Humor

First posted December 4, 2014.

Changing a Mood

I have been a group facilitator for most of my life. I was “trained” as a group facilitator back in the early 1950’s and have since then worked as a group facilitator in one way or another – therapy groups, conscious-raising groups, organizational consultant, church groups and classes. Working with groups large and small has been an integral part of my life and I continue to be fascinated with the myriad of ways groups function and what can happen in groups that could never happen in work with individuals. Over 35 years ago, I started working only with groups for healing and learning. They are just so much more powerful and the amount of experience, knowledge, resources, alertness, and wisdom is multiplied a hundred times more than what can be possible with one person (that is, of course, if one is open to admit wisdom and experience other than one’s own!)

What I have noticed over the years is that humor can change the mood and direction of a group naturally. I tend to believe that “techniques” used as “techniques” are disruptive and destructive to the spirit of the group. And, when a group is getting tired, for example, if something funny is said, a person teased, or a quip is blurted out – – the whole mood of the group changes and the group is again open for more learning.

Spontaneous humor is a great game-changer.

Anne Wilson Schaef, Ph.D.