We’ve all heard the routine before. It doesn’t matter where you work or in what industry. The setup is always the same and the payoff always leaves the audience wanting. I’ll reenact it for you:

Bob: “Hey there, Sandy. How are you?”

Sandy: “Oh, great how are you? What can I help you with?

Bob: “I’ve got this idea about our TPS reports that I was wondering if you could help me with. Do you have a few minutes?”

( here comes the hilarious joke )

Sandy: “NOOOOOOOOO…  no, I’m just kidding, yeah lets take a look.”

Ok, now if you think I’m overstepping here, I want to point out some key fundamentals to explain why my argument is both valid and thoughtful. This isn’t about being aggressively PC (which is for the birds) or not being able to express yourself in the work place, to be fair.

• First and foremost – this “joke” is so tired, you’re probably coming across as completely out of touch with anything comically relevant  AT ALL. So aside from it just being sort of off-putting, it’s also not funny.
• Bob could be very nervous about even speaking up or approaching someone with his idea and, I’m sure, doesn’t love the fact the initial reaction to his idea from a coworker, who’s goals are supposed to be inline with his own, is that of negative impulsivity.
• If your gut reaction is to respond with a non-humorous and dilapidated relic of a conversation contribution, then you seriously need to check yourself.
• THIS IS OF COURSE, not the case if you go about saying “NOOOOOOOO” in a completely over-the-top manner, in a way the goes so far as to humiliate yourself in order to make Bob feel more comfortable and score yourself some office interest in your “comedy” troupe that’s playing this Saturday at a rehabbed theater nearby. That type of “NOOOOOOOO” is both welcomed and cherished by all.

So how does this affect your workplace? Well, if done the wrong way, it makes that person seem like a non-funny ass-hat that *acts* like they want to participate with new ideas, but really, they don’t want to be bothered. That’s damaging for relationships and company progress. If you are constantly met with this aforementioned negative impulsiveness, frankly there may be something wrong with the climate of happiness at work. It certainly makes you think twice before approaching people with new ideas again.