Snack 4: How to Use Humor to Inspire Your Team

Written By Erin Diehl
 
 
 

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Hey, hey, Workday Playdate peeps! It’s time for your quick bite of leadership wisdom—a little boost of inspiration, energy, and of course, playfulness to brighten your workday. 

 

Today, we’re talking about one of the most underrated leadership tools: humor. That’s right—if you want to build connection, trust, and motivation within your team, you don’t need a corporate retreat or a 100-slide deck. Sometimes, all it takes is a well-placed joke, a moment of levity, or the courage to not take yourself too seriously.

Want to add more fun to your leadership style? Try this improv-inspired game: 

The Mis-Translation Game :

  • Pick a ‘translator’ and a ‘speaker.’ 

  • The ‘speaker’ delivers a serious workplace announcement—but in complete gibberish. Example: “Gloobity blop floo fandango periwinkle!” 

  • The ‘translator’ must confidently ‘interpret’ what was just said. Example: “Ah yes, that means today’s meeting will be catered by an army of penguins!” 

  • Rotate roles and let the laughter flow. 

Why does this work? Because it helps teams embrace the unknown, think on their feet, and find joy in the unexpected. And a team that laughs together? That’s a team that trusts each other. 

Take it further: 

  • Reflect on a leader who used humor to inspire you. What did they do? 

  • What’s one way you can bring more humor into your leadership style this week? 

  • How can you create an environment where your team feels safe to have fun? 

And don’t forget—next up, we’re going even deeper with JaMarr Johnson, the "Entrepremedian" who helps leaders use humor to build stronger workplace cultures. You don’t want to miss it! 

Journal Prompt: Who on your team might be feeling unheard? What’s one small way you can make space for their voice this week? Write it down—and take action. 

 

If you’re interested in taking one small action right now, you can check out our newest freebie, The Empathy Cheat Sheet here. Break out this 3-part list of helpful phrases before heading into any conversation or meeting, responding to an email, or hosting a one-on-one call. 

No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting) 

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Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it! 

 
Erin Diehl
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Episode 281: Leadership with a Laugh: Inspiring Teams Through Humor and Play with JaMarr John Johnson
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Episode 280: Want Resilient Teams? Improv Is the Answer, Trust Me