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Humor in Leadership to the Rescue
Humor Being to the Rescue: Why Humor is a Leadership Power and Mindset
Humor in Leadership to the Rescue
By Steve Rizzo | Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, Author & “The Mindset Adjuster”
Humor in Leadership to the Rescue. First, let me ask you something. When was the last time you laughed — really laughed — at work? Not a polite chuckle at the boss’s obligatory joke during a quarterly meeting, but a genuine, gut-level laugh that made everything feel just a little bit lighter?
If you have to think hard about that answer, then you might be missing one of the most underrated tools in your leadership arsenal.
Here’s some context. I’ve spent decades on stages across this country — first as a national headline stand-up comedian, sharing the stage with Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, Rodney Dangerfield, and Ellen DeGeneres — and then, subsequently, as a Hall of Fame keynote speaker working with Fortune 500 companies, associations, and leadership teams everywhere. And in all of that time, in every room I’ve ever walked into, I’ve consistently learned one undeniable truth:
Humor isn’t a distraction from serious leadership. It IS serious leadership.
The Myth of the “Serious” Leader
Somewhere along the way, we bought into the idea that being a great leader means being serious. Stoic. Buttoned-up. That laughter at work is a sign of weakness, a loss of control, or — worst of all — a signal that you don’t have what it takes.
And yet, I call that idea exactly what it is: nonsense.
In fact, some of the most effective, most beloved, and most successful leaders I’ve ever observed were also some of the funniest people in the room. Not class-clown funny. Not sarcasm-at-someone’s-expense funny. But genuinely, humanly funny — people who used humor with intention, with heart, and with purpose.
Consider this: the pressure of leadership today is relentless. You’re managing shifting market conditions, a workforce that’s stretched thin, expectations from every direction, and personal pressure that never seems to let up. Given all of that, the ability to bring a little levity into the room isn’t just nice to have. It is, as I like to say, a Humor Being to the rescue moment — and it can change everything.
Humor in Leadership to the Rescue: What Is a “Humor Being”?
I’ve been talking about the concept of the Humor Being for years, and it’s actually the title of one of my books: Becoming a Humor Being: The Power to Choose a Better Way. The idea is simple, yet transformative.
Before describing the characteristics of a Humor Being, let me first define what a sense of humor is. The dictionary says the word sense means “perception or awareness; and correct reasoning; or sound judgment.” The word “humor” means “turn of mind; to sooth temper or mood, or the mental quality that produces absurd or joyful ideas.” So, we can say, that a “sense of humor” means to be aware that you have a mental quality to turn your mind in an unusual way, or a need to produce joyful or absurd ideas that can soothe your very being. However, the initiative and proficiency by which you utilize your sense of humor comes from what I call your “Humor Being.”
It is in You
I believe everyone on this planet is born with their own internal Humor Being. Unfortunately, most people live their entire lives without ever knowing they have this powerful gift within them, let alone how to tap into it and make it work for them. Your Humor Being is of your higher nature. It’s a gift from God, the Universe or whatever you choose to call the higher power within. It’s the part of you that brings out the best of who you are, especially when times get tough. What your Humor Being gives you more than anything else is emotional stability, peace of mind, and joy. Making a habit of invoking
your Humor Being will turn you into a happier person with a healthier outlook on life.
In practice, being a Humor Being means choosing, even in your most difficult leadership moments, to ask yourself: “Is there something here I can laugh at rather than rage at?” More often than you’d expect, the answer is yes.
And here’s the thing — that choice, that simple, deliberate pivot toward levity, can shift the energy of your entire team.
The Science Backs It Up (No, Seriously)
Now, I know what some of you are thinking. “Steve, this sounds great on a stage, but where’s the hard evidence?”
Fair enough. So let’s talk science.
Research from institutions like Harvard Business School and the Mayo Clinic has consistently shown that laughter reduces cortisol — the stress hormone that, when chronically elevated, tanks employee performance, creativity, and engagement. Beyond that, laughter increases dopamine, which improves motivation and the ability to process information. Furthermore, it triggers the release of endorphins, creating what researchers describe as a sense of social bonding between people.
So what does that mean in leadership terms? Simply put, when you use humor well, you are literally changing the brain chemistry of the people around you — for the better. As a result, you’re creating a neurological environment where your people are more open, more engaged, and more willing to take the kind of creative risks that drive growth.
Make no mistake: humor is not the opposite of productivity. It is, in fact, often the gateway to it.
And it doesn’t stop there. Studies also show that leaders who use appropriate humor are consistently rated as more approachable, more trustworthy, and more effective communicators by their teams. In other words, people don’t just want to work for them — they want to follow them. And isn’t that, ultimately, the whole point of leadership?
Humor in Leadership to the Rescue: Humor Disarms, Connects, and Builds Trust
Here’s something I’ve watched happen time and time again in rooms across the country. A leader walks in — maybe it’s a tough all-hands meeting, maybe it’s the morning after a rough earnings quarter, maybe it’s a team debrief after a project that didn’t go as planned. The energy is heavy. People are guarded. Everyone’s waiting to see which version of the boss shows up today.
And then, suddenly, the leader does something unexpected. They crack a self-deprecating joke, acknowledge the awkwardness with a light touch. They say something that essentially communicates: “I see what’s happening here, and I’m human too.”
The room exhales.
That is the moment humor earns its place at the leadership table. Not because it made the problem disappear — it didn’t. Not because it distracted everyone from reality — it didn’t do that either. Rather, it earned its place because in that moment, the leader used humor to do something most leaders struggle to do: connect.
Think about it this way. People follow leaders they trust. People trust leaders they feel connected to. And nothing — absolutely nothing — creates human connection faster than a shared laugh. When you laugh together, you’re communicating something powerful without words: “We’re in this together.”
The results, consequently, speak for themselves. I’ve seen humor defuse conflicts that were heading toward irreparable damage, and rebuild morale on teams that were ready to quit. Turn a room of skeptical executives into an engaged, energized audience ready to take on the world. This is not coincidence. This is not luck. Rather, this is what humor — used with intention and care — actually does.
The Difference Between Humor That Helps and Humor That Hurts
Now, I have to be straight with you here, because this matters — and it matters a lot. There’s a big difference between humor that brings people together and humor that tears them down.
Sarcasm aimed at individuals? Not leadership humor. Jokes that punch down at someone’s expense? Not leadership humor. Deflecting hard conversations with a wisecrack so you never have to actually deal with them? That’s not humor — that’s avoidance with a punchline. In short, if it hurts someone to get a laugh, it has no place in your leadership toolkit.
By contrast, the humor I’m talking about is grounded in self-awareness, warmth, and timing. Specifically, it’s the ability to laugh at situations, at shared frustrations, and most powerfully — at yourself. And here’s why that last one matters so much. Self-deprecating humor from a leader sends a message that no amount of corporate messaging can match: “I don’t take myself so seriously that I’ve lost touch with my own humanity.”
That is incredibly disarming. And consequently, it is incredibly effective.
Humor in Leadership to the Rescue: Humor Is a Choice — And Great Leaders Make It
One of the things I drive home in every keynote I deliver is this: attitude is a choice. You don’t get to choose your circumstances — but you absolutely get to choose how you respond to them. And humor is one of the most powerful response tools you have in your kit.
The leaders who thrive — in the long run, through the hard seasons, across the inevitable setbacks — are the ones who’ve learned that suffering is optional. Not pain, challenge or hard work. But suffering — the grinding, joyless, humorless slog through every obstacle — that part is a choice.
I’ve interviewed and shared the stage with CEOs, veterans, elite athletes, and everyday heroes who faced seemingly impossible odds. The ones who came out the other side — not just intact, but elevated — almost universally had the ability to laugh. At themselves, the situation, the absurdity of the whole messy human experience.
That’s not luck. That’s a skill. And like every skill, it can be developed.
How to Bring More Humor Into Your Leadership — Starting Today
You don’t have to be a stand-up comedian to use humor as a leadership tool. Here’s where to start:
Lead with self-deprecation first. The safest, most effective humor in leadership is always at your own expense. It shows confidence and humanizes you simultaneously.
Notice the absurd. There is genuine comedy hiding in the daily grind of business. Deadlines that move, meetings that could have been emails, processes that defy logic — learn to name these things lightly, and your team will love you for it.
Give yourself permission to laugh. This sounds almost too simple, but it’s not. Many leaders have unconsciously decided that laughing means losing authority. That belief is costing them more than they realize. Permission granted.
Pay attention to timing. Humor is a scalpel, not a sledgehammer. The right joke at the wrong time is just uncomfortable. Read the room. Lead with empathy. Let humor follow.
Find role models. Who around you uses humor well in a leadership context? Watch them. Learn from them. The ability to be a Humor Being is, in part, absorbed from the company you keep.
Humor in Leadership to the Rescue: The Bottom Line
I walked away from a thriving career in comedy because I believed — and still believe — that the principles behind great comedy are the same principles behind a great life and great leadership. Timing. Authenticity. Connection. The courage to be human in a room full of people waiting for permission to be human too.
Humor Being to the rescue in leadership isn’t a soft concept. It’s a hard-won, research-backed, results-driven strategy for becoming the kind of leader people genuinely want to follow.
So go ahead. Laugh a little. Lead a lot.
Your team is waiting.
Steve Rizzo is a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, former national headline comedian, and author of Motivate THIS! and Becoming a Humor Being. He works with Fortune 500 companies and associations worldwide, helping leaders and teams shift their mindset to discover greater enthusiasm, increased productivity, and new levels of success. Learn more about this Funny Leadership Speaker steverizzo.com.
