What does humour mean as a core value?
Humour as a core value means noticing what’s funny and sharing it, using laughter to connect with people, cope with pressure and say true things lightly.
You notice what’s funny. The absurd line in the policy document, the look on the dog’s face, the gap between how a plan was presented and how it went. And you want to share it, because laughing with someone is one of the fastest ways you know to feel on the same side. Humour, for you, is entertainment and a lot more besides: it’s how you cope with pressure, how you say true things that would otherwise be hard to hear, and how you work out whether you can trust someone.
What does humour look like in practice?
- You save up the funny moments from a hard week and retell them on Friday.
- You use a light line to name the elephant in the room.
- You laugh at your own mistakes out loud, which makes it easier for others to own theirs.
- You find out early on what makes a new colleague laugh.
- You get wary of people who never joke about anything.
When is humour overplayed?
Humour has an edge, and when it’s overplayed it cuts. Teasing that feels affectionate to you can land as belittling, especially coming from someone with more power. A quip can also become armour: people learn that every serious feeling you have arrives wrapped in a joke, and they stop asking. The grounded version laughs with people, and can sit through a sincere moment without reaching for a punchline. Next time a joke lands, you could glance round to see who is laughing and who is only smiling politely.
Often confused with
Humour vs Fun
Fun is about an enjoyable, light experience. Humour is a way of seeing: you can find something funny in a funeral, a crisis or a budget meeting where nobody is having fun.
Humour vs Playfulness
Playfulness is experimenting and messing about to see what happens. Humour is about spotting and sharing the funny side, and it often has a sharper edge.
Humour vs Honesty
Humour is often how true things get said, which can make it look like honesty. Honesty says the thing plainly; humour gives everyone a way to laugh it off.
Questions to sit with
- Which subject do you always joke about, and what would it be like to talk about it straight?
- Who might have been on the wrong end of your humour without telling you?
- What does it tell you about a workplace or a family when nobody laughs?
More values in Joy
Delight, lightness and enthusiasm for life.
About the author
Matt Rutherford is a Career and Leadership Coach. The Values Finder is the same exercise he uses with his coaching clients. He also writes Stuff that MattRs, a weekly newsletter with practical ideas to help you think clearer and work better.
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