The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up (Hardcover)

~ Adrian Gostick (Author), Scott Christopher (Author)
Key Phrases: overcoming objections, case for levity, levity effect, Levity Effect-Communication, Funny Thing, Boston Pizza (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Gostick and Christopher are serious about levity and its impact on the bottom line, and have plenty of ideas for generating laughter." (Personnel Today, Mon 17th March 2008)

"Why every company needs a fun strategy". (Economist.com, Tuesday 15th April 2008)

Product Description

The Levity Effect uses serious science to reveal the remarkable power of humor and fun in business. Science proves it?fun is good for business! Based on ten years of extensive research, the authors argue against business tradition to reveal the powerful bottom-line benefits of leading with levity. With interviews, exercises, and case studies, the book reveals how humor in the workplace will help you communicate messages, build camaraderie, and encourage creativity for a better workplace and bigger profits.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; illustrated edition edition (March 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470195886
• ISBN-13: 978-0470195888
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #310,651 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book! For anyone, at any level, in any business. By just being the person you want to you be, you can achieve your goals, March 21, 2008

By	NYC Psychology (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

This books has reminded me how positive and enjoyable work could be...if I remember to enjoy it. I have struggled ENDLESSLY to find the most effective way to manage/relate to/motivate this new generation of colleagues/ employees/ clients. The workforce and workplace are changing. Stuffy, regimented management styles just don't work anymore--I think we all already know this, but are prohbited to break protocol by corporate policies or conservative corporate environments.
For anyone who sees the bigger, more innovative business picture, the truth is this: Maintaining the status quo will give you just that--status quo results. By just modifying my demeanor to be more accessible, more jovial, and more self-effacing, my team has responded by being more available, more eager, more honest. The change is amazing!
Want a department that is creative, encouraged, and on the leading edge of your industry? Want to increase your team's performance? Want to actually look forward to your work day? You don't need to implement new procedures. You don't need to do a reorg in your department. You don't need to fire your staff, or resign. You can increase creativity, productivity, profitablity, and just about anything you want, while enjoying what you do by changing you! You can look forward to your work day, and have people look forward to working with you. Buy this book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too good to recycle, September 17, 2008

By	Pirate Fan (Santa Clarita, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Dang, this book is a good one. There are literally tons of work/management books that should be ground up and turned into high-grade mulch. Not this one. Brilliant, funny in discussing fun, and seriously important.

Right now, I'm trying to decide if I should risk getting in trouble for blowing out the budget on 25 copies for my teams. Yeah, it's that good.

I've served 'em FISH! and Given Them the Pickle, and shared the Luv. . . a lot of good times working on making work fun. The Levity Effect is right there with the best of them.

Buy it, read it, share it, live it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Laughter Is the Best Medicine, July 1, 2008

By	D. Lockwood (Kansas City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Levity Effect does a good job of proving a very valid point that I already knew ... a work place that encourages light-hearted moments produces a more engaged and productive work force. Without the authors' guidance, I proved through many years of corporate management at all levels (including the board room) that humor does in fact result in the positive results set forth in the book. I am pleased that now there is a good reference to which I can refer my more uptight managers. I hope they will follow the guidance so their workers can relax and be more productive for them. Theory X managers will probably scoff at the concept ... as their workers leave for a more engaging manager.