One of the keys to organizational well-being, as taught by professor Mandy O’Neill of George Mason University, is joviality, or humor. Everyone benefits when some fun is injected into the workplace. Laughter can lighten the mood, enable us to make light of various circumstances, and foster stronger relationships.
Adam Christing is a humor expert and author of The Laughter Factor: The 5 Humor Tactics to Link, Lift, and Lead. We sat down with Adam to see how humor can benefit lab leadership.
Adam Christing
Q: Why should lab leaders care about humor?
A: Humor helps you feel more playful and persuasive. Even in highly focused environments, people still bring their humanity to work. The word humor shares the same root as human. Laughter reduces our stress, builds trust, and strengthens connections. It’s not about being silly. Lab leaders can tap into the power of self-effacing humor. I call it “HAuthenticity.” Sometimes, when you laugh at yourself, you beat others to the punch.
Q: What are the five “Laugh Languages”—and how can they be used in a lab setting?
A: I’ve identified five fun humor habits:
- Surprise! is about delighting people with the unexpected.
- Poke means making fun of yourself and gently teasing others.
- In-Jokes invite laughter over shared experiences.
- Wordplay uses language to create laughs (think “Dad jokes”).
- Amplify means exaggerating stories for maximum effect.
These aren’t stand-up routines—they’re simple tactics anyone can use. One of my clients hosts a “Tax Relief Party” right after April 15th. Staff share their funniest money stories. My favorite is from Jackie Mason: “I have enough money to last me the rest of my life… unless I buy something.” Even a lab can be a place for humor. Use Wordplay to host a “Lab Laughs” contest. You might get entries like: “I tried to tell a chemistry joke… but there was no reaction!”
Q: How can adding humor boost both performance and well-being with staff?
A: Laughter lowers cortisol and boosts dopamine. That means less stress and more connection. Humor also signals psychological safety. When people feel free to laugh, they feel free to share ideas. It turns down tension and turns up engagement. A single chuckle can move a meeting from “tense and stiff” to “collaborative and real.” Plus, it’s a lot cheaper than group therapy…
Q: Do you have a real-life example of how humor improved positivity at work?
A: Yes. A marketing leader I know created a “Wit at Work” competition for their team. Each staff member came up with a funny line about their job. Some found great zingers online. A terrific resource is Dr. Mardy Grothe’s “Quotes of the Week.” A favorite of mine: When Jennifer Lopez was asked what she got on her SAT score, she replied, “Nail polish.”
Q: What types of humor need to be avoided around the lab?
A: Sarcasm is the big one to avoid. It can sound funny, but it makes people feel diminished. Your humor should be sharp enough to pop a balloon but never break a heart. Laugh with people, not at them. If you wouldn’t say it in front of your mom or HR, skip it. Aim for humor that lifts people. Share something funny from your real life. I asked my 21-year-old son, “What’s your love language?" He texted me back: “Venmo.”
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Q: Is there such a thing as too much fun in a science setting?
A: It’s more about the when than the where. Timing is everything. Humor should support focus, not derail it. Done right, it energizes the room. Overdone, it’s a distraction. Good humor is like seasoning—you want just enough to bring out the flavor of working together. And avoid raunchy humor. “Fun” is not a four-letter word. I also steer clear of politics and any kind of prejudice. Keep it playful, not polarizing.
Q: Can humor help prevent burnout? How?
A: Absolutely. Humor is a release valve. It helps teams manage stress, setbacks, and the grind. One manager told me their team had a weekly tradition called “Oops Hour,” where people voluntarily shared the week’s funniest mistake. It helped everyone feel more human and more willing to ask for help. The best part? Productivity didn’t dip. It climbed.
Q: What if I’m not naturally funny? Can I still use humor effectively?
A: You are funnier than you think. You just need to tap into your own smile style. You don’t have to be the class clown. Just be willing to lighten the moment. Notice what makes people smile. Repeat something funny your kid said. Replay a story about a coworker (if you know they are cool with it). Humor often starts with listening. Pay attention to what makes your team laugh—and share more of that.
Q: Any tips for using humor to make team communication clearer, not weirder?
A: Use humor to highlight your message, not hide it. A vivid image, a strong metaphor, or a memorable acronym can make information stick. One of my favorites is when I joke about flying with DELTA. I tell audiences, “DELTA means: Do Every Leg Through Atlanta.” It gets a laugh and sets me up for a real work acronym I can share next.
Q: If you could give lab leaders one “laugh prescription,” what would it be?
A: Make laughter part of your culture. It’s not a one-time gimmick. Ask your team what made them laugh this week. Add playful touches to meetings. An associate of mine once called her office printer “Prints Charming.” People got a kick out of that, and it changed their vibe about work that can feel like drudgery. Humor makes the hard stuff easier to carry. And when your team goes from HaHa to Aha, that’s not just fun. That’s when breakthroughs happen.
It is worth the effort to inject a little laughter into the lab. Being able to laugh at yourself, your circumstances, or the results of the latest unsuccessful experiment also add vulnerability to the lab’s culture.
Bio:
Adam Christing is a keynote speaker, humor expert, and the author of The Laughter Factor: The 5 Humor Tactics to Link, Lift, and Lead. He has brought laughter and connection to over 4,000 audiences—from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofit leaders to researchers who just needed a good laugh after five hours of data entry.
