Humor Is the First Signal Your Culture Is Struggling
Lose humor, and you lose everything.
People often say work culture is invisible, but it’s not. It’s hidden in plain sight within the small behaviors we usually ignore.
This week, I facilitated a workshop on core values with participants from different companies across the world. We discussed what inflates and deflates the culture of the cohort. After discussing the usual suspects—trust, autonomy, and others—someone asked, “What about humor?”
The room came alive. People started connecting the dots. It was the first time most of them had met, yet everyone felt open and comfortable. The conversation was deep, but the mood was light. Someone said it perfectly: “It’s easier to learn something new when you’re having fun.”
That’s when it hit me. We weren’t just talking about humor; we were exploring the connection and trust that humor creates. Everyone realized what’s missing when there’s no humor.
As a consultant, I visit multiple organizations across various industries. The first interac…
