Business with a Wink: Injecting Personality and Humor into Your Writing (Without Getting Fired)✍🏼

Anjana Cleetus
3 min readFeb 7, 2024

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Let’s face it, the business world can be drier than a boardroom whiteboard after a particularly intense meeting. But fear not, fellow wordsmiths and corporate communicators! There’s a secret weapon hidden in your arsenal: your personality. Now, before you envision cartwheeling through presentations in full clown attire, hold your horses. Injecting personality doesn’t mean turning into the office jester. It’s about adding a sprinkle of you to your writing, a dash of humor to keep things engaging, all while maintaining that professional polish.

Think of it like personal branding for your writing. What makes you tick? Are you the witty wordsmith, the data-driven detective, or the storytelling superhero? Let your unique voice shine through! But remember, context is king. You wouldn’t crack a joke at a client meeting about the existential dread of TPS reports, would you? (Unless, of course, your client is Michael Scott from The Office, then go for it!)

So, how do you incorporate personality and humor without ending up in the HR doghouse? Here are some pro-tips:

Know your audience: Are you writing for seasoned executives or social media-savvy millennials? Tailor your tone and humor accordingly. Remember, what tickles your funny bone might make Grandma faint.

Start small: Don’t go from zero to stand-up comedian overnight. Begin with subtle touches – a quirky turn of phrase, a relatable anecdote, or a well-placed pop culture reference (think “The Force is strong with this sales report”).

Self-deprecating humor is your friend: Poking fun at yourself shows humility and makes you relatable. Just avoid going overboard and sounding like a bumbling buffoon.

Keep it clean and clever: Crude jokes and offensive humor have no place in business writing. Aim for smart, witty humor that leaves your audience smiling, not cringing.

Read it aloud: This helps you catch awkward phrasing and ensures your jokes land as intended. Plus, it’s a great way to practice your air guitar skills for that future karaoke night.

Remember, incorporating personality and humor is about adding value, not just getting laughs. Use it to connect with your audience, make your writing memorable, and maybe even inject a little joy into the daily grind. Now, go forth and write with flair! Just don’t blame me if your boss starts requesting juggling routines alongside your quarterly reports.

Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear your feedback. Let me know your thoughts in the comments .

Keep in touch 🖋️

Until next then by from Anjana Cleetus 👋🏽

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Anjana Cleetus
Anjana Cleetus

Written by Anjana Cleetus

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