Humor is never neutral.
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The most effective leaders treat humor like any other leadership skill: they’re intentional about the type they use, they read the room, and they pay attention to how it lands — especially with diverse teams.
How humor affects teams
Positive side: boosts employee voice, reduces stress, improves mental/physical health, sparks creativity, and strengthens trust & engagement.
Negative side: aggressive humor kills psychological safety, suppresses ideas, increases exhaustion, and drives people away.
Humor Styles
Humor Styles
Self-Enhancing (positive): Using humor to cope with stress and stay positive in tough situations.
Affiliative (positive): Using humor to build connections, make people feel included, and strengthen relationships.
Aggressive (negative): Put-downs, sarcasm, or ridicule aimed at others.
Self-Defeating (negative): Putting yourself down excessively (often as a defense mechanism).
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