logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2022
13m 6s

Why great leaders take humor seriously |...

TED
About this episode
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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Jul 7
How to change careers and reinvent yourself (w/ Dawn Burrell) | from How to Be a Better Human
Dawn Burrell is a celebrated long jumper, an Olympic athlete, and a chef’s whose cooking made her a semifinalist for a James Beard Award — and these are just a sampling of her many accolades. In this episode, Dawn talks about how she navigated the career shift from athlete to che ... Show More
40m 10s
Jun 30
A new vision of healthy masculinity | Davonte Green
What does it actually mean to be a "real man" these days? In a personal talk packed with actionable advice, youth advocate Davonte Green challenges age-old stereotypes about masculinity, showing that emotional intelligence and self-control — not aggression — are the keys to movin ... Show More
15m 11s
Jun 23
The climate movement needs new stories — here's mine | Fenton Lutunatabua
"We are not drowning. We are fighting," says storyteller Fenton Lutunatabua, echoing the mantra of the climate activists he works with across the Pacific. He shares stories of the people and communities at the front lines of the climate crisis, proving they're not waiting to be s ... Show More
11m 13s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2021
How Many Managers Does It Take to Change a Lightbulb?
Jennifer Aaker, a Stanford professor, and Naomi Bagdonas, an executive coach, say that, even in times of stress and crisis, leaders should use and encourage good humor and levity at work as a way of building employee morale and engagement. That doesn't mean you have to tell jokes ... Show More
25m 7s
Mar 2022
A Serious Case for Humor | Jennifer Aaker & Naomi Bagdonas
A common denominator among all of the great meditation teachers is a sense of humor. They take the teaching seriously, but they don’t take themselves seriously. So perhaps there’s a link between human flourishing and humor. That’s not to say you have to be hilarious in order to b ... Show More
1h 7m
Jan 2020
Why Business Leaders Should Solve Problems Beyond Their Companies
Rosabeth Moss Kanter, professor at Harvard Business School, believes the world demands a new kind of business leader. She says so-called “advanced leaders” work inside and outside their companies to tackle big issues such as climate change, public health, and social inequality. S ... Show More
24m 43s
Jul 2022
Best of The New Way We Work: This is why your boss is so bad at his job
Kate Davis is joined by Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic to discuss how the people who end up in leadership positions often possess the traits least suited to manage and lead people. Dr. Chamorro-Premuzic is the Chief Innovation Officer at Manpower Group, Professor of Business Psychol ... Show More
46m 53s
Jul 2023
Amy Edmondson | How leaders nurture psychological safety
In this episode of Let Go & Lead, Maril talks with lauded author, scholar and Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, whose pioneering research into psychological safety has massively impacted the world of work. Amy breaks down what psychological safety is, what it isn’t ... Show More
44m 55s
Feb 2021
Jennifer Aaker & Naomi Bagdonas || How Humor Can Save The World
Today it’s great to chat with Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas on the podcast. Dr. Jennifer Aaker is the General Atlantic Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a leading expert on how purpose and meaning shape individual choices and how technology can positiv ... Show More
1h 3m
Aug 2023
Whitney Johnson | How personal disruption unlocks innovation and success
In this episode of Let Go & Lead, Maril talks with bestselling author, world-class coach and CEO and Co-Founder of Disruption Advisors Whitney Johnson. After a successful career on Wall Street, Whitney had an epiphany: she wanted to apply the immense knowledge she’d gained from m ... Show More
39m 38s
Jun 2020
Great Leaders Use Tough Love to Improve Performance
Frances Frei, professor at Harvard Business School, says that trust, empathy - and even a bit of tough love - are all essential ingredients to strong leadership in today's world. Successful managers focus on the effect they have on others, not themselves. They also define a strat ... Show More
27m 55s