Stellenbosch University introduces laughter therapy

The University of Stellenbosch Business School has taken up a challenge deemed almost impossible to pull off - getting a bean-counter to smile.

The university has enlisted the services of a top US leadership development coach, Barrie Zucal, to present laughter therapy as a new scientific leadership tool.

Global Coaches Network president Zucal will attempt to teach managers and executives that laughter in the workplace is medicinal when it comes to enhancing productivity.

The University of Stellenbosch Business School believes business leaders should laugh more to maximise their management competency, while also reducing personal stress.

Zucal's company has trained more than 140 leadership coaches in 45 countries to teach other business leaders. Next month she will come to South Africa to personally present the first laughter experience workshop at the University of Stellenbosch Business School  as part of its new M Phil management coaching degree.

Zucal said yesterday her methods were flexible and would be tweaked to suit South Africa's "multiple-culture" workplace.

"The coaching will be a rigorous academic programme," she said.

"The coaches will learn about how to coach in a very diverse environment, as South Africa is."

"Our results have shown that, by simply implementing laughter as a medium, working relationships, personal attitudes, physical health, emotional wellbeing and creativity automatically improve. "