Positive sounds such as laughter or a triumphant ‘woo hoo!’ can trigger a response in the listener’s brain. The response is automatic and helps us interact socially by priming us to smile or laugh, and thereby connecting us with the other person. It can help to reduce the social distance between managers and employees.

As Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, the English business magnate who founded the Virgin Group, says “Humor, I think is a very important part of building a business, not taking yourself too seriously and being willing to have a sense of humor.”