COURSE OVERVIEWThere exists a mistaken belief in today's corporate world that we need to be serious all the time to be taken seriously. But the research tells a different story. In this course, we delve into the behavioral science of humor, and why it is a secret weapon in leadership (and life) to garner influence, fuel creativity, defuse tension, foster resilience, and strengthen relationships on your teams and with customers.You'll learn frameworks for understanding your humor style (hint: everyone has one) and the style of others. You'll practice applying concrete tools from the world of comedy to deploy humor safely and effectively at work. You'll hear stories from inspiring leaders - in business, politics, entertainment, and professional spots - and the tactics they used to bridge the trust gap, boost engagement, and unlock agility in the face of change.Students will leave this class with both a practical toolkit and a fundamental shift in mindset: navigating your life on the precipice of a smile.LEARNING OBJECTIVESAfter completing the course, students will be able to:Reframe. Reframe challenging personal and professional moments with evidence-backed approaches tied to happiness and well-being.Storytell. Develop a Signature Story to present their personal and professional narratives in more engaging, memorable, humorous ways.Apply. Use concrete techniques grounded in professional comedy, behavioral science, and stories from leaders, for bringing humor safely and effectively into work and leadership.Navigate the grey. De-risk humor; understand why humor fails happen, how to avoid them, and what to do when you accidentally cross a line.Teambuild. Apply strategies to create more bonded, effective, and creative teams.Deliver. Hone techniques to deliver more memorable, compelling, human stories.
3 units · GSB Pass/Fail
COURSE OVERVIEWThere exists a mistaken belief in today's corporate world that we need to be serious all the time to be taken seriously. But the research tells a different story. In this course, we delve into the behavioral science of humor, and why it is a secret weapon in leadership (and life) to garner influence, fuel creativity, defuse tension, foster resilience, and strengthen relationships on your teams and with customers.You'll learn frameworks for understanding your humor style (hint: everyone has one) and the style of others. You'll practice applying concrete tools from the world of comedy to deploy humor safely and effectively at work. You'll hear stories from inspiring leaders - in business, politics, entertainment, and professional spots - and the tactics they used to bridge the trust gap, boost engagement, and unlock agility in the face of change.Students will leave this class with both a practical toolkit and a fundamental shift in mindset: navigating your life on the precipice of a smile.LEARNING OBJECTIVESAfter completing the course, students will be able to:Reframe. Reframe challenging personal and professional moments with evidence-backed approaches tied to happiness and well-being.Storytell. Develop a Signature Story to present their personal and professional narratives in more engaging, memorable, humorous ways.Apply. Use concrete techniques grounded in professional comedy, behavioral science, and stories from leaders, for bringing humor safely and effectively into work and leadership.Navigate the grey. De-risk humor; understand why humor fails happen, how to avoid them, and what to do when you accidentally cross a line.Teambuild. Apply strategies to create more bonded, effective, and creative teams.Deliver. Hone techniques to deliver more memorable, compelling, human stories.
Offered in Spring 2026 at Stanford University.