negatively. The meeting takes place at a tech company. The attendees are middle manager Kristinn and his team. The meeting has just begun and now it's Soffía's turn to talk about the status of the project she's been working on.

SOFFÍA

For your information, I will probably publish the document on Friday, so you can see how this turns out.

KRISTINN

Exactly, and then you'll also see the most colourful overview document you've ever seen.

SOFFÍA

There's no way not to colour code this overview doc, Kristinn.

KRISTINN

No, no.

SOFFÍA

Tell me I'm wrong about this.

KRISTINN

No, no. It's great to go over the document. Especially if you consider the amount of numbers in it. It's really well organised and well done. Is there anything more from you, Soffía?

End transcript: Video 2  Using humour in a less positive way

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Video 2  Using humour in a less positive way

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Part 3 – Using humour in an aggressive way

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Transcript: Video 3 Using humour in an aggressive way

NARRATOR

In this video, you will see an example of humour used negatively and targeted at a specific attendee to scold or belittle the person in question. This is a team meeting at a financial firm. Hermann, who is a team leader, convened the meeting. He asks everyone to talk about their projects and their current status. Hermann now asks Sylvía to talk about her projects.

HERMANN

Okay, Sylvía, do you want to tell us about your project?

SYLVIA

Well, I wasn't asked to handle this project.

HERMANN

Wait, wait, wait, Sylvía. It's completely clear that you were supposed to handle this project. You're responsible for it, remember? It's as if we were playing dodgeball and you just dropped the ball. We're all aiming and you're just the little wiener jumping around. This is stupid.

SYLVIA

Okay, so maybe I should just...

HERMANN

Exactly, so I should just... Yes, Sylvía. This is so clear. You should just handle this project. Right.

End transcript: Video 3 Using humour in an aggressive way

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Video 3 Using humour in an aggressive way

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Now you have watched the video once, watch it again with these questions in mind:

Having watched the videos, we hope you will have gained further insight into the positive and negative ways humour can be used in online meetings. The flip cards explored those situations in more detail to support your interpretation of the videos. They highlight how company hierarchies and factors such as gender influence the use, perception and response to humour.