Coaching for Leaders

787: Better Leadership Through Humor, with Chris Duffy

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Chris Duffy: Humor Me

Chris Duffy is an award-winning podcaster, comedian, and television writer. He hosts the podcast How to Be a Better Human and you can find his comedic TED talk, “How to find laughter anywhere” online. He is the author of Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy (Amazon, Bookshop)*.

It sometimes seems like someone with a good sense of humor does everything a bit better. Perhaps leadership is no different – but it’s not about landing jokes. In this episode, Chris and I explore why everyday humor is all about paying attention and generosity.

Key Points
  • Humor might not make the list of top leadership competencies, but it helps you perform every other competency better.
  • A good sense of humor is inherently generous.
  • Effective humor isn’t landing the perfect joke or being the center of attention. It’s noticing the humor is everyday work and bravely calling attention to it.
  • The first pillar of cultivating humor is simply being present.
  • Start with times you are least present and most zoned out. Zero in with a “new bathroom” frame of mind.
  • Celebrate the bad stuff and find humor in it. By doing so, you inherently help people appreciate excellence.
    • Resources Mentioned
    • Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy by Chris Duffy (Amazon, Bookshop)*
      • Interview Notes

      Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).

      Related Episodes
      • How to Engage With Humor, with David Nihill (episode 235)
      • Get Better at Deep Listening, with Oscar Trimboli (episode 408)
      • How to Genuinely Show Up for Others, with Marshall Goldsmith (episode 590)
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