To Humor or not to Humor

How important is your behavior with different types of people? Another way to state this is, does it matter if you can relate to many types of people?

I was part of a discussion recently where a question like this was asked of us. There were numerous suggestions including be yourself, God made you the way you are, it depends on your audience, the Apostle Paul was all things to all people and some others.

I think it depends on your objectives. What are you trying to accomplish? If it involves people then you will have to learn how to influence them to get the outcomes you desire.  To influence people you need to relate to them through your words, your actions, your appearance and your behavior.

There is choice to be made here. Do you remain the way you are or do you try to become better at relating?

In most cases you will need to act differently with kids than with adults. Although with your adult friends you may act more like a kid than you do with the kids. The relationship you have developed with your friends over time will determine how you act with them.

For a presentation to potential investors or to people you want to join your team to accomplish some important objectives or to hire you you should act differently if you want results. Not like a teenager or immature adult. People won’t trust you and take you seriously. They won’t trust you with their money or their time if they are busy.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t use humor if it is one of your traits or gifts from God. Don’t overuse humor all the time. Humor is very effective in communication if used properly and at the right time. If you aren’t sure how to use it search the internet, get some books, find an effective speaker or trainer who uses humor well and watch and learn or find someone skillful in using humor to mentor you.

Choose whom you listen to and whom you get your advice from carefully. That means use your discernment or learn how to develop that discernment because your life or career may be in the balance.

As part of the process you will also have to learn how to read people for feedback to know when you are effective in your communication.

To be effective with people you need to influence them

To influence them you need to relate to them

To relate to them you need to make them feel comfortable with you.

When they are comfortable with you they will listen to you, support you and help you achieve the goals you have.

You could say relationships make the world go ‘round.