Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

223. Laughing Matters: Levity, Leadership, and Lasting Connection

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Aug 19, 2025

Alison Wood Brooks, a Harvard Business School professor specializing in conversation science, and Naomi Bagdonas, a consultant who integrates humor into leadership training, discuss the transformative power of laughter in communication. They highlight how humor fosters creativity and engagement in teams, making leaders more relatable and motivating. The duo emphasizes that levity isn't just an add-on; it's essential for building genuine connections. Together, they explore how sharing a laugh can break barriers and enhance both personal and professional interactions.

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ADVICE

Always Ask More Questions

Ask more questions in every conversation and push yourself to add a few on the margin.
Make it a goal to never leave a conversation without asking at least one question.

ADVICE

Treasure Follow-Up Questions

Treat every conversational answer as treasure and follow up to uncover meaning and intent.
Use attentive follow-up questions to turn mundane openings into rich, revealing exchanges.

ADVICE

Budget Time For Serendipity

Allocate deliberate time and budget for serendipity to pursue unexpected opportunities.
Naomi uses a 15% 'serendipity fund' to say yes when promising chances emerge.

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By lightening up your communication, you can build serious connections.

Humor in communication isn’t all fun and games. According to Alison Wood Brooks and Naomi Bagdonas, levity is one of the most serious tools we have in building successful connections.

Wood Brooks and Bagdonas, both teachers, authors, and experts in the field of communication, recognize how crucial levity is to our professional and personal interactions. “It’s easy to think of [humor] as this extra bonus thing,” says Wood Brooks. “What we find is it’s incredibly core to how people are relating to each other.” Bagdonas agrees: “When there's the presence of laughter in team meetings, those teams are more successful and more creative. Leaders with a sense of humor—not even a good sense of humor—are seen as more motivating, more admired, [and] their teams report being more engaged.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Wood Brooks and Bagdonas join host Matt Abrahams to explore levity as a mindset, or as Bagdonas puts it, “Navigating life on the precipice of a smile.” Together, they share how lightness and humor can break barriers, bridge connections, and unlock the door to better communication.

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Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(03:19) - Talk Tour Insights
(04:39) - Top Advice on Asking Questions
(06:49) - Guiding Principles for Leaders
(09:23) - Importance of Levity
(11:23) - Why Humor Matters
(13:12) - Letting Go of Comfort
(16:30) - Overthinking Levity
(18:36) - Creating Space for Levity
(22:08) - Conclusion

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