Early in John F. Kennedy’s presidency, a reporter asked him whether he would recommend the job of president to others. Kennedy replied, “No – at least not for a while.”

Kennedy was master of the quick quip, responding to the moment.

President Ronald Reagan was a master at using humor strategically. He frequently told jokes that poked fun at himself, knowing that they were effective at disarming his critics.

Having been criticized for napping during the day, Reagan told the press, “I’ve given my aides instructions that, if trouble breaks out in any of the world’s hot spots, they should wake me up immediately – even if I’m in a Cabinet meeting.”

Reagan and Kennedy were two of the most popular presidents in recent history, and it was their cheerful sense of humor, in no small part, that endeared them to the American public.

President Nixon, in contrast, had a cynical, defensive sense of humor, when he showed one at all. And we know how popular he was.

Benefits of humor at work

A positive, well-developed sense of humor can help people further their careers and be more effective in business situations.

In the workplace, a positive sense of humor creates a feeling of togetherness that is essential for teams to function well. It also helps to alleviate stress and defuse conflict at critical moments.

People with a good sense of humor are often sought after at work and in other social situations. Because of their positive effect on people, they are in demand to serve on teams and committees.

They usually do well in roles requiring interaction with customers, such as sales, account management and customer service. And, not surprisingly, they tend to be promoted faster.

A negative sense of humor, while it might get laughs, does not win friends or advance careers. It dampens the mood of a group. It is often perceived as revealing a bitter, uncaring or self-centered character.

Fortunately, a healthy sense of humor is a learnable skill – which may even advance your career.

Positive vs. negative humor

To ensure that your sense of humor is healthy, know the difference between positive and negative humor. Positive humor is inclusive. It brings people together, makes them feel good and focuses on the universal human experience.

It does not ridicule people – present or not – or poke fun at racial, ethnic, sexual or other groupings of people.

“Good breeding,” Mark Twain said, “consists of concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.” The same could be said of a positive sense of humor.

Negative humor is exclusive. It separates people into “us” and “them.” It promotes stereotypes and lacks awareness of, or concern for, the feelings of others.

Sexual jokes and innuendos are another form of humor that can trip people up, especially in work settings. It isn’t that sexual situations can’t be funny, but the context makes all the difference. Such humor is almost never appropriate at work.

Tips for a healthy sense of humor

In addition to distinguishing between positive and negative – or appropriate and inappropriate – humor, you can develop your sense of humor by noting amusing stories or occurrences around you.

A humor journal is a valuable tool for improving your sense of humor. Write down jokes, stories and situations of all kinds that amuse you.

You might find ideas from your reading, comic strips, stand-up comedians, television shows or movies. You can even search for “humor,” “jokes” and related terms to find a wealth of material on the Internet.

The purpose of a humor journal is not to help you memorize jokes and repeat them. It is to discover what kinds of things you find funny so that you can come up with your own brand of humor.

You might borrow mechanics or techniques from other sources but then supply your own specifics. Apply your personalized humor to different situations.

Above all, remember to practice the Golden Rule of Humor: Use humor to lift the spirits of the people around you, not to impress them with how funny or witty you are.