Ideas change everything

Why great leaders take humor seriously

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Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas |

TEDMonterey

• August 2021

There's a mistaken belief in today's working world that leaders need to be serious all the time to be taken seriously. The research tells a different story. Based on the course they teach at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, behavioral scientist Jennifer Aaker and corporate strategist Naomi Bagdonas delve into the surprising power of humor: why it's a secret weapon to build bonds, power, creativity and resilience -- and how we can all have more of it.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

There's a mistaken belief in today's working world that leaders need to be serious all the time to be taken seriously. The research tells a different story. Based on the course they teach at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, behavioral scientist Jennifer Aaker and corporate strategist Naomi Bagdonas delve into the surprising power of humor: why it's a secret weapon to build bonds, power, creativity and resilience -- and how we can all have more of it.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Take the humor styles quiz to discover your style and ask your colleagues, friends, family and pets to do the same. (Spoiler alert: your dog's a Magnet and your cat's a Sniper.)

About the speakers

Behavioral scientist

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Jennifer Aaker is a behavioral scientist focused on understanding what creates meaning vs. happiness in life.

Corporate strategist, designer

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Naomi Bagdonas empowers leaders to build more innovative, collaborative and joyful work cultures (and lives).

Learn more

Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life

Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas | Currency (2021)

Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas - *Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life*

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Take the humor styles quiz to discover your style and ask your colleagues, friends, family and pets to do the same. (Spoiler alert: your dog's a Magnet and your cat's a Sniper.)