Humour: the strengths advantage
Humour is about seeing the lighter side of life, bringing smiles to others, and using levity to ease tension
For product and transformation leaders, it’s the strength that builds connection, diffuses stressful situations, and keeps teams energised through demanding change
At the senior Head of, Director, General Manager, and C-Suite levels, humour shows up as a leadership quality that conveys relatability and resilience. Our world requires leaders who can balance seriousness with humanity
Examples of underuse. A Head of Product who underuses humour may come across as overly rigid, missing opportunities to build rapport and lighten the load for their teams. A General Manager in Legal and Compliance who avoids levity entirely risks creating an atmosphere of tension, discouraging creativity and collaboration
Examples of optimal use. A Director in Transformation who applies humour well might open up a difficult workshop with a light, relevant anecdote, easing tension and encouraging open dialogue. A Chief Commercial Officer who demonstrates humour by celebrating milestones with playful recognitions such as witty awards for achievements signals approachability, strengthens culture, and sustains morale
Examples of overuse. Humour taken too far can become a distraction or be perceived as insensitivity. A Head of Engineering who constantly makes jokes during serious discussions to over compensate for their awkwardness in group settings risks undermining their credibility and slowing overall progress down. A Chief Marketing Officer who uses humour at the expense of others may be perceived as dismissive, eroding trust, and weakening their influence
The sweet spot is humour that uplifts without derailing focus. Product and transformation leaders who use this strength well create connections quickly, energise and motivate teams and stakeholders, and help everyone keep perspective and an eye on the prize during challenging times
Research shows that leaders who know, apply, and maximise their strengths experience higher resilience, stronger influence, and improved performance outcomes. Humour is just one of the 24 strengths that we explore in The Strengths Advantage
The Strengths Advantage
Book your team into the half-day workshop to get to know each other in a fun, light way that also boosts their performance, or choose the 90-minute 1:1 leader session to see how and how often you use humour in your everyday