The joy of a terrible joke (and why it belongs in your next meeting)
Let’s be honest: most meetings aren’t exactly what you’d call “highlights of the week.”
They start with a heavy sigh. A stiff silence. A chorus of “Can you hear me?” “You’re on mute.” "Are we waiting for Steve?"
But then someone dares to break the beige.
“Why did the scarecrow win employee of the month? Because he was outstanding in his field.”
Cue the eye-rolls. The groans. The accidental snort-laugh. And suddenly, we’re in a different room. A lighter one.
Because here’s the thing: a joke, even a really bad one, can change the entire tone of a meeting.
It softens the edges. It signals, “Hey, it’s safe here.” It makes space for the kind of connection that actually makes work… work.
But what if you’re not the boss, or the vibe is way too Serious with a capital S?
No problem.
It’s a 50-person call, and you're not the host? Whisper the joke to the person next to you. Or DM it. The ripple effect of one shared smile? It’s real.
You’re not the “funny” one? Perfect. That’s what makes it powerful. This isn’t about being a comedian. It’s about being human.
You’re in a team that’s all business, no banter? That’s exactly why this matters. Lightness doesn’t mean we don’t care - it means we’re safe enough to show up fully.If you can crack a smile, you can crack the tension.
“Lightness is the shortest path to trust.”
The TL;DR lesson
This isn’t fluff: when you inject lightness, you create:
Psychological safety where people speak up.
Creative flow where ideas start bouncing.
Momentum and guess what - you actually finish on time.
And yes, that often leads to better decisions, faster execution, and more $$ on the bottom line.
Need some material? Here you go:
Why did the PowerPoint cross the road? To get to the other slide.
How do you organize a space party? You planet.
Why don't skeletons ever fight each other? They don’t have the guts.
I only know 25 letters of the alphabet. I don’t know y.
(You're welcome and also... I’m sorry.)
This isn’t about being the office comedian. It’s about creating a moment of lightness that makes everything else easier.
We can be human and still get s**t done.
When you create lightness, you open the door to real connection. And where there’s connection, there’s creativity. Where there’s creativity, there’s momentum. And where there’s momentum… well, magic tends to follow.
That’s not fluff - that’s function.
So the next time you’re heading into a meeting that feels like it might weigh a metric ton… bring a joke. Even a terrible one. Especially a terrible one!!
Because a little levity can unlock a lot of leadership.
Want help creating a team culture where connection leads to performance (and maybe a few punchlines along the way)? Let's chat.
--
My best, always,
Shar
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