Workplaces & Conferences
Looking for something special for your next event or training day? A fantastic ice-breaker? Something that will bring everyone together? Nothing cuts across barriers like laughter - for workplaces, conferences and social events.
why hold a laughter session?
- Laughter is a fast, effective stress-buster.
- It’s a fantastic ice-breaker and
helps people connect really quickly. - Customisable to your event - can include a corporate or personal message or just be fun.
- Energises and motivates participants and sets an upbeat tone.
- There are no jokes and no scapegoats – it is safe and non-offensive.
- There’s no need for any special equipment, clothing or set-up time.
- Suitable for all ages, sizes, degrees of health and senses of humour (no frown too deep, no depression too dark.
- It’s topical and everyone enjoys participating.
- It sends an important message - you care for your people and want them to be well.
Employers who actively sustain a positive environment could experience up to 25% improvements in efficiency and customer satisfaction Journal of Applied Psychology
laughter clubs suitable in many settings:
Laughter clubs are suitable in many settings:
- corporate events including training days, strategy meetings, Christmas parties and planning sessions
- wellbeing programs
- as an after-lunch energiser
- team-building
- breakfasts, lunches and dinners
- social and personal functions
- any kind of celebration including weddings and parties
- out in the open, or in halls or formal settings.
They work in many sized groups - from 3 people upwards - and any length of meeting from one hour to several days.
work situations where a laughter session adds value
We can't think of any workplaces that wouldn't benefit from a good laugh but just in case you're stuck here's a few starters:
- Workshops – anytime you need to get people quickly working cooperatively and collaboratively.
- Training days – makes them memorable, enjoyable events and encourages participation.
- Meetings – open with a short laughter session or inject some energy when people become tired.
- As a reward at staff meetings or quarterly reviews.
- To help promote an important new initiative or strategy.
- For overcoming resistance to change.
- To bring together opposing factions.
- To build morale.
Q: What do you get if you cross a flea and a rabbit?
A: Bugs Bunny
conferences
Have you ever been to an event that just had a buzz? Where people were really enjoying themselves AND paying attention? It's a challenge. A customised laughter session is guaranteed to have your participants excited, engaged and enlivened. People often ask me when to slot them in. Here's a few suggestions:
getting off to a good start
You see it all the time. First thing in the morning, the audience is still waking up. The energy is low. Perhaps a bit of nervous anticipation. People don't know each other and when the speaker tries to get some audience participation they just sit there with their arms crossed. Or start looking at their shoes. There's a deathly silence.
I'm feeling nervous just thinking about it.
Who would want to be the first to speak up?
They all will once they've had a good warm-up laugh.
Can you think of any other way to introduce so many people all at once?
After all you don't have all day. Just picture it - they all quietly take their seats but then within minutes they're back up on their feet and I have them laughing WITH each other. Great way to bond.
I loved it!! Thank goodness they had a sound proof room for us. I asked Stewart in Sydney today if he was still laughing and he told me "especially when I try to explain to someone what we did"". Gail F, IAG
laughternoon refresher
You know the mid-afternoon lull - it happens about 45 minutes after lunch just as your food is being digested. All those carbohydrates hitting your bloodstream, and the speaker's voice is making such a pleasant backdrop. If I could just rest my eyes for a minute . zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzz.
WHOA! I'm getting sleepy just thinking about it. What if there's some activity that lifts energy without taking too long? What if there's a quick and effective way to boost energy - that everyone enjoys? Laughter is just that. That's right: ha ha ha, ho ho ho, hee hee hee. Very effective.
Just picture everyone enjoying a half hour of laughter, (acutally even 15 minutes has worked). Imagine how energised and stimulated they feel afterwards.
It makes people feel good and that rubs off on you. When they feel good about themselves they feel good about your event.
happy endings
Did you know that people judge events by how they end? It's true and there is research to back it up. So if you want your event to be thought of as successful then why not end on a high note? You will still need to make the rest of the conference valuable but you may as well have everyone judging it (and you) from a positive perspective. It's just the way our brains work so you might as well make best use of it.
Need to convince the boss? Print up this page or download one of these brochures - the first one is short and succint, the second longer and humorous
Laughter at Events Short
Laughter at Events Long
at social, family and festive occasions
Want to get your next event of to a flying start (or a hilarious finish)? Try a facilitated laughter session - weddings, parties, Christmas, anything. Laughter will get people talking to each other. It eases anxiety and acts as a social lubricant to get people talking to each other and laughing together. Very popular at staff break-up parties.
My doctor gave me something he says is good for migraine. I wish he'd give me something that is bad for it!
benefits for participants
Your participants will love it:
- Builds trust and helps them engage with each other.
- Creates positive affect - that's a fancy term for "makes people feel good".
- Stimulates the mind and gets the creative juices flowing.
- Relieves stress and helps you cope with daily pressures.
- Produces endorphins, which reduce pain and induce pleasure.
- Reduces blood pressure.
- Strengthens the immune system and heals the body.
- Oxygenates the blood and gives your respiratory system a tremendous workout.
- Weight loss. It's true! 10 minutes of laughter burns about 45 calories.
In this age of high-technology, scientific miracles and medical breakthroughs, it might just be that something as simple as laughter is the best medicine, after all. For a long time, medical doctors have known that happy patients generally respond more favourable to treatment and recover faster than cheerless and complaining ones.
Laurence Peter and Bill Dana: The Laughter Prescription - How to Achieve Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind Through Humour
Laughter Leader Cris Popp
Cris started laughing (no really) for very personal reasons – but once he experienced the benefits he wanted to share them with others. He trained with the founder of the world laughter movement, Madan Kataria, and founded the South Yarra laughter club.
He’s held laughter sessions in all sorts of venues including rainy parks and crowded offices, and government, corporate and non-profit organisations – and he’s always left a smile on the face of participants. He incorporates laughter into the corporate stress management and wellbeing programs he provides.
He also has a ‘serious’ job consulting in innovation and change management and facilitating good decision-making for large and small organisations. He provides corporate training in Mind Mapping, time management, change, innovative thinking and judgment and decision-making.
what happens at a laughter session?
Laughter sessions are very easy to enjoy and require no preparation. Just bring yourself along (and your colleagues, children, partner etc). At Laughter Works we often start the session with a short talk on a related topic such as laughter, wellbeing, happiness or resilience. You will then be taken through 20 to 30 minutes of laughing, breathing and gentle exercise, under the guidance of one of our qualified laughters. Simple realy - and you'll feel terrific afterwards.
like to arrange one?
Arranging a laughter session is easy - just call or email. Let us know:
- Your needs, number of people, time and place.
- Any special message you want included.
I'll customise the agenda and deliver the session.
Neurologists have discovered that newborn infants seem to have an inborn ability to laugh and smile, which has survival value because it is linked to the immune system. The immune effect of laughter stays with us for a lifetime. In light of the facts about how stress defeats the immune system, this is a very good piece of information to have. Whatever tickles your funnybone, laughter is the best medicine. The physiological benefits of laugher are indisputable. Steve Wilson, Psychologist