0:00:03 - (Kate Davis): Hello, I'm Kate Davis and this is Humor in the C Suite, a show about how leaders use humor to create an extraordinary work culture. Hi, everyone, and welcome to this week's episode of Humor in the C Suite. I have our first episode of 2025. It's the end of January, so I hope you've had a great beginning to the year. I am really, I am just so grateful for all my guests from last year and how much they shared, how much they were vulnerable, all their insights about how they use humor to lead and to create these great extraordinary work cultures through a diverse so many different industries.
0:00:46 - (Kate Davis): You know, we had publishing, we had economics, we had construction. You know, we had a firefighter, we had a race car driver. Like so many. We had an ex cheerleader who's, you know, coaching people now. Like just so many incredible guests who shared their energy with me. So I thought this one episode's going to be a little different. I do not have a guess. It is just me. And I just really wanted to take the time to go over how many topics came up last year over and over and over again.
0:01:19 - (Kate Davis): So I thought I would talk about those a little bit and really get into one topic. And if this goes well, I might do this every once a month or once every couple months, you know, a little bit of coaching and really practical things that you guys can take with you to lead your teams, you know, or your communities or your families. We're all leaders to someone in our lives in different capacities. You know, I'm not only a speaker, but I'm also a mom of three and I, I also do a bunch of comedy. So we all diversify everywhere and there are so many ways that we can lead and lead ourselves, you know, into being our best version of ourself. A lot of the topics that I did find that came up, one was team management and how humor really helped with that. And a lot of teen collaboration came up over and over again and how humor really does, you know, create great teams together.
0:02:16 - (Kate Davis): Because when we do bond in the good times, we work better and we're better problem solvers in the hard times. Another topic that came up a lot was it really creates this shame free work environment and it really allows themselves, leaders and all their employees to really bring themselves and be authentic at work. They don't have to change who they are to get the job done. And that was also one of the number one things that people really wanted their leaders to be, which was normal guys, be normal, be yourselves, okay? Another thing was really Fostering openness and resilience.
0:02:57 - (Kate Davis): That topic came up quite a bit. Humor allows or levity really allows us to spark creativity because it makes us more playful in our lives. And when we're playful, we're more curious, we're more adventurous like we were when we were little guys. And it really allows that creative spark really lead to great, innovative moments. This I found really great. It really did build a bridge. Quite a few cc people were dealing with diverse cultures, Their businesses were global, and that they were dealing with different cultures within that. And how humor helped bridge those gaps.
0:03:32 - (Kate Davis): I had the episode with Danny Goldberg where he started his manufacturing business in China, and how they really laughed and bonded over the food there. And his experience, experience with that, that was one example that really comes to mind. So really dealing with diverse cultures and how humor, as I just said, builds bridges, but also can be, you know, taken the wrong way. So there is a risk in that. And I want to coach on how to really de risk humor so that people can learn to trust it more.
0:04:02 - (Kate Davis): And speaking of trust, a lot of the leaders said it really did help build trust within their teams and within their workplaces. When people feel like they could laugh at themselves, at each other, but never punching down. And evolving landscapes, things are changing. The world is going through so much. We can find those little moments of levity within our lives, whether it's at home or the workplace can really help. But there are so many evolving landscapes for everyone right now. You know, evolving landscapes can also be your children growing. All of a sudden, your parents are fine, and then they're aging parents, and we're having to take care of them. So there's a lot of that.
0:04:40 - (Kate Davis): One of the strong ones that I really wanted to talk about was how all of them said that telling their personal stories was really powerful moments within their organizations. And that's what I really wanted to touch on today, the power of personal storytelling. And I. I really feel like this is one of the things that every guest had a moment with within their organizations. So I really wanted to talk about the power of storytelling. We all know stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
0:05:12 - (Kate Davis): I think we all learned that in English class. But the thing about storytelling, and especially when we're telling funny stories, is that it really does bring everyone back to that moment when we're telling those stories. And it really does lend a powerful antidote because, you know, if we're trying to get our team on the same page instead of using stats and. And this and that, when we can tell Stories, it allows people to feel, you know, and they're more likely to remember the information you're trying to give them when they feel something with that story or within that story or for that character or for that person.
0:05:52 - (Kate Davis): Stories really do allow us to feel in the moment. And there's a powerful, powerful antidote. I'm saying powerful a lot, but there's a strong antidote to that. We all have those moments. How do executives or leaders or C suite people connect with other people? A lot of times they'll play golf. You know, it can be something as simple as that. They do nine holes, 18 holes, you know, they make deals, they exchange this and that.
0:06:21 - (Kate Davis): But a great way to connect, which you can even do remotely because, you know, so many companies are having to build that strong culture even remotely nowadays is those stories. Some people are like, I don't have anything funny. I have nothing to tell. We all have that party story, that story where you first walk into a place and you want to connect with people. We all have that one story we retell over and over and over again.
0:06:48 - (Kate Davis): You know, those moments where your, like, partner or your spouse is standing there and like they've heard that story aund times and you're just like wheeling, dealing it like it's the first time you, you've ever told her anyone's ever heard it. We all have those funny stories. You know, it really does help the person telling it because it brings them right back to that moment. And a shared moment allows us to bond.
0:07:12 - (Kate Davis): And that is a moment where we build relationships, where we build trust. And that is what is going to set you apart in your workplace. To make that deal, make that sale. It's what's going to set you apart. If two people are offering me the same car at a dealership, I am more likely to go with the salesperson who's connected, connected me through those stories, through being authentic, through making me laugh. So we all have a funny story.
0:07:38 - (Kate Davis): So take a moment, you know, in the next few days and think about, yeah, what is my funny story and what am I going to share with people? And it doesn't have to be an elaborate story. It can be a story. I had someone come up to me and say, you know, I had this really funny thing where I was at the car wash. Oh my gosh. Okay, well, maybe saying this for a friend or maybe it was me, guys, but we're at the car wash and they did a great job. The in n out. And I love going to the car wash. I got to Tell you guys, I do love the car wash. This is why I love it. I love a clean car.
0:08:08 - (Kate Davis): Although I love going to the car wash so much, I'm always taking my family's cars as well. And I think the guy at the car wash thinks I'm flirting with him now. Doesn't matter. Anyway, love going to the car wash. Do a great job. In and out, right? Get in, drive away. Swear to God, three minutes later, some guy from the back seat pops up. Yeah, I drove away with a guy in my car, Guys. And my husband's like, what did you do? I'm like, I bought him a cheeseburger and took him back to work.
0:08:33 - (Kate Davis): He's like, you could have been charged with kidnapping. And I'm like, I know. Look, everyone has those moments, those funny stories. It really does connect one. And it works with young people, it works with old people, it works with people you just met, and it works with people you've known for a long time. So start, you know, think about what is your funniest story and share it. It's all about sharing. And it really does create that atmosphere of, oh, we really can be ourselves here. We can take risks. We can come to our leaders if we're having a problem, because it takes us from transactional to human.
0:09:07 - (Kate Davis): That's what it's all about. And that is the power of humor. You know, there was a great experiment done in the 1970s, and I believe it's on YouTube. And it was called the still face experiment. And what they did was they put a mom and a baby in a room together. And they. The first part of the experiment is just the mom playing with the baby, whether it's peekaboo or tickling it and having fun. And then they ask the mother to totally just ignore the baby, just still face.
0:09:35 - (Kate Davis): And a baby starts off by doing coos and, you know, being a baby, all baby stuff. And then, you know, the baby's trying to get the mom's attention, and when that doesn't work, the baby just starts losing it and crying. The point of the experiment and the point of me telling this is even a baby knows if you're really in the room. Even a baby knows if you're really, really present in those moments. So be present.
0:10:00 - (Kate Davis): Be present to your people you're working with. Be present to your family. When you're really there, take a moment and really, you know, engage with people. When I say we really want to bring levity or humor into the workplace, it starts with. With a basic smile. It doesn't have to be any more than that. It can be having, you know, having one person tell their funny story at the beginning of, you know, a team meeting or being more playful within those moments.
0:10:30 - (Kate Davis): But really the power of story really does help us connect with our people, our tribe, whatever you want to call it. Ah, guys, this year is going to be challenging. It's going to be amazing. With all the technology, with AI, everything that's coming out, I really feel like there's even more power in what makes us human, in what brings us together, in what builds bridges, in what connects us. And I really do believe that humor plays a critical role within the work environment to really create those cultures that are really innovative that make a difference to our people, our world, our communities, and our planet.
0:11:17 - (Kate Davis): So I hope you enjoy this season of Humor in the Sea Suite. I've already had a bunch of guests who are so interesting with so many different views, and I hope you're really finding value. I would love to hear from you and if you have anything contrib contribute to this episode and all the topics I touched on at the beginning. I think I'm going to take one of these topics that seem to be coming up over and over and elaborating on it. If you'd like to be a guest on Humor in the C Suite, email me at. Kate Davis, CA I would just love for you to be a guest on the show and share your ideas and your insight. And I think that's it.
0:11:58 - (Kate Davis): First episode, me just by myself. What do you guys think? All right. I think it's okay. Oh, my gosh. Thanks, guys, for listening to this week's episode of Humor in the Sea Suite. Bye.