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Why great leaders take humor seriously

2,276,841 views |

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.

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.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

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

Jennifer Aaker

Behavioral scientist

See speaker profile

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

Naomi Bagdonas

Corporate strategist, designer

See speaker profile

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

Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas | Currency, 2021 | Book

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

Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace  | Random House, 2014 | Book

Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton |  Harper Business, 2015 | Book

Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration -- Lessons from The Second City

Adam Grant  | Penguin Books, 2017 | Book

Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

Tina Fey  | Back Bay Books, 2012 | Book

Trevor Noah  | One World, 2019 | Book

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

Jennifer Aaker | Stanford Business, 2020 | Explore

"A list publications integrated into Humor, Seriously"

Learn more

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

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.)