A knock-knock joke from the Wiz I read in the news that in the Zimmerman trial, defense attorney Don West began his opening statement with a knock-knock joke. Not cool. I think that there is no room for jokes in a murder trial. I could be wrong. I enjoy jokes and I like humor, but there is a time and a place for it. It was inappropriate. Over the years, I have gotten into a lot of trouble with my jokes. I still tell jokes; I still get into trouble. I wrote about humor in my e-book, Leadership for New Managers: Book Two. Here is what I wrote.
5. Humor
I love humor but leader/managers need to be careful how they use humor. Humor can cause problems when it offends someone. Humor must never be sexual, racial, or harassing. Usually, it is best to leave the humor up to the most senior person present. Never forward or circulate humor/jokes on organizational e-mail networks.
Notice the part about leaving humor to the senior person present. In the Zimmerman trial, that would be the judge. Mr. West should let the judge set the tone for humor. I am willing to bet that the judge did not tell any jokes and that the judge did not laugh at West’s knock-knock joke. Any takers? Mr. West was way out of line.
5. Humor
I love humor but leader/managers need to be careful how they use humor. Humor can cause problems when it offends someone. Humor must never be sexual, racial, or harassing. Usually, it is best to leave the humor up to the most senior person present. Never forward or circulate humor/jokes on organizational e-mail networks.
Notice the part about leaving humor to the senior person present. In the Zimmerman trial, that would be the judge. Mr. West should let the judge set the tone for humor. I am willing to bet that the judge did not tell any jokes and that the judge did not laugh at West’s knock-knock joke. Any takers? Mr. West was way out of line.
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