While for most men office banter comes naturally, women aren’t quite as au fait with humour at work. Stylist investigates.

Ever thought of that killer witty comeback in the middle of a meeting, only to choke on it just before it left your lips? Or maybe bitten down on a brilliant joke in a presentation as you looked out across a sea of stony faces and worried about that terrible tumbleweed moment? If you have, you’re not alone. A study of male/female differences in workplace humour published in the International Journal Of Humor Research concluded that, at work: “Humour is much less a part of the female’s communicative patterns.”

For while many men wisecrack their way through the working day with ease, often women who could give Joan Rivers a run for her money in the pub are a joke-free zone at their desk. But by quelling our humour the second we enter the office, we may actually be putting ourselves at a disadvantage – there is a growing body of evidence that proving you have a sense of humour is actually good for your career.

Of course, we’re not suggesting you joke your way through your next conference call or start making gags about your workmate’s unfortunate haircut after a lunchtime salon appointment. But believing that we must be serious in order to be taken seriously may be a career hurdle. Chris Robert, assistant professor of management at the University of Missouri-Columbia, who conducted a recent study into the field, says, “We discovered the use of humour and the ability to produce laughter and make jokes is associated with intelligence and creativity – two things highly valued in workplaces.”

Not convinced? Think about it – if you were a boss, who would you hire? The person who got the job done and made you laugh while they were at it, or the one who simply got the job done? A survey of 737 CEOs on the subject was very clear – 98% said they gave preference to people with a sense of humour. Another survey of 100 of the largest American corporations found that 84% of vice presidents and HR directors preferred funny employees.

How being funny could help your career