Time that could be better used doing the job. But as Pogo said, Tain t necessarily so. John Sosik from the University of Pennsylvania in his research into a Canadian financial institution showed that humor can have a positive effect on the bottom line. When leaders in that institution used humor they were able to cut costs and raise productivity. This is, in part, due to the tranformational nature of humor.
Communication can be tranformational or transactional.
Transactional communication is much like going to the gas station and paying for the gas. You go up to the window with the little hole and give then some money for the gas and the person behind the window gives you a receipt. Transactional communication involves one person giving information to another. Such as when a superior gives orders to an subordinate. The only task of the giver is to present the information and the only task of the receiver is to accept the information.