Laughing together helps individuals accept differences and still enjoy one another as group members. Humor is most effective when it relates to the situation at hand. Humor should never belittle or insult anyone. Use humor to support talent within the group rather than a way to cover lack of skill. A sense of humor enables us not so much to laugh at the people who provoke us as to laugh at ourselves for being so easily provoked.
Public humor is shared the moment it happens.
It may be appropriate to laugh about it later. Both kinds of humor are useful. Leaders for the 1990s should learn how to manage and use conflict creatively for the betterment of communities, organizations and personal relationships. We don't need to be devastated by conflict when we can learn to manage it and use the energy it produces. Only in winter can you tell which trees are truly green.