Image credit: HayDmitriy
I have been speaking about change (and how leaders and organizations can embrace it) for a long time, and there are two truths I have found:
Change is inevitable.
Resistance is predictable.
But here’s what most leaders miss:
The solution may be LAUGHTER.
Yes, laughter.
Laughter might be the fastest way to break resistance and unlock adaptability.
When I say laughter, I don’t mean “forced fun.” Not pizza parties, or random activities, or mandatory happy hours.
I’m talking about real humor — the kind that comes from seeing the absurdity in a clunky rollout, the humanity in a frustrated team, or the irony of trying to fix problems with systems that caused the problems in the first place.
When people laugh, they shift.
They loosen their grip on the status quo.
They open up.
And that’s when real change becomes possible.
Humor — even a moment of it — signals to your team: “This is survivable. We’re in this together. We can build something new.”
And when you combine that with the Yes, And mindset —
“Yes, this change is uncomfortable…”
“And we can figure out what to do next.”
— you stop forcing compliance and start fostering creativity.
That’s not soft leadership.
That’s strategic adaptability.
If your people are burned out, cynical, or stuck in “yes, but” mode, humor might be the most powerful — and underused — tool in your change leadership toolkit.
Want to lead more effectively through uncertainty?Start by leading with laughter and build from there.
And if you want to learn more about the power of humor - and how everyone on your team and in your organization - can learn the skill of humor to be more productive and effective, check out my interview with Andrew Tarvin from Humor that Works.
It’s chock full of insights and information and I know you will enjoy it and walk away with ideas you can apply right away!
Let me know if there are any "yes, buts" or "Yes, Ands" - small or large - I can help you with!