A few years ago, I watched a senior team stuck in a tense debate about pricing strategy. Everyone was guarded, worried about being wrong. The meeting had the emotional warmth of a tax audit. Then one person made a perfectly timed joke about how “strategy” was just a polite word for guessing. The room cracked. Laughter broke the tension. Within minutes, the conversation became open, honest, and productive.
Humour, when used well, is one of the most effective leadership tools there is. It lowers defences, equalises hierarchy, and helps people admit uncertainty. When teams can laugh together, they can think together.
Corporate environments often mistake seriousness for professionalism. We forget that laughter is not the opposite of seriousness but of fear. Fear kills creativity and honest debate. A touch of humour restores humanity and trust.
Humour also builds memory. People remember a good laugh longer than a long presentation. It helps embed key messages and makes difficult feedback easier to hear. It is not about being a comedian. It’s about timing, tone, and sincerity.
Used wisely, humour creates permission to be real. It says, “We are all human here, trying to figure this out.” That shared humility accelerates alignment far more effectively than another 30-slide deck.
Key Takeaways
- Humour reduces fear and increases honesty.
- Serious work doesn’t require solemnity.
- A shared laugh often achieves what logic cannot.
- Humour aids memory, connection, and creativity.
- The right joke at the right moment builds trust faster than authority.
Try This
In your next strategic meeting, share a light story about something that went wrong and what you learned. Notice how others respond. Openness spreads faster when you make the first move.
Closing Thought
If this resonated, share it with someone who confuses seriousness with credibility. A small dose of humour can transform the hardest conversations.
