What does it mean to go to work in good humor—especially when the workplace feels heavy or demanding? In this Other Voices episode of The Well-led Podcast, two experienced leadership practitioners reflect on the role of good humor in leadership. They explore how humor is not simply about laughter, but about a mindset leaders bring with them: a balance of perspective, calm, openness, and humanity. Through personal stories and thoughtful frameworks, the contributors describe how leaders can choose steadiness over reactivity, remain hopeful without ignoring reality, and create environments where people feel safe to engage honestly. This episode offers practical insight into why good humor matters for leadership effectiveness and how leaders can cultivate it in everyday work.
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And special thanks to this month’s contributors. Read on to learn more about them.
Jackye Clayton is a writer, podcaster, and HR Tech people leader with 15+ years of experience in talent acquisition, recruiting leadership, and inclusive hiring. She helps leaders and organizations stop guessing and start building high-performing teams with clear, compassionate, and curiosity-driven talent strategies.
Jackye Clayton ♕ - People in Squares | LinkedIn
Jackye Clayton
People Puzzles
Katharine Manning is a speaker, author, and trainer who has spent more than 25 years working at the intersection of trauma and leadership. Her book, The Empathetic Workplace, provides clear direction and support for leaders who want to respond to trauma on the job with compassion, calm, and confidence.
Katharine Manning - Blackbird | LinkedIn
Blackbird
Katharine Manning
Phil Wagar is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in all components of organizational development. He is a master facilitator, specializing in the subjects of leadership, learning, and change, whose strengths lie in ideation, adaptability, and forming deep connections with others.
Phil Wagar | LinkedIn
Key takeaways
Good humor at work is a deliberate mindset, not simply a moment of laughter.
Leaders can choose their emotional posture before entering a meeting or beginning the workday.
Maintaining perspective helps leaders avoid reacting impulsively to everyday frustrations.
A calm and hopeful disposition allows leaders to remain open to feedback and new ideas.
Humor and lightness can make difficult work more manageable without minimizing its seriousness.
When leaders operate without good humor, workplaces can become tense, closed, and overly reactive.
Focusing on purpose and the human impact of work helps sustain a positive leadership mindset.
Cultivating curiosity and learning keeps leaders grounded during challenging situations.
Recognizing the absurd or unexpected aspects of workplace life can help leaders maintain perspective.
Good humor strengthens connection, trust, and resilience within teams.
Timestamps
[0:00:04] – Framing the episode
[0:02:16] – Why good humor at work matters
[0:03:30–0:04:40] – Choosing your stance
[0:05:40–0:06:30] – The cost of humorless leadership
[0:06:30–0:07:09] – Good humor as a leadership competency
[0:07:09–0:09:00] – Volunteering-in-the-rain story
[0:09:00–0:10:16] – Grief, joy, and “grief camp”
[0:10:16–0:13:30] – Definition of good vs. ill humor
[0:13:30–0:19:42] – Four practices for good humor
[0:20:22–end] – Synthesis and call to action
Keywords
leadership humor, good humor at work, leadership mindset, emotional intelligence leadership, workplace culture leadership, leadership emotional regulation, positive leadership habits, workplace perspective and resilience, human leadership, leadership communication