Have a sense of humor
Have you heard about the new portrait hanging at the National Portrait Gallery? Comedian Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's Colbert Report approached several DC museums with the request that they hang his portrait (a joke completely in character with the persona he displays on his show). But the National Portrait Gallery took him up on the offer--and hung the portrait between two bathrooms on the second floor of the museum.
When I read about this, my first thought was, "They must have great PR staff there!" It's so easy for us to take our organizations so very seriously--but the National Portrait Gallery took Colbert's gag and responded with a joke of their own (hanging the portrait in such a place of "honor"). In reward, the museum has evidently seen record-setting crowds heading up to the second floor to see Colbert's portrait.
Could we use humor more effectively in our own organizations? Another great example: Embassy Suites hotels recently ran a contest for guests to suggest new text for the hotels' Do Not Disturb signs. Of the five winners, my personal favorite is "I've built a pillow fort and I am not opening the door for anybody!" but the others are classics as well--and they'll all be displayed at an Embassy Suites near you.
Where could a little humor make a big difference to your association's members or constituents?
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Comments
Here's an association exec showing a lighter side. Jay Karen, CAE, President & CEO of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International recently ran a contest in which he agreed to do the dirty work of keeping up a Bed & Breakfast. A Seattle inn won the contest. You can watch Jay's antics in video and pictures at http://innkeepingblog.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Ben Martin, CAE | February 20, 2008 8:27 PM
That's a great example, Ben--thank you so much for sharing it! I'd love to see more associations using humor like this. It's so easy to take ourselves too seriously sometimes ...
Posted by: Lisa Junker | February 21, 2008 8:03 AM