It’s no coincidence that Hillary Clinton’s improved polling numbers came after appearances on SNL and the Daily Show.

She showed an unscripted and irreverent side that had hitherto been hidden from public view, and people loved it. Moreover, she displayed—gasp!—some self-deprecating humor, a kind that’s typically not found in electoral politics.

In short, funny works, but not only in politics. Humor works because it

Humanizes
Signals intelligence and leadership
Puts people at ease

Still not sold? OK, if you’re a dollars and cents person, consider that humor and levity drive productivity and creativity. During an interview with Adrian Gostick, author of “The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up,” CNBC presented the following statistics:

81 percent of employees at Fortune's Best 100 Companies to Work For have fun a work.

Only 62 percent of employees at other companies are having fun.

90 percent of employees who say their boss has an "above average" sense of humor want to be at the job a year from now, VS. 78 percent who don't have funny bosses.

98 percent of CEOs would hire a person with a good sense of humor over someone who lacked levity.

Check out the video and see for yourself.

[Type "funny" into Photos.com, a royalty-free photo source, and you'll get the above fish.]