December Resource of the Month
Laughter might be spontaneous, but its impact in the workplace is anything but random.
This month’s resource breaks down what we actually know about humor in leadership, and why it matters more than many assume.
If you’ve ever wondered whether humor really makes a difference in leadership effectiveness, this comprehensive 2021 scoping review is for you. Published in Frontiers in Psychology, the paper synthesizes two decades of research on humor and leadership across disciplines and cultures, offering both clarity and caution.
Among the key findings:
Leader humor is widely valued and associated with improved employee engagement, creativity, team cohesion, and workplace satisfaction.
Different types of humor lead to different outcomes. Positive, affiliative humor tends to strengthen relationships and psychological safety, while aggressive or sarcastic humor can cause real harm.
Context and delivery matter. Humor that works in one situation, or for one audience. might backfire in another. Cultural norms, leader-employee relationships, and even timing play a critical role in how humor is received.
Importantly, the review emphasizes that humor is not a one-size-fits-all leadership tool. Instead, it should be applied thoughtfully, in alignment with organizational culture, team dynamics, and individual needs. The authors also call out the lack of evidence-based training in humor use for leaders, noting that most organizations don’t equip people to use humor well despite its potential.
Access the full paper: Humor in Workplace Leadership: A Systematic Search Scoping Review
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