Business professor shares how to land humor in the workplace
When at work, a joke can bring much-needed ease to a tense meeting, build connections and foster a safe environment. But when it lands flat or is said with malice, it can make employees question your competence, cause discomfort or even feel unwelcome.
Sharon Sheridan, associate professor in Clemson University’s Department of Management in the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business, studies workplace experiences through relationships. Her research looks at positive relational dynamics, including gratitude, appreciation, hope and humor. With humor, she studies the risky middle space between connection and misfire.
Here are a few key insights Sheridan offers for being smarter with workplace humor:
People read motive first
When you tell a joke, listeners are asking, often silently: Is this meant to relieve stress, build connection or make the speaker look clever? When your joke lands, you’re building rapport with your team and promoting an environment of safety and comfort. But if you’re seen as self-serving or not showing care, your joke could backfire.
Falling flat can undermine your authority
Humor is inherently risky. It’s an attempt at vulnerability, but when it goes wrong, it can make people question your confidence, judgment and competence. That does not mean leaders should never joke; it means the moment, intention and audience matter. Even “put-down” humor can be well received with the right context, connections and relationships.
A light culture is not a script
Sheridan does not recommend turning humor into another management tactic. It works best when people feel safe enough to be themselves. Getting to know employees, building relationships and not taking yourself too seriously all help make room for natural lightheartedness. Humor naturally emerges when there’s a sense of safety and comfort among the team.
The team’s reaction will clue you in
Laughter is useful feedback, but so is silence. If you notice your team withdrawing and forcing smiles, that’s probably an indication that your joke didn’t land well, or that it is being perceived in a way you didn’t intend. In these moments, it’s recommended to reflect on your timing, audience and environment. Humor is like a leadership skill: pilot it, notice reactions and gauge results. This is a skill you can develop.
The takeaway
Humor at work is not about being “the funny one.” It is about paying attention to people. Used with care, a laugh can help a team feel more open, less stressed and more connected.
Did you know?
Before academia, Sharon Sheridan spent eight years in consulting with KPMG, an experience that fostered her interest in the relational dynamics of leadership.
