Is humour at work really considered just a “nice to have”?
Too often it gets dismissed, considered being a distraction from the real work.
But the story culture leaders need to lean into is exactly the opposite: humour can be one of the most powerful levers for belonging, engagement and productivity. And it doesn’t take much, just a few intentional moments woven into your daily rhythm will do more than you think.
Why humour matters
Across industries and generations of workers, laughter and light-hearted communication do more than ease stress. They build connection and psychological safety which is the foundation of engagement and creating an environment for success. Shared humour signals that people can be authentic and present in their work relationships, which boosts team cohesion and mental wellbeing.
We’re not talking about stand-up comedy routines at the next team meeting. We’re talking about the subtle, everyday language of culture: memes in Slack channels, GIFs in team chats, playful reactions in digital spaces, non-work-related chats by the kitchen. These behaviours humanise interactions, particularly effective for hybrid and remote teams, which help flatten the status gap between leaders and their people. Read: Lead with Humour from HBR
The hard data behind the laughs
Research backs up what great leaders intuitively feel:
Teams that laugh together show stronger performance, better stress coping and less burnout, with humour linked to up to 36% stronger work performance in meta-analyses. [Upwork]
Organisations perceived as fun have higher engagement scores, better retention and stronger output. Reportedly up to 21% higher productivity for teams that see work as enjoyable. [Forbes]
Psychological capital (the mix of hope, resilience and optimism) is significantly amplified when people experience workplace fun, which in turn drives deeper engagement. [ScienceDirect]
This isn’t just surface level laughter and smiles. Laughter releases dopamine, which strengthens motivation, learning and problem-solving. It’s the same brain chemistry that makes great storytelling or creative thinking feel effortless. [Forbes]
Different generations, one culture of humour
Workplaces today include Gen-Z who grew up communicating in emojis and memes, Gen-Xers who use GIFs to make a point and boomers who might deploy dry wit with surgical precision. If anything, shared humour is a bridge. It can create a common language whilst maintaining individuality and bridging generational divides.
And the disclaimer about humour: There is a nuance.
Humour is subjective. What lands with one cohort might fall flat or even alienate another. That’s why context matters and why consideration is important. Doing it right is just as important as doing it.
Humour in your daily leadership rhythm
You don’t need a “Fun Squad” to make culture stick. Here are ways to bring humour into your everyday practices:
- Start meetings with a bit of fun! Rather than jump straight into the agenda, open with a meme, emoji-reaction round or a light-hearted “win of the week.” It shifts energy without diminishing purpose. At Corporate Edge, in our weekly Operations Meetings, we take turns hosting and we must start the meeting with an activity. It helps to break state and encourages open dialogue and a whole lot of fun! It’s become a fun tradition in our weekly rhythms.
- Normalise playful communication by encouraging teams to respond with GIFs or cheeky emojis (within respectful boundaries) in chat threads. This simple act signals that work isn’t just transactional. We have no limit to what kind of emoji reactions you can get on a post. If it’s acknowledged, there’s a fun, random emoji!
- Use humour around learning and problem-solving. When brainstorming, frame ideas playfully (“what would Alice in Accounting do?”) to lower inhibition and fuel creativity. We get the whole team together, organise snacks and sit in our ‘creative’ space with white boards and flipcharts.
- Role model it, but don’t force it because authenticity is the key here. Leaders don’t need to be comedians, but they do need to signal that humour is welcome. Don’t mandate fun activities that feel obligatory, because voluntary participation always works better.
- Observe, listen and adapt. A little awareness around how different team members respond goes along way. Some will share memes with gusto; others may prefer a tongue-in-cheek quip. Honour both.
The outcome
The outcome of embedding humour and fun into your workplace is a culture that works harder because it laughs together.
When humour becomes part of your daily rhythm, in meetings, messages and micro-interactions, you unlock more than just smiles. You build engagement, strengthen psychological safety and enhance creative capacity. It’s a simple shift in tone that has real strategic impact.
Leaders who embrace humour thoughtfully don’t just humanise work. They energise it.
Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2024/09/10/how-fun-at-work-can-boosts-employee-engagement
https://www.upwork.com/resources/workplace-humor-office-culture
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278431918304043
