One of my colleagues decided that capping off our weekly management meeting with a joke would help us leave the meeting with levity and a positive outlook. I have managed to earn and maintain the ignoble designation as the “Dad Joke” teller for these meetings. My joke selections seem to earn the requisite groan response required of a true Dad Joke. I have been surprised at how well this simple ritual seems to work at putting people in a good mood. Something unexpected (or expected now) that is a departure from the normal routine is a powerful tool to change our mindset. But that’s not the real story.
Every time I tell or hear a Dad Joke, it holds a special meaning to me. A bit over two years ago, one of my team members faced a challenging health situation. When he returned home from the hospital, we wanted to send him a get-well care package. This occurred during the height of Covid-19 closures. I couldn’t go into a store and pick out gifts. Sure, I could have ordered a pre-made gift basket, but that wasn’t what this situation called for. Fortunately, a local store near me, Joy Street, was able to come to the rescue. The owner, Jen, worked with me over the phone to put together a custom get-well basket. One of the items we agreed upon was a daily Dad Joke calendar. I had no idea at the time how significant that selection would turn out to be.
Unfortunately, my colleague Tim did not get better and passed away two years ago this February. At his celebration of life, his sister pulled me aside and told me a story that I will never forget. The daily Dad Joke calendar had become Tim’s measurement for making it another day. It was his goal to make it to the end of that calendar. He did, and then some. While I am still sad that Tim is gone, I am glad he had some additional time with his family and was able to get things in order the way he wanted to. I like to think our team’s gift played a tiny part in helping Tim make it as long as he did.
Tim was a consummate professional with just the right amount of humor and mischief. Kind of like a management meeting that ends with a Dad Joke. Quite a coincidence. But I don’t believe in coincidences like this. I still see Tim in our team’s culture and in how I try to show up in my work. Our small thoughtful acts can have a profound influence on the people in our lives. So, when you hear me tell a Dad Joke, in addition to groaning, know that I am also honoring a lost teammate whom I was fortunate enough to help in a small way.