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Course Description

Humor can be utilized in many different situations and scenarios, but when it comes to professional settings or in the workplace, the rules and strategies for applying humor can vary. Using humor effectively requires a developed sense of both confidence and empathy to relate to others, enabling an individual to successfully manage and navigate everyday work relations and social dynamics. With these two pillars of confidence and empathy guiding your use of humor, you can empower both yourself and the people with whom you work.

In this course, you will analyze humor as applied specifically to the workplace, focusing on the social dynamics of your work peers, superiors, and subordinates. By utilizing these multiple lenses, you will strengthen your empathy and understanding of varying perspectives, gaining insight into how or why humor can help or hinder the attitudes of a team.

Faculty Author

Michael Fontaine

Benefits to the Learner

  • Utilize humor for empathy, allowing people to feel heard and justified
  • Use humor to deliver constructive criticism or to make requests
  • Done in a way that bolsters confidence or empowers
  • Redirect the dynamics of a professional setting or work environment with humor

Target Audience

  • Individual contributors
  • Managers
  • Executives
  • Communications professionals
  • Entrepreneurs

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

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Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in
Type
2 week
Dates
Dec 04, 2024 to Dec 17, 2024
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Contract Fee $0.00
Section Notes

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

 

This course requires the purchase of “How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor” by Professor Michael Fontaine. The book is published by Princeton University Press and is widely available for order in either hard-copy or electronic format. Please purchase the book prior to your course start date as the professor will refer to the book throughout the course.

 

If you wish to purchase via Princeton University Press, here is the link: 

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691206165/how-to-tell-a-joke

 

If you wish to purchase via Amazon.com, here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/How-Tell-Joke-Ancient-Readers/dp/0691206163

 

This course includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature various live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore today’s most pressing leadership topics. Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending a Symposium is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.

Type
2 week
Dates
Jan 29, 2025 to Feb 11, 2025
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Contract Fee $0.00
Section Notes

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

 

This course requires the purchase of “How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor” by Professor Michael Fontaine. The book is published by Princeton University Press and is widely available for order in either hard-copy or electronic format. Please purchase the book prior to your course start date as the professor will refer to the book throughout the course.

 

If you wish to purchase via Princeton University Press, here is the link: 

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691206165/how-to-tell-a-joke

 

If you wish to purchase via Amazon.com, here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/How-Tell-Joke-Ancient-Readers/dp/0691206163

 

This course includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature various live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore today’s most pressing leadership topics. Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending a Symposium is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.

Type
2 week
Dates
Mar 26, 2025 to Apr 08, 2025
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Contract Fee $0.00
Section Notes

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

 

This course requires the purchase of “How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor” by Professor Michael Fontaine. The book is published by Princeton University Press and is widely available for order in either hard-copy or electronic format. Please purchase the book prior to your course start date as the professor will refer to the book throughout the course.

 

If you wish to purchase via Princeton University Press, here is the link: 

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691206165/how-to-tell-a-joke

 

If you wish to purchase via Amazon.com, here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/How-Tell-Joke-Ancient-Readers/dp/0691206163

 

This course includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature various live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore today’s most pressing leadership topics. Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending a Symposium is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.

Type
2 week
Dates
May 21, 2025 to Jun 03, 2025
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Contract Fee $0.00
Section Notes

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

 

This course requires the purchase of “How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor” by Professor Michael Fontaine. The book is published by Princeton University Press and is widely available for order in either hard-copy or electronic format. Please purchase the book prior to your course start date as the professor will refer to the book throughout the course.

 

If you wish to purchase via Princeton University Press, here is the link: 

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691206165/how-to-tell-a-joke

 

If you wish to purchase via Amazon.com, here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/How-Tell-Joke-Ancient-Readers/dp/0691206163

 

This course includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature various live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore today’s most pressing leadership topics. Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending a Symposium is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.

Type
2 week
Dates
Jul 16, 2025 to Jul 29, 2025
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Contract Fee $0.00
Section Notes

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

 

This course requires the purchase of “How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor” by Professor Michael Fontaine. The book is published by Princeton University Press and is widely available for order in either hard-copy or electronic format. Please purchase the book prior to your course start date as the professor will refer to the book throughout the course.

 

If you wish to purchase via Princeton University Press, here is the link: 

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691206165/how-to-tell-a-joke

 

If you wish to purchase via Amazon.com, here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/How-Tell-Joke-Ancient-Readers/dp/0691206163

 

This course includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature various live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore today’s most pressing leadership topics. Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending a Symposium is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.

Type
2 week
Dates
Sep 10, 2025 to Sep 23, 2025
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Contract Fee $0.00
Section Notes

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

 

This course requires the purchase of “How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor” by Professor Michael Fontaine. The book is published by Princeton University Press and is widely available for order in either hard-copy or electronic format. Please purchase the book prior to your course start date as the professor will refer to the book throughout the course.

 

If you wish to purchase via Princeton University Press, here is the link: 

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691206165/how-to-tell-a-joke

 

If you wish to purchase via Amazon.com, here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/How-Tell-Joke-Ancient-Readers/dp/0691206163

 

This course includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature various live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore today’s most pressing leadership topics. Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending a Symposium is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.

Type
2 week
Dates
Nov 05, 2025 to Nov 18, 2025
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Contract Fee $0.00
Section Notes

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

 

This course requires the purchase of “How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor” by Professor Michael Fontaine. The book is published by Princeton University Press and is widely available for order in either hard-copy or electronic format. Please purchase the book prior to your course start date as the professor will refer to the book throughout the course.

 

If you wish to purchase via Princeton University Press, here is the link: 

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691206165/how-to-tell-a-joke

 

If you wish to purchase via Amazon.com, here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/How-Tell-Joke-Ancient-Readers/dp/0691206163

 

This course includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature various live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore today’s most pressing leadership topics. Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending a Symposium is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.

Type
2 week
Dates
Dec 31, 2025 to Jan 13, 2026
Total Number of Hours
10.0
Course Fee(s)
Contract Fee $0.00
Section Notes

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

 

This course requires the purchase of “How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor” by Professor Michael Fontaine. The book is published by Princeton University Press and is widely available for order in either hard-copy or electronic format. Please purchase the book prior to your course start date as the professor will refer to the book throughout the course.

 

If you wish to purchase via Princeton University Press, here is the link: 

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691206165/how-to-tell-a-joke

 

If you wish to purchase via Amazon.com, here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/How-Tell-Joke-Ancient-Readers/dp/0691206163

 

This course includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature various live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore today’s most pressing leadership topics. Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending a Symposium is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.

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