Issue #350: Leading with Humor
Good morning. It’s Saturday, June 1st.
Stat of the Day
Humor can boost your retention rate by 70% when used in learning and presentations. Not only does it help there, but employees are 2x more likely to innovate when they feel a sense of playfulness in the workplace. So find that funny! (Humor, Seriously)
Revisit
This week we explored humor and the impact it has on our Health & Longevity.
Issue #348 - why laughter reduces stress, boosts health, and increases longevity. Learn to find your funny and live a happier life
Issue #349 - break free from judgment, boost positivity, and improve health just by smiling
Click HERE to check out the entire Thrive25 archive.
Read
Humor, Seriously
At Thrive25, we defined 9 Elements of Health & Longevity as a framework to simplify and communicate the most important ways we can control our health.
From the start, our goal was to consider each element equally and even focus more on elements not named nutrition and movement - cause we all kinda know the value of them.
But despite our best intentions, every once in a while we’ll fall into the trap of referring to certain elements as “hard” vs. “soft.” Hard being things like running or eating whole foods with more immediate results to our energy. Soft being things a little more nebulous like meditation or journaling, where the impact is difficult to measure.
Elements like Mindset, Connection, Environment all can fit into that horrible term of “soft.” So can Fun. But after reading “Humor, Seriously” and watching the authors’ TED Talk, it’s difficult to call Fun soft.
Because when you laugh you immediately release endorphins, lower cortisol and release dopamine. You feel good. Laughing might just be as valuable as running a mile!
In "Humor, Seriously," authors Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas tear down the myth that humor is incompatible with seriousness. Instead, they show humor is a powerful tool for fostering connection, enhancing creativity, and building resilience. Not just in our personal lives, but at work too.
Aaker and Bagdonas, both professors at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, blend academic research with real-world examples to illustrate the profound impact of humor.
They highlight how humor can improve communication, defuse tension, and cultivate a positive work culture. The authors share stories from leaders, comedians, and innovators, to demonstrate that humor is not just about making people laugh - it's about creating a sense of shared understanding and humanity.
The book even includes guides for you to identify your humor style and ways to incorporate humor into daily interactions, along with practical tips and exercises to develop your “humor skills.”
And one key takeaway - don’t try to be a comedian! It’s not your job. Instead, “don’t look for what’s funny, just notice what’s true.” Observational humor may be funnier than you actually trying to be. And it will definitely build closer bonds with those sharing your experiences.
In addition to the Stat of the Day - check out these findings from the book:
Lifesaver: On average, employees who use humor in their work environment tend to live longer by up to 18 months due to reduced stress levels
Productivity: Teams that laugh together are up to 30% more productive
Leadership: Leaders who use humor are seen as 50% more competent and inspiring.
More Memorable: Messages delivered with humor are 23% more memorable than those without
Less Burnout: Humor can reduce workplace burnout by 36%, fostering a healthier work environment
For more, see why great leaders take humor seriously:
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
Caraway designs kitchenware for the modern home cook - that’s you! Along with the cookware set (in navy), Max also bought a square grill pan in marigold and a bakeware set in “perracotta” - if inanimate objects can be sexy, then this is it. Oh, and functional - the design is beautiful, easy to use and clean.
Caraway Core Value #3: Thoughtful Design - featuring intentional design details and a variety of chic shades, Caraway kitchenware sets were built with the modern home cook in mind.
Watch
French Open
Why? We love tennis and Roland Garros is an idyllic setting in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Paris is also finishing up their prep for the 2024 Summer Olympics. But really, it’s all about the clay.
Clay slows the ball down keeping players in points longer - making each match a battle of wills. If Wimbledon is a 100-meter dash, the French is a marathon. In the 23 years since Björn Borg won his 6th title on the men’s side, there were 15 different winners - many winning their only grand slam at Roland Garros.
Then everything changed - Rafa Nadal won 14 of the next 18. What was unknown became a sure thing until this year. Nadal’s willpower is still strong, but his body is struggling to compete. And with Novak’s form in question, this could be anyone’s tournament.
New York Times
It’s been even more open on the women’s side - in the 12 tournaments between 2008 and 2019 there were 11 different winners. In contrast to the men’s side, there’s some tennis royalty (Serena, Sharapova) mixed in with the one-hit wonders. Then came Iga Świątek - the Pole is going for her 4th title in 5 years. Can she dominate the clay just as Rafa did?
Third and Fourth round matches are on NBC and Peacock this weekend, then it’s back to Tennis Channel until the semifinals start on Thursday. Check out the TV and Streaming schedule here.
Brain Games
Kyudoku
In this 6x6 grid, you need to use logic to find nine unique numbers (1 to 9) so that each row and column has a sum of 9 or less. It’s kinda like sudoku, but with more distractions. The 8 highlighted in yellow is given.
Here’s a little help to get started. Because we know 8 is given, we can’t use 8 again (gray boxes) and we can also eliminate any numbers that would make the sum of the row or column with the given 8 more than 9 (blue boxes). Have fun and use that brain!
Credit: Brainzilla
**For answer, scroll to the bottom of the post
Product Recs
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Thanks for another great week!
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** Brain Games Answer **
Here’s the answer. In this grid, the keys were solving 9 and 2 - figure out where they fit and you were golden. How did you solve it?
Why Thrive25
We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
This newsletter is for you and we truly value your feedback. Never hesitate to reach out to us at team@thrive25.com.
To health!
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25, Inc. does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.